Frequently Asked Questions
Just click on a question!
Q
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How long do you keep animals?
A
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It can vary from a couple days to even years. No matter how long it takes, each
cat at Happy Endings has a safe, loving home until their permanent home comes
along. No cat is ever euthanized for convenience sake, but only when, in a
veterinarian’s professional opinion, is in a state of terminal suffering.
A
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Definitely not. The majority of our shelter population is well
adjusted, often well-trained and wonderful cats. Pet overpopulation,
unclaimed strays, irresponsible pet ownership and unexpected economic issues are
the primary causes for pets becoming shelter animals.
Q
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How is the shelter financed?
A
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The majority of our funding comes from donations, adoption fees, fundraising
efforts and merchandise sales. Additionally, people who share our vision and
responsibility for caring for cats share their estates, insurance and wills with
Happy Endings.
Q
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What will my monetary donation pay for?
A
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100% of your tax deductible contributions are spent on quality care
(medical and behavioral) for our cats and basic supplies. Happy Endings is run
solely by volunteers.
Q
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Are there other ways to help Happy Endings besides making a financial
contribution?
A
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Absolutely!
Volunteers are always needed. If your time or energy won’t allow
you to volunteer with us, please tell others that we have a “no-kill” policy and
that help is always needed!
Volunteer Form (Download) Volunteer Form (Online)
Q
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What is the adoption process and how
much does it cost?
A - All potential adopters
fill out an application and go through an extensive interview process. Adoption
facilitators assist in finding the perfect cat that best matches your home.
After choosing your cat, there is a cool-down period. Veterinarian reference
checks and follow-up telephone calls are made on Mondays to make sure you are
still interested. When the interview process is complete and all qualifications
are met, a home visit is set up and the selected cat is delivered to its new
home.
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Feline Leukemia and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus tests
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Distemper Shots
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Rabies Booster (Good for 1 year from date given)
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Preventative Dewormer
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Spay/Neuter procedure on cats that are at least 8 months or older
Q
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I found a stray or I can no longer
keep my cat. Will you take it?
A - We are very sorry, but due to overwhelming requests, we have closed our waiting list and are not taking any surrenders at this time. Please refer to our Resource List for other suggestions and possible options.
Q
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My cat is sick, is it contagious?
A -
There are some diseases that can affect both humans and animals. These are known
as zoonotic diseases or diseases that can be passed from pets to humans and from
humans to pets. People with compromised immune systems from disease or
medications are at higher risk. The most common feline zoonotic diseases
include:
•
Ringworm
•
Toxoplasmosis
•
Salmonellosis
•
Campylbacter infection
•
Giardia infection
•
Cryptosporidium infection
•
Roundworms
•
Lyme Disease
•
Malaria
•
Rabies
•
Tuberculosis
•
Coccidia
Q
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What can I do to protect myself from
zoonotic diseases?
A -
Attention to cleanliness along with common sense will help protect you, your
family and your pet. Keep these tips in mind:
•
Keep your pet up to date on vaccinations,
especially the rabies vaccine.
•
Keep your pet free of fleas and ticks.
•
Keep your pet free of intestinal
parasites, such as worms; a fecal sample should be checked at least once a year.
•
Do not feed your pet raw meats. Keep cats
indoors or on a leash and under supervision when outside.
•
Wash your hands before handling food and
after handling animals.
•
Do not allow your pet to lick your food
utensils or plates, bowls, etc. Do not allow animals to lick your face.
•
Clean feces from litter boxes daily;
empty and clean litter box periodically, using hot water and detergent.
•
Wear gloves when gardening.
•
Wear gloves when handling raw meat.
•
Cover sandboxes for children when not in
use (to discourage stray cats from using the sandbox as a litter box).
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Wash all fruits and vegetables before
eating.
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Cook meat thoroughly before eating.
•
Seek medical attention if you are bitten
by an animal.
Q
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My cat has feline HIV/AIDS or
leukemia. Will it infect me too?
A
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No, you are more likely to “catch” a disease from another person than you
are from your cat. Studies prove that you cannot contract HIV/AIDS or leukemia
from your cat. Both Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) and Feline Immunodeficiency
Virus (FIV) are contagious between cats, but neither of them can infect humans.
Likely the human virus cannot infect cats.
Q
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How can I keep my cat healthy?
A -
Pet health is very important. Here are a few tips:
•
Keep your pet’s vaccinations up to date
and be sure your pet has an annual health exam
•
Do not let your pet drink from the toilet
•
Keep your pet indoors or outside only on
a leash and supervised
•
Never feed your pet raw or undercooked
meat, raw eggs, or unpasteurized milk
•
Have a plan for good flea and tick
control
•
Keep your pet’s feeding and sleeping
areas clean
•
Ensure your pet is spayed or neutered
•
Wash your hands after handling any pet
•
Be very careful when handling any animal
under 6 months of age, especially if it has diarrhea or appears to be ill
