This past week, sadly, someone left a cat in a cage behind the building at Fearless Kitty Rescue. Yes, there was a note attached as to the circumstances, however, this is never the responsible solution.

When we won the Republic Services grant in 2018, we committed to using that money to pay for the costs of 40 homeless cats and kittens wandering the streets of Fountain Hills, not owner surrenders. It turns out we took in 51 homeless cats, spending $12,000 to care for them. Thirty were not spayed or neutered. If you know anything about cats, you know how quickly 30 can turn into 300.

Fearless Kitty Rescue was created to save the lives of homeless cats and those at risk of being euthanized at open intake facilities/county shelters. We did not start this rescue as a convenient place for owners who no longer want to care for their cats. Responsible pet ownership starts the day you adopt an animal. Responsible pet ownership includes making arrangements for your animals if the circumstances arise that you must give them up; this also includes making arrangements for them in case of your own death.

Please, before you adopt a cat, dog, rabbit, pig, bird or any other animal, make sure you can be responsible to it for the rest of its life, including rehoming it responsibly if the circumstances in your life change. If you can’t, don’t adopt. Dumping your animal on the doorstep of any rescue or shelter (public or private) is not considered responsible rehoming.

If you would like to know more about our owner surrender program or our continuing care program in the event of your death, both of which are responsible rehoming, please contact us at info@fearlesskittyrescue.org.