Storm damage has forced Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) to limit operations at the King County Pet Adoption Center in Kent after falling trees severely damaged the shelter’s cat building, officials said.
Although not a full-blown cat-astrophe, the building has been deemed unsafe for occupancy, resulting in the loss of more than half of the shelter’s available cat housing, according to RASKC.
Due to the damage and ongoing flood emergency, RASKC will also continue to limit operations at the shelter through the weekend and possibly into next week.
“This has a tremendous impact on our ability to help animals and serve our community,” RASKC said in an update.
With reduced capacity, RASKC said it is temporarily focusing its limited resources on priority situations requiring immediate intervention. Those include injured animals at large that need urgent medical care, animals suffering from cruelty or neglect, and aggressive or dangerous animals that pose a risk to public safety.
RASKC said foster volunteers and partner organizations across the region have helped meet immediate sheltering needs for cats displaced by the damage. Still, officials are asking residents to help reduce the burden on the facility while recovery efforts continue.
“We need your help,” the agency said.
RASKC urged residents who find a pet that appears to have strayed to first look for a collar or tag, ask neighbors if they recognize the animal and use local social media groups to post photos. Residents are also encouraged to have pets scanned for a microchip at a veterinary office or animal shelter and to file a found pet report at kingcounty.gov/FoundAPet.
If a litter of kittens is found, RASKC advised residents not to remove them immediately, noting that the mother cat may be nearby searching for food. The agency said kittens have the best chance of survival if left with their mother and directed residents to guidance at humaneworld.org/found-kittens.
Officials also emphasized the importance of microchips and license tags, noting that pets with microchips are three times more likely to return home and that licensed pets can often be reunited with their families without a shelter stay.
For more information about RASKC, visit kingcounty.gov/pets or TailsFromRASKC.com.
For updates on the current flood emergency, visit KCEmergency.com.
