New Feline Communal Room & an Opportunity to Name the Room

A few months ago, Coulee Region Humane Society (CRHS) staff and volunteers began to plan for a space that would allow cats to co-exist together in a more natural environment.  After much research, a plan was developed to move forward with creating this, from which cats living at the shelter would benefit for years to come.

Construction began in early February and was completed by the end of February.  The space that has been created provides multiple benefits to cats and small animals residing at CRHS, including:

*increased awareness for cats that tend to wait longer for adoption such as black cats, tortoiseshell cats, and older cats.  Experience tells us that these longer term cats will be healthier when living in a more natural environment with windows, perches, and other cats.  In addition, they can be viewed and met in an environment where their personalities emerge and where a relationship with the adopter can begin.  Someone who may not stop at the cage of an “ordinary” black cat can be charmed by its style and charisma in this social setting. 

*increased attention for adult cats.  Creating this new space allowed us to also create two, larger rooms to house adoptable cats, kittens, and small animals such as rabbits, birds, gerbils and hamsters.  The adult cats live in the first adoption room, resulting in adopters seeing them first.  The kittens and small animals live in the second, separate adoption room.  Prior to this renovation, small animals were tucked away in a room that was neither visible nor readily accessible to the public.  Now, small animals are seen almost immediately, which we hope will increase their adoption rates and the visitor’s overall awareness that these little critters are in search of homes, too.

*segregation of kittens from cats should reduce the spread of Upper Respiratory Infection to adoptable adult cats.

We have applied for grants and have used previous donations that were specified for cats.  However, we hope to raise additional dollars to help cover the cost of this room as the total renovation cost was a little over $14,000.  Currently, the room is simply being called the Feline Communal Room.  Beginning April 14^th, 2008, we began an auction for naming rights to this room.  The auction will last until May 14^th, 2008.  To bid on naming rights to this room, you can call or email Marcia Christman at 608-781-4014 or marcia.christman@couleehumane.com (in her absence, if you call, you may ask for Heather Schmid).  The rules are very simple:

*bidding will begin at $250 for naming rights to the room

*anyone wishing to bid on naming rights will need to provide their name, address, and phone number

*the highest bidder will need to choose a name for this room that is professional and meets the approval of CRHS

*the highest bid will be updated on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday of every week through May 14^th, 2008, on CRHS’s website (www.couleehumane.com)

*bidding will close at the end of business for CRHS on Wednesday, May 14^th, 2008, at 5:00pm

*the highest bidder will be announced on our website by 9:00am on Thursday, May 15^th, 2008

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Date Last Modified 04/09/2008