Springfield, MA (8/7/23) – Dakin Humane Society has participated in rescue efforts involving two separate hoarding cases in the past week, and has taken over 40 cats and kittens into its care. The felines are being medically and – in some cases - behaviorally evaluated, with several newborn kittens and mothers being placed in foster homes. Many are available for adoption, with more becoming available in the days and weeks ahead.
On Tuesday, August 1, the organization traveled to a one-bedroom apartment in Berkshire County that contained more than 80 cats, and brought several felines back to provide care and place for adoption.
The following Saturday, August 5, Dakin assisted a Hampden County animal control team with the intake of over 30 cats and kittens, several of them Siamese and Ragdoll breeds, and returned with 21 cats to treat and make available for adoption at Dakin.
According to Dakin’s Executive Director Meg Talbert, “It’s very unusual that Dakin responded to two hoarding cases just days apart, but it’s a vital part of our mission to answer the needs of our community. Cats that come from these circumstances tend to be very shy, and are typically not confident or social around people for what may be just an initial period, or for their entire lives. They’re perfectly happy to have a home with a cat companion or two. They’re very special animals, and we’re hoping that people will open their hearts and homes to them.”
Talbert noted that the cats and kittens will be spayed or neutered prior to being made available for adoption.
Due to the large number of cats taken in between the two rescues, Dakin has created an online form to collect contact information and other data from prospective adopters of these felines. All Dakin pets available for adoption, including the cats and kittens recently rescued and ready to be rehomed, can be seen here. Several of the recently rescued cats have reduced adoption fees.
Dakin Humane Society, located in Springfield, MA, delivers effective, innovative services that improve the lives of animals in need and the people who care about them. In a typical year, the organization shelters, treats and fosters more than 20,000 animals and has performed over 100,000 spay/neuter surgeries since 2009, making it New England’s largest spay/neuter provider. Dakin’s Pet Health Center, a non-emergency veterinary resource for pet dogs and cats, opened in 2022 and has treated more than 2,500 pets. Dakin is a local non-profit organization that relies solely on contributions from individuals and businesses that care about animals to bring its services to the community. For more information, visit www.dakinhumane.org.
