Throw Away Kitties.
Doris Garron picks up a tiny bundle of fur and gives it a kiss as it purrs contentedly, singled out for attention among dozens of her peers.
For Garron and her partner, Vicki Lindley, each kitten has a story, each one a valued life, even though their former owners lost interest in them.
Garron and Lindley are the foundation of K.A.T. (Kitty Adoption Team). Their motto, “Depending on heavenly people to adopt and donate.”
Although they’ve shouldered the burden of caring for hundreds of unwanted cats for some time, the costs are growing and the ladies are asking for assistance from the community.
The garage of the Garron home on Ames Creek is filled with cages, temporary homes for cats of all sizes, shapes and colors. Lindley said her home’s shelter area is filled as well.
“We have some bottle feeders right now that require attention every three hours around the clock,” Mrs. Garron said.
Both ladies also volunteer with the Feral Cat Coalition whose goal is to spay and neuter feral cats in the community, a separate problem.
K.A.T. seeks to spay and neuter cats but to also find loving homes for them.
“It’s amazing how many people just abandon their pets,” Mrs. Lindley said. “We’re just trying to make a difference.”
The ladies point out there is no such thing as a “free cat”.
“We believe people have to be responsible for their cats and that means taking care of them, spaying and neutering them and making sure they are healthy,” Mrs. Lindley said. “We screen people who want to adopt these cats. Not everyone should have a pet.”
Adoptions have been made to families in Sweet Home, Lebanon, Salem, Eugene, Corvallis and even to Portland.
K.A.T.s has filed to become a 501 (C) (3) tax deductible organization.
“I’m spending about $300 a month,” Mrs. Garron said of expenses. Mrs. Lindley said her costs are about $150 per month.
Landlords call the duo when tenants move and they find abandoned pets, they say.
“Right now, we inundated,” Mrs. Lindley said. “We’re desperately in need of people to foster kittens and cats.”
Last year the ladies placed 125 cats. They spayed and neutered some 250 animals.
“There is such a demand,” Mrs. Garron said. “We have phone calls of colonies of 30-50 cats in places. One lady had 50 cats.”
The ladies say their intent is to provide a service for the local area.
“There’s no kind way of handling the cat population,” Mrs. Lindley said. “If a house cat is left to roam on its own, within 3 1/2 years it will become a feral at and future litters will move farther away from people. Feral cats lead a horrible existence. Spaying and neutering is the answer.”
Several persons help the K.A.T.s program including Dr. David and Sandy Larsen, Bob and Teri Pickett and Al Johnson of Econo Wash.
“He washes all of the cat laundry for us free of charge,” Mrs. Lindley said. “People are very good about helping.”
Mrs. Garron said her daily cat chores take about four hours and Mrs. Lindley’s about 1 1/2 hours.
“How can you turn your back on something that’s suffering?” Mrs. Lindley said of why the ladies make such a commitment.
In addition to food and medical costs, spaying costs about $35 and neutering about $25 per cat. All of the cats are vaccinated against feline diseases.
They ask a $65 adoption fee for each pet.
As they look around the garage turned pet kennel, Mrs. Lindley points to one cage and notes the litter was dumped near Holley, two more cats were found on 7th Avenue and another batch of 15 came from Cascadia.
“If everyone would help just one cat in a positive way it would make such a difference,” Mrs. Lindley said. “I was blind to the need until five years ago.”
To learn more about K.A.T.s or to help, call 367-3184 or 367-2005.