Have A Heart Pet Shelter: Grant Report

How did this grant help your organization and the pets in your care?

To construct a "catio" to improve the quality of life for shelter cats currently under our care.

The catio allows the shelter cats to move from inside the shelter to the outdoors where they may enjoy the sun and lounge in the safety of an enclosure. It took a little time to teach the cats how to utilize the cat door, but they have all adapted very nicely. The ability to do so greatly decreases the animals' stress, thus making them more adoptable. It is so enjoyable to drive up to the shelter and see the cats outside having fun.

How many pets did this grant help?

Between 12 and 24 over the course of a typical month.

Please provide a story of one or more specific pets this grant helped.

Cheddar (first photo), Kitty, Angel, and Baby are four beautiful cats who were surrendered to the shelter when their owners, an elderly couple, passed away within a few days of each other. These cats had known only the safety of their home and had been able to move freely in and out at their discretion. After finding themselves in a shelter, it took a little time for them to realize they were safe and nothing bad was going to happen to them. The girls learned to utilize the cat door and began freely roaming inside the cattery and out into the catio. Baby was quickly adopted and the other three will surely be adopted soon due to their wonderful temperaments and social behavior. Meet Cheddar: www.petfinder.com/petdetail/41077154