Adult Cat Adoption Fees Reduced to $10 at the Bonnie Hays Shelter

Sponsored by: Health and Human Services Department, Animal Services Division

Summer is "kitten season" at local animal shelters – the time of year when adorable youngsters take everyone's attention. "We want to make sure that people are looking at grown-up cats, too," says Animal Services Manager Deborah Wood. "We think our 'sale' will get people thinking about the joys of older cats."

Some of the advantages of adopting a cat instead of a kitten include:

• Their personalities (purr-sonalities?) are established. "You'll know whether you're getting a love bug or an independent spirit," says Wood. It's difficult to predict exactly what personality a kitten will grow into. "If you want the cat of your dreams, you should look at a grown-up."
• Kittens are exhausting. "You forget how often kittens decide to entertain themselves in the middle of the night, and how random their behavior can be," says Wood. Kittens are infamous for climbing up pant legs, curtains and wallpaper. A grown-up cat is infinitely easier to live with.
• You can pick the energy level that suits you. Do you love a cat that likes to wrestle and play? Or is a pillow-like creature more your style? You can pick the right energy level for your lifestyle when you select a grown-up. A kitten's adult energy level is unpredictable.
• Adult cats are excellent self-cleaners. Enough said.
• Your adopted adult cat will know that you rescued him. "It's not just dogs that love the people who adopt them. A grown-up cat that has lived through a lot of experiences will be so grateful for a terrific new life with you," says Wood.

All cats are spayed/neutered before going up for adoption. They have been vaccinated against common cat diseases. They have been tested for FIV and FeLV (diseases of the immune system). They are microchipped. "Cats here generally receive about $200 to $400 worth of services, and sometimes more. It's pretty stunning to get all this for just a $10 adoption fee," says Wood.

Location: The Bonnie L. Hays Small Animal Shelter of Washington County is located at 1901 SE 24th Avenue in Hillsboro – right on the Tualatin Valley Highway next to Lowe's and Home Depot.

Adoption Hours: Adoption center hours are 11:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday and 12-5:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

Website: www.WashingtonCountyPets.com