Rescue Focuses on Finding Good Homes For Cats and Kittens

It takes many hands to operate a pet rescue, like Animal Outreach Humane Society of McHenry County. There are volunteers who open their homes to foster cats and kittens, and volunteers who go to PetSmart or Petco to care for the cats who are waiting to be adopted. There are even volunteers who craft items, like kitten scarves and catnip toys, to sell on Ebay and help support the rescue.

There are many ways to help. Animal Outreach is currently seeking donations for its annual garage sale. Funds from the garage sale will help support operations and veterinary care.

“Every animal we adopt out is spayed or neutered and microchipped. They are 100 percent healthy,” said Judy Pawelek, volunteer coordinator.

Pawelek will host the garage sale July 21, 22 and 23 at 1255 Rosewood Lane, Crystal Lake.

People who want to drop off donations for the garage sale can bring them to 1681 B Penny Lane, Crystal Lake, (note the B) near Village and Randall. Donations are accepted any time day or night. For more information call 815-385-0005.

Adoption Manager Amy Gustafson said the difficult economy has made rescue work more challenging.

“We definitely have more people wanting to relinquish cats than adopt them. It’s sad; it’s an epidemic. There are perfectly nice cats that might get put down because a shelter can’t take every cat,” Gustafson said.

She said the rescue gets many more requests to take in cats than they can accommodate. Many of the cats they take are stray cats with litters of kittens.

“It’s a difficult decision. Kittens who are in danger living outside take precedence,” Gustafson said.

Often, the rescue takes in a feral cat with kittens; puts the kittens in the adoption program; spays the cat and releases it.

Last year the rescue took in more than 500 cats and adopted out 529, Gustafson said.

The cats and kittens are cared for at 30 foster homes throughout McHenry County. Cats are also kept at PeSsmart in Algonquin, PetSmart in McHenry and Petco in McHenry. Volunteers are on hand at those locations from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturdays, although interested people can see the cats any time during store hours.

The Crystal Lake PetSmart hosts adoptable cats and kittens from Animal Outreach from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturdays.

Gustafson said the pet rescue is in need of more foster homes.

“People think if they foster a cat, they’ll get to attached. You have to think you’re the gateway to their next home. I foster a lot myself. I love them, but someone else is going to love them too,” Gustafson said.