Kellers Kats Rescue: Kia Pet Adoption Grant Report

How did this grant help your organization and the pets in your care?

We were able to reduce or eliminate the adoption fees for 21 cats. With a kitten season that seemed endless and more owner surrenders than we've ever experienced before, we were at our maximum capacity for the better part of the year.

Keller's Kats is able to take in special-needs cats as well as those with urgent medical needs because of our extensive foster system. We also have Keller's Klubhouse, which can house up to 80 cats at a time. It is primarily a cage-free environment unless a cat's needs requires temporary cage rest. It is divided into three spaces: One space is dedicated to 8-10 cats with cerebellar hypoplasia. The main space can house up to 60 cats. The third space is for those shy cats or hospice cases that need their quiet time.

Every adoption makes room for a cat in need. Reducing or eliminating the fees using this grant helped more than just the cats who were adopted.

How many pets did this grant help?

21 technically, but 42 if you count those who could take the place of those who were adopted

Please provide a story of one or more specific pets this grant helped.

As mentioned above, owner surrenders, particularly in the first six months of 2023, were constant.

We experienced a particularly sad case in which a young man had become estranged from his family due to substance-abuse issues. They had tried to help him, to no avail. He also separated from his longtime girlfriend. At the time of the split, they had four purebred Maine Coon cats. She took two and he kept two, Doc (first photo) and Marty (second photo).

On May 6, law enforcement contacted Animal Control after the young man was found deceased in his apartment. The best estimate based on the investigation was that the cats had been alone for at least a week without food or water.

Rochester Animal Services contacted us due to the uniqueness of the cats themselves as well as the sad situation. They needed extensive medical care, and we agreed to take them. In the interim, the young man’s brother reached out to us and asked if he could adopt the cats. He paid their medical costs and we waived their adoption fees.