Amazing news for kittens in Hillsborough County, Florida! With support from Alley Cat Allies, the Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center enacted a Wait Until 8 program, and it’s already saving kittens’ lives. Over 114 kittens have been saved since the program began this springabout 2/3 of the kittens that came into the shelter!
Wait Until 8 empowers citizens to become caregivers for neonatal kittens until they are 8 weeks old or at least 2 poundsthe safest time for kittens to be spayed or neutered. Now when someone brings a kitten under 8 weeks old into the Pet Resource Center, shelter staff immediately explain that the kitten is likely to be euthanized unless the person is willing to take them home and care for them. If the person cannot care for the kitten, rescue groups can step in and take them instead.
Alley Cat Allies provides willing caretakers with a free Kitten Survival Kit of supplies like formula, bottles, and care information. A specialist at the shelter gives every caretaker individualized instruction about neonatal kittens so they’re prepared.
When the kitten(s) are 8 weeks old, they can be brought back to the shelter to be spayed/neutered and adopted out. Or their caretaker can adopt them at no cost, including free microchips, pet licenses, and vaccinations!
We are happy to be working with the Pet Resource Center to make a difference for Hillsborough County’s kittens. We’re saving lives together and creating a model for other shelters.