By SUE SUCHYTA
Sunday Times Newspapers
WYANDOTTE – Animal control officials have relocated 26 of the 28 Himalayan cats recently taken from a one-bedroom apartment to other animal advocate groups in order to provide the cats with the best possible care.
Two cats were returned to their original owners, who reportedly are moving outside of the city.
Animal Control Officer Chuck Gillenwater explained that the pound was overwhelmed with potential Himalayan cat adoptees. The Animal Pound’s goal was to provide homes for the cats – not to have them adopted for $60 and then resold at a profit.
Three animal rescue groups, the Precious Animal Welfare Society (better known as P.A.W.S.), Shelter to Home Inc., and the Siamese Cat Rescue Center of Ohio, moved the Himalayans to their facilities to provide them with the needed medical care the Wyandotte pound could not afford.
At the end of August the pound was housed in temporary quarters in the Department of Public Service, 4201 13th, while the pound’s interior was repainted. The temporary building was within sight of the current pound.
A shelter volunteer explained that freshly scraped and painted walls are a proactive health move for the animals, since walls with chipped paint can harbor the parvovirus. The new walls are painted beige.
“They’re no longer battleship gray,” a delighted volunteer said. “It’s cosmic cream.”
Inside the freshly repainted building, the cats will be relocated into the first room. The will open up more room in the back of the building for larger dog kennels. The pound housed 73 cats and 10 dogs as of Aug. 31.
The Wyandotte Pound is at 1170 Grove St. Adoption hours are 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Friday; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday. For more information about animal adoptions call (734) 324-4444.