Best Friends Animal Society and Rockingham County Animal Shelter Partner to Save At-Risk Cats
New Foster Program Will Help Shelter Reach No-Kill
REIDSVILLE, NC -- Best Friends Animal Society and Rockingham County Animal Shelter have partnered to save the lives of cats in the Reidsville area. This month, the national animal welfare organization has provided support to the North Carolina shelter to implement lifesaving changes for cats, including creating a new satellite foster program. Cats and kittens brought into the shelter or found without mothers by the public will be fostered by local volunteers until they are old enough to be spayed/neutered and adopted, which is typically around two months or two pounds. They will then be adopted out locally or transported to receiving partners.
In 2021, RCAS took in 2,674 cats and saved 1,410 (52%). In the same time period, they saved 82% of dogs that entered the shelter. The shelter is committed to increasing lifesaving for cats in Rockingham and the foster program will help make a difference. The program will be piloted for six months, after which it will transition fully to RCAS with ongoing support from Best Friends.
"We are so excited to be partnering with Best Friends to help save the lives of many kittens and cats in our community,” said Brittany H. Flynn, Shelter Director, Rockingham County Animal Shelter. “Foster homes not only provide needed round the clock feedings for newborn and young kittens, a safe place for pregnant and nursing mothers; they also help provide medical care and a quiet place to recover for sick cats in need. Foster parents provide the needed care and socialization for kittens, shy adults and senior cats, that could otherwise be overlooked in a shelter environment. The partnership with Best Friends and our new foster homes is also helping by elevating the strain on staff and overcrowding at the shelter."
"Creating a successful foster program with volunteer support can be one of the most challenging projects an animal shelter can establish and operate,” said John Graves, Strategist—East Region, Best Friends Animal Society. “A strong program will unite the community and save more lives, but it takes a lot of work. RCAS has been dedicated to increasing their lifesaving programs, but it takes a community to help all of its homeless pets. We are excited to work with the local team and volunteers to create a foster program for the community.”
Community support is integral to lifesaving. Foster families and transport drivers are some of the most important components of a successful lifesaving program for cats, especially during kitten season. Fostering cats and kittens is an easy way to help. All supplies and training will be provided to you at no cost. Those interested in fostering can sign-up or email fosterrockinghamco@bestfriends.org for more information.
About Best Friends Animal Society
Best Friends Animal Society is the leading animal welfare organization working to end the killing of dogs and cats in America’s shelters by 2025. Founded in 1984, Best Friends is a pioneer in the no-kill movement and has helped reduce the number of animals killed in shelters from an estimated 17 million per year to around 355,000. Best Friends runs lifesaving programs across the country, as well as the nation’s largest no-kill animal sanctuary. Working collaboratively with a network of more than 3,700 animal welfare and shelter partners, and community members nationwide, Best Friends is working to Save Them All®. For more information, visit bestfriends.org.