At Seattle Humane’s Offices, the Cats Make Themselves at Home
The following behind-the-scenes peek at the Seattle Humane Society offices was written by Allison Stamm of the Seattle H.S. for the Seattle Post Intelligencer. It’s a strategy that makes a lot of sense, and one that other shelters should adopt, dontcha think?
Did you know that nearly all of the offices at the Seattle Humane Society are “homes” to cats in our care? In the main administration building, most of the offices are outfitted with at least one crate, litter box, and feeding station, and serve as a temporary base for many of the cats in residence. This arrangement allows the cats to interact with people on a regular basis, and expands the walls of the Seattle Humane Society to allow a larger volume of feline inhabitants.
Zelda
Zelda is the currently the Seattle Humane Society reception area cat she keeps everyone who is working the phones company, and serves as official greeter to our many guests. Since I volunteer there for a few hours each week, she and I have gotten quite friendly, and I look forward to seeing her time I come in. (Don’t let the scowl in the accompanying photo fool you – she is a total sweetheart!) During the day, she safely roams the reception area, plays with her toys, explores under the desks, or just sits in the window basking in the sun. I have to admit, it is nice having a cat by your side while you work, and I always find a little time to play a quick game of chase the catnip mouse with her when I am there.
PrincessBefore Zelda, Princess was the reigning queen of the reception area. She is now happily adopted, and enjoying her new life as ruling monarch of another household. It is sad to get attached and then see them leave, but it is heartwarming to know that they are off to homes where they will get full-time love and attention.
I love that the cats have some semblance of a family life while waiting for adoption. All of the cats at the Seattle Humane Society receive wonderful care, but there really isn’t anything like a place of your own. These office homes serve as a temporary transition before the cats leave to begin their new lives, and it seems to work out well for everyone involved.
All of the office cats are available for adoption. For more information, check out the Seattle Humane website.
[LINK: Seattle PI]
What a wonderful idea letting the cats roam free and interacting with people who work, volunteer and come to adopt animals there. Can you imagine the adoption rate if this was permitted in shelters across the country. Instead of being crammed into a cage with no interaction with human beings, stressed out with new surroundings(as cats especially do not deal well with change), a chance to feel compassion, and most of all feeling loved and appreciated their chances at adoption would go through the roof. Thank you Seattle for taking the incentive to think of this great idea. May more cats like Zelda and Princess find loving, caring “forever homes” in the future.
Great idea!