"New Jersey Shelter Seeks Home for 44 lb. Cat"

A headline like this makes national news. The front page on Yahoo, Fox News Channel, and other news program appearances both local and national by volunteers from Camden County Animal Shelter, showcasing Powder, the now famous cat, 2 pounds shy of the world record weight.

I am a volunteer with that shelter, Camden County Animal Shelter in Blackwood, NJ. I foster death row dogs, not cats, but I have an insider's view on the reality of the shelter's situation. Prince Powder has caused a record number of applications and phone calls, and has put the staff into high gear, focusing on one animal from the more than 300 in the shelter's care. By last count, over 1000 applications have been submitted to adopt Powder, a cat who likely has health issues and will need care and perhaps medication for the rest of his life. Now he's a great guy, and he's awfully cute, too, but what is it about this one cat that has caused people to come to the shelter in droves? Is it because he's so big, or because he's been on tv? The former owner of Powder claimed that when her house went into foreclosure, she asked friends and neighbors all over to take him as she found herself homeless, but to no avail. No one wanted Powder. A friend finally volunteered to take him to the shelter, seeing no other options for the big guy. Reluctantly, she agreed.

Fast forward one week. CCAS has finally stopped accepting applications, as they are overwhelmed by the publicity, but not ungrateful. What everyone is hoping, myself included, is that every person who so badly wanted to adopt Powder, will find it in their hearts to take a look at one of CCAS's other resident cats, and adopt a different needy cat. Maybe while they're there, they will stop and look at the dogs, as well, to see if one of the beautiful dogs there might fit the bill. The fact is, that if each person who applied for Powder took home a different homeless animal, the shelter would be empty. Empty and then some! Does a cat's appearance on tv simply because of his girth make him more desirable than another shelter cat who doesn't have the fame but wants a warm lap to curl up on just the same?

I know that everyone's intentions are good, and their hearts are in the right place. What we hope is that they will take that feeling and open up their hearts to other homeless animals and give them the homes they so badly need. Camden County as a whole has one of the lowest euthanasia rates in the state, as efforts are constantly made to adopt the animals out, or send them to rescue if an adopter doesn't come through. The employees and volunteers of CCAS work very hard to keep this rate low, especially at our individual facility. Last year alone, we took in over 10,000 animals! Only 26% of those were euthanized, and comparably speaking, that is quite an accomplishment. Please take a moment to visit the website, www. ccasnj.org (www.ccasnj.org) and maybe find the newest member of your family. If not there, please take a cue from the Powder phenomenon, and consider adopting your next furry family member from a shelter. You will truly be saving a life.

A few shelter cats here on dA:



...and of course, some dA shelter dogs: