When the Exception Becomes the Rule…The Rule that Saves Lives

There’s an old saying about “When the exception becomes the rule…” That happens so often here at your Rancho Coastal Humane Society that we often don’t notice until someone points it out to us. One of our most recent examples was a cat named Jeanne and her litter of four kittens.

Jeanne was almost two years old when she was taken to a local animal shelter and scheduled for spay surgery. That’s the law in San Diego County. A pet must be spayed or neutered before it can be adopted and leave an animal shelter.

She was in the next room, waiting for her turn, when she began meowing. She seemed to be in distress, so the surgical team put a towel over the door to her cage, hoping it would calm her.

Her meowing subsided. The next sounds heard from Jeanne’s enclosure were the soft mews of the four tiny kittens she had just delivered.

Members of your Rancho Coastal Humane Society’s medical team were at the shelter “cat shopping” when it happened. Since 94 percent of the pets adopted at RCHS are transferred to us through our Friends of County Animal Shelters (FOCAS) program, it was ideal. Jeanne and her babies, Joey, Jazzy, Jamie, and Jay, went into foster care with RCHS volunteers. Two months later they began their new lives with their new families. Lives that were nearly lost.

When we think about Jeanne and her kittens, we’re reminded that they represent ten lives. When RCHS  accepted this litter, we saved five lives. By having them transferred here through FOCAS, we also created space for the next five cats who arrived at that other shelter.

The adoption fee for kittens is $125. Adult cats are $100. Seniors 7-years and up are $75. The adoption fee includes medical exams, vaccinations, spay or neuter, and registered microchip. For more information call 760-753-6413, visit Rancho Coastal Humane Society at 389 Requeza Street in Encinitas, or log on to www.sdpets.org
Kennels and Cattery open 11 AM to 5 PM every day but Tuesday.

Jeanne and her babies were saved thanks to you and your ongoing support of Rancho Coastal Humane Society…where we believe Every Animal Deserves a Tomorrow ®.