1. We Rescued Here's Your Chance to Rescue Just One.
Last week, nearly 400 severely neglected cats were rescued from an Elk County, PA,“sanctuary” by the ASPCA® and the Elk County Humane Society with the assistance of the American Humane Association and PetSmart Charities. The cats were suffering from a host of ailments including upper respiratory and eye infections, feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV).
After receiving critical medical care, many of these precious felines are ready to be adopted into loving homes. While some of the cats have special needs, all are affectionate and looking for special forever families.
Adopters can take home a cat for free this holiday weekend.
What to bring with you:
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Please print and fill out the adoption application (PDF)
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ID
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Cat carrier
Saturday, July 3andSunday, July 4
10:00A.M. – 7:00P.M.
Elk County Fairgrounds
316 Dietz Road
Kersey, PA 15857
All available cats are spayed or neutered and have been vaccinated.
View Map
Update—July 6, 2010:
Great news!! Last weekend's adoption event was a vast success, and 139 cats found their forever homes. Get the latest info about the Elk County cats at the ASPCA Blog.
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Twitter
Tweet about this adoption event!
Download the Flyer(pdf)
Print and post the flyer around your town to spread the word!
2. Why You Should Adopt a Cat with Special Needs
Some of our favorite felines from Elk County have “special needs,” but that doesn’t mean they have less to give—just more to receive! They require patient adopters who are, in some cases, willing and able to care for those infected with the feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) or feline leukemia virus (FeLV), and provide lots of TLC. Not to worry, you will receive plenty in return, including years of unconditional love and affection!
Below, we debunk a few pervasive myths about adopting a cat with special needs:
Myth 1: I can’t have any other pets if I adopt a special needs cat.
No way! Even special needs cats like company, and viruses like FIV and FeLV are potentially contagious only to other cats, not dogs or humans.
Myth 2: Special needs cats are always sick and live a very short period of time.
In fact, during the early stages of illness, your cat may not show any clinical signs at all. Over the course of months or even years, your cat’s health may experience ups and downs. The Elk County cats up for adoption have experienced a lot of stress recently. A home will greatly improve their health.
Myth 3: There is no treatment for illnesses like FeLV or FIV.
Though there’s no cure for FIV or FeLV, treatment focuses on providing the best quality of life. You can make your cat feel much better by feeding him a nutritionally balanced diet, and giving him lots of love and attention.
Myth 4: Special needs cats are high maintenance.
Au contraire! Special needs cats are generally pretty mellow, especially compared to a tiny, young kitten, whomay run you ragged with his crazy antics.
Check out some of our favorite success stories starring FIV- and FeLV-positive cats!
Grande Dame Goes Home
Sassy and quirky, Jillian, who is FIV positive, was a long-term ASPCA office mascot who finally found her forever home with a compassionate adopter.
Just What the Doctor Ordered
A generous New York couple wasn’t deterred by lovely Lilly’s FIV status. They embraced the middle-aged cat’s funny grin and penchant for laps.
From Rescue to Adoption: Living with a Cat with FeLV
Wee Phoenix was rescued from the streets of Brooklyn, NY, and met his foster mom in a former vet assistant. Now he’s living the good life, FeLV and all.
For more information about caring for a special needs cat with FIV or FeLV, please visit our Cat Health library.
3. Hundreds of Cats Rescued from Pennsylvania “Sanctuary”
On June 24, members of the ASPCA Field Investigations and Response Team joined the Elk County Humane Society of St. Mary's, PA, and other rescue groups to investigate a "sanctuary" known as the Animal Friends of Elk and Cameron Counties. Nearly 400 cats—including numerous kittens—were discovered living in desperate conditions on the first floor of a two-story commercial building located 120 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. Many were suffering from health problems, including upper respiratory disease and eye infections, and have tested positive for Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) or Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV).
"This was one of the worst cases of animal hoarding this area has seen," says Tim Rickey, ASPCA Senior Director of Field Investigations and Response. "With such a large number of rescued animals, it is critical that we find them loving homes as soon as possible."
For more information on the Elk County intervention, please visit our Raids and Investigations section.