Rowan County-A dire situation at the Rowan County Animal Shelter, someone needs to adopt these cats or kittens soon, or else.
"You try to create a situation that they can continue to live, but it doesn't happen for all of them,” says Rowan County Animal Services Director Bob Pendergrass.
The Lake Norman Animal Shelter sent out an urgent email Sunday to save as many of these orphans as possible, for some, it was too late. Pendergrass says it is really pet owners to blame.
“If you’re not going to intentionally breed animals then go ahead and spay or neuter your pet,” says Pendergrass.
Because of the high breeding rates during the summer months, the shelter sees a lot more cats and kittens coming in. Which is why they have started a special for 50% off all cat adoptions which pays for a voucher for spay and neutering.
“We are really pushing to try to get animals out within 14 days of their arrival here if at all possible,” says Pendergrass.
This animal shelter actually has one of the lowest kill rates in the surrounding area at just 15%. Pendergrass says if people don't adopt, they have no choice but to euthanize the animals.
"Part of the problem is you can look in here and you can see that we’ve got cats that are in a box that are about 2 feet square,” says Pendergrass. “How long should an animal be forced to live in that situation before you consider it inhumane?”
The shelter keeps their facebook page and website updated with pictures of the cats as well as when their lasts days will be. And Pendergrass hopes that more people will see how extreme their situation is and come to adopt.