Catman2's Ethical Rescue Stance
When I moved from Florida to western North Carolina, I was upset when I found there weren’t any no-kill shelters where I’d settled. Before retiring as a biology professor at the local junior college, I’d volunteered at an animal shelter near my Florida home and I wanted to be a volunteer at one in North Carolina, but I didn’t want to work with shelters that euthanized adoptable animals. So I founded and opened Catman2, a small cats-only shelter of my own. While living in Florida I’d been introduced to: trap/neuter/return (TNR) programs, free neutering for male cats, and free or low-cost spay and neuter programs for cat owners who couldn’t afford the operation. These programs did a lot to reduce the large numbers of unwanted cats. I wanted to do the same in North Carolina.
But as a small shelter whose income came from donations and adoption fees, we couldn’t afford all of the aforementioned services but I could start with TNR. I bought traps and started a small program. Shortly thereafter at a visit to the county animal shelter, I was told that I couldn’t continue my program unless I could guarantee that I could capture the same cat again within the time it would need another rabies vaccination (after one year). If I wasn’t able to do this, I would be held liable if there were a rabies outbreak. This was over a decade ago at a time when our county shelter was only run as an animal control facility instead of also being an adoption center. I went on with my cat shelter’s operation, taking in strays and accepting tame cats from people who no longer wanted to care for them. At the same time, I was working under the radar trapping feral cats, having them neutered, and releasing them back where I’d found them. I kept in touch with the county shelter for several years after our unhappy encounter. By keeping a good relationship, I was able to take many cats from there, spaying and neutering them, and was able to find them good homes. I pointed out that number of feral cats had decreased, but not much changed.
In 2011, Catman2 hired Kaleb as a shelter manager to oversee shelter operations. Working with his connections at the local college and other animal welfare organizations, Catman2 was awarded a large spay/neuter grant. We began implementing a larger TNR program as well as providing free spay/neuter services for cats in Jackson County. Our county shelter felt the benefits of this program fairly quickly as the need to euthanize cats due to space lessened. Attitudes at that shelter began to change as they weren't forced to euthanize adoptable cats due to space. As that grant money ran out, a much smaller grant was dedicated to offering discounted spay/neuter services which has been very successful. I went on to open The American Museum of the House Cat not only to educate people on the wonders of the house cat, but also to support the Catman2 Shelter and its spay/neuter program. Spaying and neutering is the way to begin to create no-kill communities.
During 2008-2009 fiscal year, 69% of cats who entered the shelter were euthanized. A third of those were healthy adoptable cats who were euthanized due to space. During 2017-2018 fiscal year, 16% of cats who entered the shelter were euthanized. None of these were healthy adoptable cats; they either suffered from debilitating illness or injury or were feral cats who were not wanted around despite our offers of providing free TNR services. A 100% live release rate for adoptable cats was a historic first for the Jackson County Animal Shelter, and may even be a first for the State of North Carolina. I'm very proud that Catman2's role in this achievement has afforded the opportunity for the shelter staff to become more attached to the animals under their care.
Catman2 has been in operation for 22 years. I knew little about shelter operations back then but I did visit other shelters (some of which had failed) and noted what practices I thought needed improvement. I made rules for my shelter based on the mistakes I saw at other shelters and would like to share them:
- Dr. Harold Sims
But as a small shelter whose income came from donations and adoption fees, we couldn’t afford all of the aforementioned services but I could start with TNR. I bought traps and started a small program. Shortly thereafter at a visit to the county animal shelter, I was told that I couldn’t continue my program unless I could guarantee that I could capture the same cat again within the time it would need another rabies vaccination (after one year). If I wasn’t able to do this, I would be held liable if there were a rabies outbreak. This was over a decade ago at a time when our county shelter was only run as an animal control facility instead of also being an adoption center. I went on with my cat shelter’s operation, taking in strays and accepting tame cats from people who no longer wanted to care for them. At the same time, I was working under the radar trapping feral cats, having them neutered, and releasing them back where I’d found them. I kept in touch with the county shelter for several years after our unhappy encounter. By keeping a good relationship, I was able to take many cats from there, spaying and neutering them, and was able to find them good homes. I pointed out that number of feral cats had decreased, but not much changed.
In 2011, Catman2 hired Kaleb as a shelter manager to oversee shelter operations. Working with his connections at the local college and other animal welfare organizations, Catman2 was awarded a large spay/neuter grant. We began implementing a larger TNR program as well as providing free spay/neuter services for cats in Jackson County. Our county shelter felt the benefits of this program fairly quickly as the need to euthanize cats due to space lessened. Attitudes at that shelter began to change as they weren't forced to euthanize adoptable cats due to space. As that grant money ran out, a much smaller grant was dedicated to offering discounted spay/neuter services which has been very successful. I went on to open The American Museum of the House Cat not only to educate people on the wonders of the house cat, but also to support the Catman2 Shelter and its spay/neuter program. Spaying and neutering is the way to begin to create no-kill communities.
During 2008-2009 fiscal year, 69% of cats who entered the shelter were euthanized. A third of those were healthy adoptable cats who were euthanized due to space. During 2017-2018 fiscal year, 16% of cats who entered the shelter were euthanized. None of these were healthy adoptable cats; they either suffered from debilitating illness or injury or were feral cats who were not wanted around despite our offers of providing free TNR services. A 100% live release rate for adoptable cats was a historic first for the Jackson County Animal Shelter, and may even be a first for the State of North Carolina. I'm very proud that Catman2's role in this achievement has afforded the opportunity for the shelter staff to become more attached to the animals under their care.
Catman2 has been in operation for 22 years. I knew little about shelter operations back then but I did visit other shelters (some of which had failed) and noted what practices I thought needed improvement. I made rules for my shelter based on the mistakes I saw at other shelters and would like to share them:
- To operate a no-kill shelter, you must put a limit on the numbers of animals for which you can give proper care. No one can save all animals in need and it is very easy to get in over your head. Many shelters have failed this way. It is crucial to recognize your limits and never exceed them. You must put the welfare of the animals in your shelter first. You rescued them and you hold their future in your hands.
- We do not provide free, discounted adoptions, or 2-for-1 deals, as we feel it often tempts people to take on more animals than they can afford to care for. Our $60 adoption fee covers roughly only 1/3 of the cost of preparing a cat for adoption and we feel strongly that a prospective pet owner should be able to afford a fair adoption fee.
- Emphasize that pet adoption is a well-informed lifetime commitment and should not be done on impulse. Make sure potential adopters know the costs of properly caring for a cat and the type of behavior they might experience. It's more likely than an informed person will be a better caretaker.
- It is important to thoroughly screen potential adopters. We have seen some real nightmares over the years; from unintentional neglect to abuse and cruelty, we know that there can be far worse fates than an animal being humanely euthanized. It is our responsibility as good stewards to our feline friends to screen potential adopters and to help them find the perfect match. Adopt this attitude: “If one of my adoptions fails, it's one too many.”
- Advocate for local government and other animal welfare organizations to allocate supplemental funding to subsidize spay/neuter services for low-income individuals. A good shelter helps the local community and not just by taking in homeless animals. We encourage other animal shelters and rescues to work together for the common good by collectively combating pet overpopulation and developing ethical adoption practices. If a small shelter with limited income and only one paid employee could do this, others should be able do it as well. The animals depend on us to be their voice, and I'm proud to say that Catman2 takes that responsibility very seriously.
- Dr. Harold Sims