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SUPERIOR — Bargain hunters can get a jump on Black Friday sales while discovering a furry friend during the Humane Society of Douglas County’s week-long “Black Friday Happy Catsgiving Adoption Event,” which runs Nov. 16-23.
Approximately 100 cats will be available for adoption at discounts of up to 50% off. Any cat that is available during those dates will be honored for the sale. New owners will draw to see what discount they’ll receive.
The week-long event will follow a mass spay/neuter clinic provided by Superior Animal Hospital and Boarding Suites. Cheri Fitch, fundraising and events coordinator for the humane society, said they expect to spay/neuter about 100 cats Nov. 13.
“We are beyond grateful for their help in speeding up the process of getting our animals ready for adoption,” said humane society executive director Lareasha Connors.
Superior Animal Hospital is typically closed on the weekend, but veterinarians and staff members agreed to come in for the clinic.
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"We were sure that all of us coming together to ensure these cats get the care they need in a timely manner was the right thing to do," said veterinarian Bob McClellan with the animal hospital. "So, Sunday morning, Nov. 13, we are going to have an all-hands-on-deck effort to provide a great impact."
The clinic comes at a key time.
“We have been absolutely overrun with cats this year,” Fitch said.
The humane society partners with Purple Cat mobile vet services to spay and neuter cats en masse, both shelter cats and those owned by community members. The pandemic has slowed down the frequency of those mobile visits. Local veterinarians are booked full and short staffed, as well.
“But in the meantime, we’re still accumulating cats,” Fitch said, including some from hoarding situations and a number of mother cats with kittens. “So not getting those animals spayed or neutered, we’ve definitely seen an influx in our kitten season.”
Many of the cats are in foster care, waiting to be seen.
“Those are the animals that are here that nobody can see, you know, because they’re not ready to go,” Fitch said.
Staff from Superior Animal Hospital stop by the shelter weekly to observe animals and check on their needs. Seeing the volume of cats that have been admitted to the shelter over the past six months, McClellan said they worked with the humane society staff to set up the daylong spay/neuter clinic.
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“There’s going to be multiple vets and their staff that are volunteering their own time to do this for us,” Fitch said. “We’re just so thankful and in shock. This couldn’t have come at a more perfect time for us.”
Despite their full schedules, McClellan said the staff at Superior Animal Hospital and Boarding Suites wanted to ensure the cats and kittens were ready to be adopted into forever homes.
"I am super proud of our staff for stepping up to assist HSDC in this adoption effort," he said.
Due to the large number of cats that will be available, adoptions during the “Catsgiving” event will take place via appointment. Felines of all ages will be available, about half of them adult cats and half kittens.
People who are interested in adopting a cat need to be approved and Connors said they can call ahead to get the process started. It could take days to get pre-approval, Fitch said. She encouraged anyone who is interested in adopting to start the process soon.
Call 715-398-6784 for more information or to start the pre-approval process.
