June is the month set aside to recognize our local animal shelters and the many pets they have available for adoption.
Recently, I visited Spring Farm Cares on Route 12 south of New Hartford.   Spring Farm Cares is both an animal shelter and sanctuary.  They are a no-kill facility that keeps many species of animals but specilize in cats and horses.

Spring Farm Cares has 80-100 cats at any one time.  Not all of these felines are up for adoption as they care for cats with disease, those rehabbing from injury and feral cats.

Kittens are generally easily adoptable and there are several available now.  Of course, older and special needs cats need good homes and caring for one can be an unbelievably rewarding experience, as I found out with our feral rescue, Chloe.

During this month, it's also important to emphasize the importance of spaying and neutering pets.  This is the basis for the pet overcrowding problem.

The application process can be much more daunting that purchasing a pet from a breeder or 'free to a good home' type situation.  This is from the belief that the pets represent an animal's life and not just a commodity to be bought and sold.  A through adoption not only help to place the animals in homes that can truly care for them, but helps to ensure that pets won't get returned to the shelter or put out to fend for themselves in the wild.

Spring Farm Cares shared with me some amazing stories of pets who came to the sanctuary from very difficult backgrounds and have now been placed in loving homes.  Up first, Noah.

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