Thanks to a $44,000 grant from PetSmart Charities, Fort Collins Cat Rescue & Spay/Neuter Clinic will be able to make several improvements to its mobile and off-site adoptions program over the next year, all with the goal of adopting even more cats and kittens into new homes.
The felines in the cat adoption room at the PetSmart store in south Fort Collins are all from Fort Collins Cat Rescue & Spay/Neuter Clinic, and they can be adopted seven days a week during normal store hours. However, thanks to the grant funding, the rescue will now be able to have one of its own staff members on site at PetSmart to help potential adopters during the store’s busiest cat adoption hours – 3-8 p.m. Thursdays, 1-8 p.m. Fridays, and 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturdays. The store is located at 4432 S. College Ave. in Fort Collins.
“Since Fort Collins Cat Rescue & Spay/Neuter Clinic’s shelter is in north Fort Collins, having adoptable kitties available all week long and into the evening in south Fort Collins is a fantastic opportunity,” said Sarah Swanty, executive director of Fort Collins Cat Rescue & Spay/Neuter Clinic. “We’re extremely excited to grow our mobile adoptions program, and grateful to PetSmart Charities for the funding that will help us save even more lives thanks to increased adoptions.”
One of the greatest improvements to the rescue’s mobile adoptions program will be the addition of portable technology that can be used not only at PetSmart but also at any off-site adoption event. The grant is funding the purchase of two tablets, two wireless keyboards and portable printers, a pair of mobile WiFi “hot spots,” and remote payment devices. The technology component will help streamline the cat adoption process, improving both efficiency and the adopters’ experience at off-site events.
In addition to improved technology and staffing, the grant is also funding $10,000 in marketing and the purchase of several new, portable wire cages. The cages are used to temporarily display kittens from Fort Collins Cat Rescue & Spay/Neuter Clinic’s foster program. Instead of housing younger kittens in the store’s cat adoption room for the entire week, foster volunteers bring their kittens to PetSmart and other locations for several hours each weekend so they can be adopted.
Potential adopters can learn more about the adoption process and view adoptable felines on Fort Collins Cat Rescue & Spay/Neuter Clinic’s website at www.FCCRSNC.org. The rescue’s permanent shelter facility is located at 2321 E. Mulberry St., Unit 1, at the southwest corner of Mulberry Street and Timberline Road in Fort Collins.
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About Fort Collins Cat Rescue & Spay/Neuter Clinic
Fort Collins Cat Rescue & Spay/Neuter Clinic is an adoption guaranteed, nonprofit cat shelter and low-cost sterilization clinic for both dogs and cats. The organization is dedicated to the well-being of all cats and dogs in our community with emphasis on preventing pet overpopulation and on the sheltering and placement of surrendered or abandoned cats into loving, permanent homes. Since its inception, the shelter has found homes for more than 9,800 cats, and the clinic has performed over 37,300 surgeries.
About PetSmart Charities PetSmart Charities, Inc. is a nonprofit animal welfare organization that saves the lives of homeless pets. More than 450,000 dogs and cats find homes each year through our adoption program in PetSmart® stores and our sponsored adoption events. PetSmart Charities grants more money to directly help pets in need than any other animal welfare group in North America, with a focus on funding spay/neuter services that help communities solve pet overpopulation. PetSmart Charities is a 501(c)(3) organization, independent from PetSmart, Inc.