May 13, 2011 Eva’s Eden (Oneness Foundation) was featured along with N.O.A.H. in a KEPR television news piece. Tri-Cities shelter, Eva’s Eden and N.O.A.H.’s efforts have made a significant difference in the number of euthanized cats, reduced by 20%, at the Pasco, WA shelter. We are honored to work with this shelter and the fine people who do their best every day to manage a very difficult and growing pet population. We appreciate KEPR highlighting the cooperation of our 3 organizations. Take a look at both the written article and the video and thanks for supporting our work.
by Neema Vedadi
Story Published: May 13, 2011 at 5:23 PM PST
Out-of-Towners Save Tri-Cities CatsPASCO — It’s the time of year our local animal shelters are normally overwhelmed with stray cats and dogs. Often called “kitten season,” there are normally too many animals and not enough homes. But KEPR discovered a big change this year.
Normally the rooms at the Tri-Cities Animal Shelter would be packed full of cats this time of year, but that’s not so, in fact some are packed full of empty cages.
Two rescue groups from the Westside, “N.O.A.H.” and “The Oneness Foundation” have been coming to the Tri-Cities and saving every adoptable cat in the building.
“They’re coming in and taking 30 cats at a time so that’s tremendous, and those are 30 cats that probably, as this season is hitting us, would’ve had to been euthanized,” says Tri-Cities Animal Shelter director Angela Zilar.
In fact the shelter says their euthanasia rates for cats is now down to near 30 percent. Last year it was close to 50 percent.
Taking these animals out of town helps keep down the cat population here in the Tri-Cities. So local pet lovers have more room for strays.
Carlos Rodriguez visits the shelter every week. For him, it’s the best place to look for an animal companion. “As soon as you get that trust and that dog trusts you, you guys are like the best friends in the world.”
And while the rescue situation is good right now, the shelter says it’s still seeing a steady amount of strays, despite recent efforts by the shelter and local groups to provide low cost spaying and neutering.
“Our program and their programs in the next couple of years will start to show a benefit. Right now it’s hard to show that benefit yet,” says ZilarBut for now there’s a chance the cats at the shelter will find homes, a Westside rescue group is planning another trip to Pasco to adopt more cats again next week.
It’s a good thing too, KEPR found out that most of the pets that leave the shelter are being taken by rescue groups, not by local families looking to adopt.









