Due to increased threat of Green River flooding, Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) has issued an urgent call to for more people to adopt a pet or foster an adult cat from the county’s animal shelter in Kent this winter storm season.
Beginning today, RASCK will temporarily not accept adult cats that are surrendered by their owners, and will waive adoption fees on currently available adult cats to keep shelter population low in advance of a possible flood evacuation this winter.
“This is an excellent opportunity for anyone looking to adopt a pet as a new member of their family” said RASKC Manager Ken Nakatsu. “We have many adoptable cats in our shelters and in foster care waiting for someone to take them home. Now it’s more affordable than ever to find your new best friend.”
Starting today, adoption fee for adult cats will be waived. Residents can bring home a new cat for just the cost of the license. Adopted pets come spayed or neutered and with all vaccinations, including the rabies vaccine, at no additional cost.
Foster volunteers needed
Cats placed in foster care reside in people’s homes and do not use space in the animal shelter. Foster volunteers take care of cats from the shelter on a temporary basis until their forever home can be found. After completing an application and attending a 90-minute training, RASKC provides new foster families with free cat food, cat litter, a litter box and pet medical care.
“It is heartbreaking to turn cats away from our shelter during flood season”, said Sarah Luthens, Manager of Volunteer Programs at RASKC. “When people foster cats, it allows RASKC to care for pets we would otherwise have to turn away, and that still counts as one less cat we would have to evacuate during a flood emergency.”
Additional foster homes are also needed for kittens and cats recovering from surgery or other ailments, or those pets who need a break from the shelter as they wait for their forever homes.
Upcoming foster orientations will take place:
• Dec. 16
• Dec. 22
Both sessions begin at 5:30 in Kent. Visit the RASKC website at www.kingcounty.gov/pets.www.kingcounty.gov/pets for more details.
RASKC has taken extensive measures to ensure the safety of shelter animals in the event of a Green River flood this winter: An alternate location has been established in case animals need to be quickly transferred from the Kent Facility; a surplus Metro bus is parked at the Kent Facility to ensure a safe and timely evacuation; and a protective perimeter wall has been constructed around the shelter to ensure that as flood waters recede, RASKC can return to the Kent Facility as quickly as possible and provide services to residents.
Residents interested in adopting or fostering an adult cat or adopting any other pet from Regional Animal Services of King County should visit our website at www.kingcounty.gov/pets or call the volunteer information line at 206-296-3946 for more information.
