Canadian Animal Rescue and Extended Shelter (CARES) in 91原创 is hosting its annual adoptathon event on Saturday, Feb. 4, providing a chance for people to adopt kittens and adult cats.

The event will take place at the PetSmart store on the 91原创 Bypass, with hours from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and about 20 kittens are expected to be available for adoption.

According to Clive Ellis, the organizer of the event, the economy and COVID have had a significant impact on the ability and willingness of people to keep their pets.

鈥淐OVID and the worsening economy have had an impact on people鈥檚 ability or willingness to maintain their pets at home. It is primarily due to cost of food, vet care, etc,鈥� Ellis said.

鈥淎t the shelter, we try to keep an open-door policy for new intakes, but space is becoming more and more limited, and the hope is that we can adopt as many of our kitty family as possible,鈥� he elaborated.

The event aims to provide maximum exposure for the cats and kittens in the hopes of finding them forever homes.

Ellis emphasized the importance of finding homes for adult cats, as well as kittens.

鈥淚t is vitally important to have our 鈥榞uests鈥� moved into forever homes鈥� generally kitties are more appealing to those people looking to adopt, but the adult cats are invariably just as loving and gentle, and we need to display those to the public at our events as much as possible,鈥� he said.

CARES will be offering various promotions during the event such as coupons to assist with food costs, and will have a team of volunteers to handle adoptions, answer questions, and provide advice.

The shelter encourages members of the community to visit their website at or call them at 604-532-5632 to find out about volunteering opportunities or how to make a tax-deductible donation.

鈥淭he need for these adoptathons is crucial鈥�. cats find themselves abandoned for a variety of reasons, and it is so important that they find new homes in a loving environment. The alternative is heartbreaking,鈥� Ellis said.

鈥淸The event] is all about the cats. The challenge for us grows all too quickly. Any help that you can give us will be more than welcome by everyone, those two-legged and also four-legged members of our family,鈥� he concluded.

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