C ORVALLIS, OR: HEARTLAND HUMANE SOCIETY RECEIVED 33 CATS on Friday and 19 more in the last few days as a local area resident signed over all of her animals to the shelter. More cats are expected to arrive as the former owner continues to capture the ones that remain in her

One of the many cats from this unusual case.

home.

“In our 37 years of operation, we have never had such a large case,” says Executive Director, Kerry Mullin. “The shear volume of cats is placing a heavy burden on our already crowded shelter.”

The owner agreed to sign over the cats on Friday after negotiations with city officials about the condition of her residence.

“The good news is that the cats are officially ours and most of them are relatively healthy. Our goal is to get them placed into new homes as quickly as possible,” says Mullin. “They are very shy cats and it is impossible to predict whether they will become outgoing over time. We are looking for quiet homes who can accept these felines on their own terms.”

If families are looking for more outgoing cats, the shelter has more than 50 adoptable felines not from this particular case.

“Any adoption that takes place now will help, whether it is one of the cats from the case, or one of the other fabulous felines who are waiting for their forever homes,” says Mullin.

Members of the public who are unable to adopt but wish to help are welcome to make monetary donations.

“When all is said and done we will spend thousands of dollars providing these cats with medical testing, vaccinations, flea treatments, etc… We have also had to increase staff to provide proper care,” says Mullin. “Caring for animals in need is the reason we exist, and we count on the public’s generosity to make it possible.”

Heartland Humane Society is a nonprofit animal welfare organization founded in 1966. Heartland receives more than 2400 animals each year, provides free human education programs in all local area schools, conducts activities to strengthen the human-animal bond and provides services to low-income pet guardians.