Furkids, Inc. announced the opening of the largest cage-free, no-kill animal shelter in Georgia. The shelter, which is more like a day care center than a typical shelter, is made up of separate rooms, furnished the way cats prefer, where cats can relax and enjoy life in cat-like comfort while waiting for a permanent home. It can house 200 cats in a bright, cheerful and safe environment where they are fed and cared for by the staff and volunteers.

The facility was designed with the cats in mind, and even includes a room for FIV positive cats. The isolation and quarantine rooms have a separate HVAC system that vents directly to the outside to protect the healthy cats. Each room is built to provide a safe but interesting environment for cats, with cat furniture and special shelving on the walls that allows them to jump, climb, play, perch up high and view the world from above, and plenty of places to do what cats do best—sleep.

Getting a shelter like this up and going is a remarkable achievement when you consider that Furkids did not exist until 2003. Most of the credit for the success of Furkids goes to Samantha Shelton, the founder, director and driving force behind the organization. Her success is even more impressive when you consider that when she began this venture she had no experience in animal rescue, fund-raising or starting and running a non-profit corporation. She made it her business to learn these things and more, and then she put what she had learned to work. Her energy and determination soon attracted a following of volunteers who wanted to be involved with what she was doing, and soon they built a network of over 50 foster homes caring for homeless cats and dogs.

The goal was always a shelter to care for and house the animals, and when enough money was raised through donations, space was found and renovations began. In early April, the Furkids shelter opened its door to the public with a “grand opening weekend” that brought in hundreds of visitors, much needed donations, and led to the adoption of numerous cats.

The next project on the agenda is to create a surgical suite in the shelter where volunteer vets can perform spays and neuters as well as other surgeries. The cost to stock and furnish the surgery room is $23,000 and work will begin as soon as the funds are available.

It costs $7000 a month to operate the shelter, and that is with volunteer help. Shelton hopes to find 200 people who would agree to donate $35 a month, which would cover their expenses. If you would be interested in being a “friend of Furkids” and donate $35 a month, they would love to hear from you. You can go to www.furkids.org for more information or call them at 770-613-0009.

Furkids can always use more help, and if you can donate a few hours to help care for the cats at the shelter it would be greatly appreciated. The shelter is located at 2650 Pleasantdale Road, Suite 8, near Buford Highway. At this time Furkids does not have the staff to keep regular hours, but if you are interested in adopting a cat, call them and arrangements will be made to see you at a time convenient to you.

Visit Furkids at www.furkids.org.