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Community Corner

National Humane Society Rescued Animals on TV Show, but Needs Public Support to Stay Afloat

The National Humane Society needs supplies for influx of cats and kittens

Due to her reputation in the animal rights community for the last 21 years, Carol Childs and The National Humane Society were recently called in to assist with a Florida-based episode of  Animal Planet’s “Confessions: Animal Hoarding” during Easter weekend.

The episode will air in approximately two to three months.

Childs said it wasn’t a typical hoarding scenario. The home was impeccably clean; the cats living in it were friendly and well taken care of and willingly surrendered.  It was not the quality of life, but the quantity of cats that got the animal rescue program involved.

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With the assistance of two veterinarians, a psychologist and a technician, Childs returned with 29 adoptable, mainly black and white, short haired cats, mothers with kittens and two very pregnant females, who have since been added to the feline family at NHS.

Patch talked to Childs about life in the shelter since the new arrivals.

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Patch: When we spoke in December, you had about 40 cats in need of "forever" homes. How has the number changed since your involvement with Animal Planet?

Childs: I have 46 babies right now, ranging from a couple days old to 6 weeks. In total, we now have about 80 cats.

Patch:  With such a large influx of babies, what does the Society need the most?

Childs: (Sponsorships for) their spays and neuters, flea control and shots. We really need old-fashioned heating pads and heating blankets – the old kinds that don’t shut off automatically. Kittens need heat to digest their food. We need paper plates – you can’t imagine how many paper plates we go through feeding the babies.  KMR kitten milk is needed for both the babies and the mama who is nursing the ones we still have here that aren’t being fostered.  We have seven more weeks of babies coming of age. The cats would love cat beds. They like lying on the beds, cuddling up and stretching out.

Patch: Is it safe to assume that you still need litter and food?

Childs: We always need food and litter, especially with the babies, and not the expensive, scoopable kind, just the cheapest brand of clay because the kittens eat the scoopable kind.

Patch: What are the requirements for fostering kittens?

Childs: We take adults only with no children under 5, and they must have references. We prefer someone who has fostered before.

PatchIs there anything the community can do for NHS? Have you thought about a fundraiser or something like that?

Childs: If someone wants to put on a fundraiser for the Society, it would be incredible. We don’t have the means to hire a public relations person, a grant writer or even a kennel cleaner. It’s the grace of wonderful people. We haven’t had a fundraiser in four years. I had to sell the second surgery trailer in February. I was either going to close or have to sell it.

PatchIs there anything else the community can do to ensure your doors stay open?

Childs: Really, compassion and work ethic we have plenty. It is funds where we fall short.

To donate or foster kittens at the NHS, call Carol Childs at 813-695-4777.

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