Alachua County Animal Services announced free cat adoption last week due to a surplus of cats and kittens in the shelter. The free adoption period will run until Oct. 31.
The cats come with rabies shots, microchips and are spayed or neutered, said Vernon Sawyer, Alachua County Animal Services Director. The Animal Services Headquarters, located at 3400 NE 53rd Ave., is open Tuesday through Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
“The reason for the surplus is not specified, but every fall, we do see a pattern for an influx of cats,” said Jessica Lauginiger, interim shelter supervisor for the county.
Lauginiger said the shelter has about 70 healthy cats ready for adoption.
“We usually have one area in our lobby for adoptable cats, but right now we have three rooms full of adoptable cats,” she said.
Most of the cats are around 4 months to 6 months old, she said. There aren’t many newborn kittens because the prime breeding season runs between June and August.
“We have a real simple adoption application,” Sawyer said. “It takes five to 10 minutes, tops.”
Animal Services has worked with the County Commission to allow for free adoption under a surplus schedule, Sawyer said. Its goal is to be a no-kill organization by 2015.
Within the past five months, Animal Services has allowed for other free adoption opportunities, Sawyer said, and adoption rates have increased as a result.
A version of this story ran on page 8 on 10/14/2013 under the headline "Alachua County Animal Services offers free felines through Oct. 31"
