The Patrick County Animal Shelter is overflowing with cats and kittens that are available for adoption following an owner surrender case last week, according to Patrick County Sheriff Dan Smith.
Smith said there are all sizes, breeds, colors and ages of felines available for adoption.
He encouraged anyone who is interested in adopting one of the cats or kittens to make haste because “we are not equipped to handle this many. We don’t have the resources or the space.”
Smith explained his office has been working on the removal case since last Thursday, when Patrick County Sheriff’s Deputy Ronnie Williams, who is assigned to Animal Control, began “the investigation and removal” of the cats from the owner in Meadows of Dan.
Williams is in charge of the case, Smith said, adding that the owner currently is not facing charges in connection with the removal. As a result, the owner is not being identified by his office.
The owner “ultimately surrendered” the cats, Smith said. “We removed 72 cats total.”
Smith said the Angels of Assisi, a Roanoke-based animal shelter, accommodated 24 of the felines.
On its social media page, the group wrote, “We hate to ask again, but we need your help. Our rescue team has arrived back at our facility with 24 cats in tow. These cats were living in a home in Patrick County in rough conditions … The medical care these cats will need is extensive. Some are in worse shape than others… Please consider contributing to our Biscuit Fund to help with their medical care.”
To help with that effort, visit https://www.facebook.com/angelsofassisi.
The remaining 48 cats are being housed in the local shelter in Stuart for now, under the care of Wanda Vaden, who is the supervisor there, Smith said.
“We have not received any information about or calls from anyone else offering to help or wanting to adopt” the remaining cats, Smith said.
Anyone interested in adopting the cats is encouraged to call the shelter at (276) 694-6259.
“We have no way to hold them for long,” Smith reiterated.
