Tails to Tell, a feline rescue shelter based in Crossfield, gave 20 kittens a fur-ever home during its Kitty Palooza adoption drive last month in Airdrie.
According to Donna Ebeling, board member at-large for the registered charity, like many other shelters, Tails to Tell has recently seen an unprecedented number of animals, including cats and kittens, in need of adoption.
“Looking at our kittens, we discovered there were a bunch that would be age-adoptable, and so we decided it might be a great idea to host our first ever Kitty Palooza event,” Ebeling said.
She added the shelter’s fundraising committee met in July to discuss the details of the event, which would aim to encourage widespread adoption of kittens and cats.
The event, held at the Best Western on Edmonton Trail in Airdrie on July 31, was hugely successful thanks to the help of the host facility and volunteers, according to Ebeling.
“I reached out to [Best Western] because they are a pet-friendly hotel and they offered us a meeting room for free to be able to hold the event,” she said. “I’ve got to give them kudos – they've been fantastic to us.”
Ebeling added the event included various felines inside kennels where potential adopters could hold them. There was also an interactive play area where they could get to know the kitties a little better.
“We had the computer set up so you could do adoptions right on site,” Ebeling said. “It was just a great event.”
She added there was also a chance for attendees to fill out applications to become foster parents or volunteers with Tails to Tell.
“It was overwhelming. We had way more people than we were anticipating, which is a good thing,” Ebeling said. “Everyone was very patient – because this was the first time we had done this – to see the kittens.
“We didn’t want the kittens to get too overwhelmed, but it was fantastic.”
Ebeling said those who are looking to adopt a pet through a reputable organization such as Tails to Tell will find animals who have been vetted. That means they will have received full veterinary checks, been micro-chipping and spayed or neutered.
“It helps control the pet population in the future,” she said. “They have all their shots, and they're de-wormed.”
Ebeling added Tails to Tell has partnered with various pet stores in Airdrie and the surrounding area to provide adoption services.
“It really gives you some sense of relief and security that the animal you’re receiving is going to be in good health and that we stand behind the cats and the kittens that we’re adopting,” she said, adding the charity is looking to host another Kitty Palooza event in early October.
“We want to thank Airdrie and the community for coming out to [the last event],” she said.
According to Ebeling, 80 to 85 per cent of surrenders and adopters are from Airdrie.
“Even though we are in Crossfield, we are very, very much a part of the Airdrie community,” she said.
