Wednesday, October 8, 2008

The Last Litter of the Season

It's been a long time since I found some time to write. Kitten season being in full swing is always the hardest part to manage everything that needs to be done all at the same time. This year has been no different, except maybe harder.

The economy, fears of a recession, people tightening their belts, foreclosures, its all made this year's season seem that much tougher. Our shelter is getting adult cats in all the time, we are seeing tame adults dumped in our colonies and our neighborhoods. Adoptions have slowed down even though we've lowered our adoption fees. Everyone is struggling to keep on top of their game, and in the middle of kitten season it's that much harder.

Foster homes are harder to find and retain, and we're all overwhelmed with the sheer number we've had in our houses this season. Not to mention how slow they're moving. I was so happy to see the single digits in number of animals in my house including my residents, I think I wanted to have a party.

For the first time ever, I'm hearing stories of the larger organizations turning folks away for even service based requests because the money simply isn't there. Donors are being more conservative with their funds, adoptions are slower, and for less money. Costs are increasing on everything from food to vet care. We're in for a long tough winter, but we're getting creative, and we ARE making a difference!

No comments: