SUMMIT, NJ — Summit Animal Rescue Association(S.A.R.A.) is struggling to find permanent or foster homes for their cats and kittens and needs the public's help.
“Our rescue is overwhelmed with rescued cats and kittens. It's a terrible year for so many needing help and unless us (and most rescues) find homes for these guys we can't make room to help others. We need foster homes too,” said SARA Adoption Coordinator /Fundraising Chairperson Julia Melton.
During Melton's interview with Patch she said she had 11 calls for help with rescues in one day.
“It's just getting so bad,” said Melton. “I'm like, ‘What? What is going on? Where are we putting all these guys?' Just it is so bad.”
Melton has been volunteering and helping to rescue cats and kittens for more than 25 years and she doesn't think she has ever had a year like this.
“It is just overwhelming,” said Melton.
Melton isn't entirely sure why the number of people giving up their pets has dramatically increased but says inflation could be part of it.
“The vet prices are going up. Food prices are going up. There's more people giving up their pets,” said Melton. “The speculation is that people got all these pets during COVID, and now they don't want them.”
She noted that she had a man call her the other day who wanted to give up his guinea pigs that he got three years ago.
“I'm like, ‘Oh, my God, it's just dogs, cats, guinea pigs, ferrets, birds, you name it. It's the worst I've ever seen… and there's not enough places to put them all,” said Melton.
Melton has been calling, begging and pleading with friends to help foster the pets. She has also reached out to neighboring rescues and shelters but they all seem to be in the same boat of being overwhelmed and full.
“It's insane. It's not just our group,” said Melton who noted that all of the animal groups work together to try and help each other out.
“We all work together, we work for a cause. We're all friends. We're all in it for the same goal of helping animals,” said Melton.
SARA, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Their mission is to rescue cats in need, provide them with medical attention, rehabilitate them, and provide a temporary loving environment until they find a permanent home through adoption.
In addition, they have hands-on volunteers who help New Jersey residents to locate low cost spay and neuter options for feral cats to help reduce the number of unwanted kittens in shelters.
Currently, SARA has 80 cats or kittens in their care. All of the pets are fostered at a volunteer's home.
Between the bills for medical care and the food to care for these animals, Melton said SARA is need of help in the form of monetary donations or donations for items from their Amazon Wishlist. Fosters are also very much needed to help house the influx of cats.
For more information on SARA Inc., to donate, adopt, or foster visit sararescue.com or email saracats.julia@gmail.com.
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