Cedar Rapids Iowa Animal Shelter Adoption

1. Animals Rescued From Alleged “puppy Mill” Remain At Shelters In Three States

But the Cedar Valley Humane Society has taken in more cats over the last two summers than it has in the past, and it's putting a serious strain on its resources.

Most of the cats are coming from people turning in strays, according to McFarlane, but there has been a string of hoarding and neglect cases over the last two-and-a-half months that has also boosted its cat population.

In May, a woman abandoned more than 30 cats that she couldn't take care of in Central City. Then in June, the shelter removed 10 cats from what it called a “neglect situation.” Last weekend, the shelter took in 16 more cats from an owner who surrendered them.

Cedar Bend Humane Society

“We have taken in 469 cats so far this year, ” McFarlane said. “We've adopted about 300 and, currently, have 184 in our care right now.”

The Cedar Valley Humane Society is an open-admission shelter, meaning it doesn’t turn animals away, with a few species exceptions. It’s also a no-kill shelter, so it houses those animals until they’re adopted.

We use foster homes and stuff like that to make space in the shelter as well for those that need us, ” she said.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa City Shelters Inundated With Cats

The shelter is in a hurry to get those cats to their forever homes soon, so it's currently running a name-your-price adoption special for its cats and kittens through the rest of the summer.

When a cat comes in the door, all the cats we adopt out are vaccinated, spayed and neutered, medically treated as necessary, ” McFarlane said. “Our average is about $250 per cat.

We are running at a loss right now, especially with the name-your-price adoptions and not taking a minimum for them, so we are definitely relying on donations at this point, ” McFarlane said.

Animals Rescued From Alleged “puppy Mill” Remain At Shelters In Three States

With so many cats and a few dogs under its roof right now, the Cedar Valley Humane Society is also looking for more volunteers to help out.

With so many cats and a few dogs under its roof right now, the Cedar Valley Humane Society is also looking for more volunteers to help out.