Humane Shelter Faces Cat Crunch

The Toccoa-Stephens County Humane Shelter says it must reduce its cat population immediately by at least 80-plus cats.

Shelter Director Jeff Roberts said the shelter faces a dire situation due to overcrowding and the number of cats in the shelter is a major challenge.

“Right now the shelter, which was designed to hold 150 animals, is over 240 animals in the shelter, including 164 cats,” said Roberts. “There is no way the shelter can maintain that number of animals in the facility and we are seeking individuals or rescue groups to come and adopt some of these animals.”

Roberts went on to say that the overcrowding situation at the animal shelter has also created financial issues in the shelter’s current budget.

“Even with our adoption fee, we lose money on the animals, but we were budgeted for a certain number of animals and we have greatly surpassed that,” said Roberts. “We have an $8,000 operating deficit and we cannot continue to operate with that sort of deficit.”

Roberts said that unless the shelter is able to reduce the current population levels of cats in the next 30 days, the future of many of the cats in the shelter’s care is uncertain.

To help reduce that number of cats, Roberts said the shelter is offering a special deal for those who want to adopt a cat or kitten.

“We are doing a promotion that if people adopt a cat or kitten, they can get a second one at no additional charge,” said Roberts.

To find out more about adoptions, visit www.tschs.org or visit the shelter on Scenic Drive during business hours, which are between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.

Also, Roberts said the shelter does accept donations, including monetary donations.

One way to donate right now is to purchase a ticket to Friday night’s Elvis Tribute Artist Concert at 7:30 p.m. at Stephens County High School’s Tugaloo Center for the Performing Arts in Toccoa.

This concert will star Cody Ray Slaughter with the David Fontana Band.

All concert proceeds will benefit the animal shelter.

VIP Tickets are $30 and general admission tickets are $20.

To get tickets to the show, people can either go to the shelter on Scenic Drive or go online to www.tschs.org/tickets.