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First Quarter 2024
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Note from the Director
Dear Community Members,
We are very excited to offer a quarterly newsletter. From volunteer opportunities to community events and pet adoptions, there are so many wonderful ways we engage with our community. We hope this publication provides useful information about what's happening at the Kent County Animal Shelter (KCAS), and how you can get involved.
While most of us are looking forward to the melting of the snow and the return of warmer temperatures, shelters begin to brace themselves for a Spring phenomenon known as "Kitten Season." Shelters across the country often see an increase in newborn and young kittens in need of help who have been found in random places such as barns and under sheds.
Though we have skilled staff and veterinarians, kittens require around-the-clock feeding and care, which is challenging to provide in a shelter setting. Our amazing volunteers help in many ways but cannot keep up with the number of kittens in need.
This is where we ask our community for help. Not all kittens that appear abandoned truly are; there are steps you can take to assess whether human intervention is necessary. We cannot stress enough that statistically a kittens' best chance of survival is when they can remain with their mother.
Please visit our Community Resources page to learn more about kitten season, what to do if you find a kitten, and how you can help the shelter this kitten season.
Your support is greatly appreciated,
Angela Hollinshead
Director, Kent County Animal Shelter
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Year In Review
The beginning of the new year means the opportunity reflect on what the KCAS staff, volunteers, and supporters accomplished in 2023. The statistic that stands out most is the overall number of animals the KCAS provided housing and care for in 2023, a number that is the highest it has been since the pandemic. Over 3000 animals temporarily called KCAS home in 2023. Many of the animals arrive lost, Injured, and scared. The shelters veterinary team mends their wounds, the animal care staff ensure they have a safe, clean, and comfortable space to sleep and dozens of dedicated volunteers ensure they receive all the treats and love possible. Through teamwork, the shelter provided 95% of those animals with a second chance.
2023 was a year of growth for many shelter programs. The shelter veterinarian and her amazing team performed 2,132 spay and neuter surgeries, 380 more than the previous year. The volume of surgery performed at the shelter has increased 181% since 2016.
Our behavior staff dedicated over 23 hours last year counseling pet owners, offering tools to manage pet behaviors. Through training and support, families are less inclined to surrender their pets over resolvable issues. We're proud to expand our resources, from pet food to training aid, to keep pets and families united.
As they look ahead to 2024, we remain committed to creating a more humane world by inspiring compassion and advancing the welfare of animals and people, meeting the varied needs of both. We will continue working to prevent healthy and treatable animals from being euthanized while expanding innovative programs to help the community.
Volunteer Opportunities
We could not do all of the work we do without the assistance of our volunteers. We have an amazing team that gives a lot of time and effort, and is always willing to learn new information and skills.
If you’ve been looking for a way to enrich your life and the lives of shelter animals, volunteering with the KCAS may be a great opportunity for you. We provide a range of volunteer opportunities, including laundry, cat enrichment, and dog walking, all with flexible scheduling. To learn how you can become a volunteer click here.
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Operation Get Me Home
Recently, the KCAS received a $4,700 grant to purchase twenty pet microchip scanners to distribute to law enforcement agencies across Kent County.
Director Angela Hollinshead recently met with local law enforcement leadership to share how their agency can help reunite pets with their families. Every Kent County police department has at least one microchip scanner and larger agencies were issued multiple scanners. In the coming year, the shelter anticipates to see an increase in animals returned to their owners before ending up at the shelter.
We are responsible for caring for and housing stray animals from all 847 square miles of Kent County. With such a large geographical coverage area, this creates barriers for owners to get their pets back if they end up at KCAS. Transportation to the shelter or time off work are often reasons owners are unable to come for their pets. By enabling law enforcement to use microchip identification in the field, pets now have the highest likelihood of being reunited with their families.
You can help ensure your pet's safe return by having it microchipped. Click here to find how can get your pet microchipped.
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How Did You Get Here?
Curious how you received this newsletter? Your email was obtained through online lists, events, or directly from our website, and we're excited to have you on board.
If, for any reason, you wish to unsubscribe from our newsletter, you can easily do so by clicking the "unsubscribe" link in the box at the bottom of the email. However, we hope you'll choose to stay connected and be a part of our growing online community.
Stay Updated - Sign Up for Our Newsletter
Did you receive this newsletter from a friend, family member or colleague? If so, you can visit our website and click on the "Newsletter Sign-up" button to ensure you receive the newsletter directly and stay updated on the latest happenings at the animal shelter!
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