‘Operation Feline Freedom,’ a special event during the month of July co-sponsored by the Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center (MCASAC) and the Montgomery County Partners for Animal Well-Being (MCPAW) to waive adoption fees for all cats and kittens resulted in one-month record of 162 cat adoptions.
Operation Feline Freedom in 2021 produced 35 percent more cat adoptions than a similar event in 2019 that was called MD 2000. That was a statewide event that sought to have 2,000 cats adopted across Maryland in July 2019.
“In the past, we have participated in the MD 2000, a fee-waived cat adoption event in July, but the MD 2000 has been on hold since COVID-19, so we decided to have our own event,” said MCASAC Executive Director Thomas Koenig. “Every day, MCASAC staff met families back-to-back to match them up with the right pet. Volunteers helped care for cats and show them to potential adopters, and foster homes made sure their kittens had plenty of socialization to prepare them for adoption. It was a group effort all-around and I couldn’t be prouder of the entire MCASAC team.”
Those adopting cats during the special event saved between $50-$150 on adoption fees.
“In addition to ending pet suffering and homelessness in Montgomery County, the mission of MCPAW includes removing barriers to the adoption of shelter animals,” said Donald Hoffman, chair of the MCPAW Board of Directors. “By sponsoring the adoption fees of all cats and kittens adopted from MCASAC throughout July 2021, MCPAW helped 162 precious felines find their forever homes.”
The event may be over, but there are still plenty of cats and kittens looking for their forever homes. Guidelines for adoption, the pre-visit checklist and the adoption questionnaire can be found at https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/animalservices/adoption/howtoadopt.html.
“In the past, we have participated in the MD 2000, a fee-waived cat adoption event in July, but the MD 2000 has been on hold since COVID-19, so we decided to have our own event,” said MCASAC Executive Director Thomas Koenig. “Every day, MCASAC staff met families back-to-back to match them up with the right pet. Volunteers helped care for cats and show them to potential adopters, and foster homes made sure their kittens had plenty of socialization to prepare them for adoption. It was a group effort all-around and I couldn’t be prouder of the entire MCASAC team.”
Those adopting cats during the special event saved between $50-$150 on adoption fees.
“In addition to ending pet suffering and homelessness in Montgomery County, the mission of MCPAW includes removing barriers to the adoption of shelter animals,” said Donald Hoffman, chair of the MCPAW Board of Directors. “By sponsoring the adoption fees of all cats and kittens adopted from MCASAC throughout July 2021, MCPAW helped 162 precious felines find their forever homes.”
The event may be over, but there are still plenty of cats and kittens looking for their forever homes. Guidelines for adoption, the pre-visit checklist and the adoption questionnaire can be found at https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/animalservices/adoption/howtoadopt.html.
