YAKIMA, Wash.- Bringing in a new furry friend to your home should be a joyous occasion. But, when you’re forced to care for five cats that were abandoned at your home, it can come at a price.
That’s the case for one resident in West Valley, who has asked to remain anonymous to avoid backlash from veterinarians and animal resources in the area.
She says two weeks ago, she stumbled upon four malnourished and dehydrated kittens. The next day, she heard a fifth cat crying for help, stuck in between the fence.
“To me, people are just very desperate to dump kittens on someone’s property,” says the cats’ new owner. “I feel sorry for them, but now this is my responsibility.”
When she found the cats, she looked into shelters that can take them, only to find many shelters in the area are already full and closed to intakes. She’s accepted that she has to take care of them as long as she has to.
That includes the upcoming costs of shots and spays and neuters.
“I called around and its around $350 on average for a female to spay and neuter and for her first round of shots,” said the West Valley resident. “The second round I believe is another $85 on average.”
For five cats she has to care for, she’s looking at over $1,000 in procedures.
The stray cats aren’t a new development for the neighborhood, but it’s an ongoing struggle.
“I know that in the 40 years that we’ve lived here, we’ve always had stray cats, but since COVID, it’s really gotten worse,” said the resident. “I’ve noticed a lot more cats that have been hit on country roads.”
It’s a struggle the Yakima Humane Society knows well. With shelter at capacity for months on end, YHS recently adjusted contracts with cities in Yakima County to have city employees serve as Animal Control officers and monitor the stray animal population.
Hopefully over time, we will see those numbers lower in overpopulation and will be more open to owner surrenders but at this point, we really have to encourage people to keep the animals in their homes,” says YHS Adoption Center Manager, Kelli Peal.
As the shelters are still full, YHS recommends finding a new pet owner on social media and facilitate a transfer directly.
