The BCSPCA wants to significantly reduce the number of cats in its shelters over the next three days by offering them up for adoption at half the price.
“We have shelters across the province that are just overflowing and could really use that help from Lower Mainland and Burnaby residents to help bring an animal to the home,” said Ryan Voutilainen, manager of the Burnaby branch.
The local shelter currently has 10 adult felines, mostly domestic short hair cats, between the ages of two and nine, he added.
The normal adoption price is usually around $160, but it has been slashed to $80 for the three-day promotion. Getting a good deal isn’t the only reason to adopt, Voutilainen told the NOW.
“We know their personalities once they’re two years of age, so we kind of know what to expect in the home, so we can really help match you with the kind of cat you’re looking for, as opposed to a kitten you may not know what they’ll be like in a year’s time as they grow,” he said.
The fact that their life expectancy is anywhere between 16 and 20 years also makes them great companions, he noted.
This isn’t the first time the BCSPCA has held such an event. A similar promotion was held province-wide last year, but for a whole week. As a result, 350 cats found homes, according to Voutilainen.
The biggest problem causing overpopulation, he said, has been people not spaying or neutering their animal.
“A cat can have a litter of six to eight kittens, and in six-month’s time, those cats can reproduce as well, so in a lifetime, a cat can produce over 1,000 offspring.”
The Burnaby branch is located at 3202 Norland Ave. For more information, visit http://www.spca.bc.ca/branches/burnaby. The promotion ends Sunday, June 28.
