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Cat adoption blitz at the Thunder Bay & District Humane Society blew past its goal (2 Photos)

The society has already passed its all-time record for the number of cat adoptions in a year.

THUNDER BAY — The executive director at the Thunder Bay & District Humane Society is expressing gratitude to the community for the response to its recent cat adoption blitz.

Launched in mid-August, its objective was to find homes for 40 cats in 40 days.

As it turned out, more than four times that number were adopted out.

The final figure was 161.    

"All thanks to everyone who adopted and was willing to welcome a cat or kitten into their home," Beaulieu said Tuesday.

When the campaign began the society's Rosslyn Road shelter was at capacity and had a waiting list for cats being transferred or surrendered by owners.

Beaulieu said "We're super-blessed and grateful that everyone has been so flexible. With the change in how we've been operating – going to a contactless model – and people being willing to adopt an animal without necessarily coming in and viewing it, it has been incredibly helpful and efficient."

She added that the COVID-19 pandemic has actually given the humane society an opportunity to reflect on how it operates.

In the past, the shelter was open for public viewing seven days a week.

Beaulieu said a recent change, however, sees adult cats and dogs available for meet-and-greets by appointment, while kittens and puppies are on a contactless basis.

Besides improving efficiency, she said the change has allowed the society "to make sure each appointment really count, and that it is matching up adopters with animals that absolutely best suits them."

Knowing that people are coming in for an appointment, Beaulieu said, allows more time to review applications and determine the most appropriate matches.

With a quarter of the year still to go, the shelter has already shattered its record for the number of cats adopted out, about 500, which was set in 2019.

So far, the figure is "way above 600."

Animals currently available for adoption can be seen on the humane society's website https://www.tbdhs.ca/.




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