The Lycoming Animal Protection Society Inc. moved into its new facility at 125 Phillips Park Drive, South Williamsport, in July and according to Tracy Haas, board member and director of public relations and marketing, the staff is more than happy with the more centralized location.
LAPS will hold an open house from 1 to 4 p.m. next Sunday. Light refreshments will be served.
The feline shelter and adoption center, which is filled to capacity with almost 90 cats, was founded in 1992 in Montoursville. Although its previous location on Fourth Street was much bigger - its South Williamsport location is about 6,000 square feet smaller - much of the space was wasted, Haas said.
"The old facility on Fourth Street was an old Rea and Derrick Drug Store that had high ceilings and was heated with oil," Haas said. "It was very expensive to heat in the winter and we also wanted something that was more centralized and more visible to the community."
According to Haas, the shelter probably still would be under construction if not for the help of 40 volunteers from Lycoming Housing, who provided a Day of Caring to get the facility up and running.
"When they walked into this place that day, it was just a concrete floor, no rooms or anything. Eighty percent of what they did was done in that one day. This was something that we, as volunteers, would have done over nights and weekends, which we were already doing. By the end of the work day, all of the rooms were framed and the chicken wire was up. Everyone was on their hands and knees working to get the shelter ready and it wasn't just carpenters, it was maintenance people, marketing people, administrators."
The no-kill shelter relies solely on donations to keep the nonprofit business up and running and is staffed by volunteers from as far as Northumberland and Muncy who devote their time feeding the felines, changing litter boxes and bedding, giving medications and taking the cats to their veterinary visits at the Loyalsock Animal Hospital.
Cathy Caputo started as the shelter's "Monday morning medication girl" 2 1/2 years ago and now volunteers with the shelter each Monday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and also on Friday evenings. She also works full-time as a waitress at Perkins.
"I'm a cat lover, No. 1," Caputo said. "And it makes me feel good, needed and loved. When I started, I was an empty-nester, living by myself."
Caputo fosters two LAPS cats and has adopted one. All three have chronic illnesses.
Even though the LAPS space is much smaller, Haas said there are options that weren't possible before, like two isolation rooms for either introducing new cats to the facility or keeping illnesses at bay.
"The only time a cat is kept in a cage is when they are first brought in or if they are sick," she said.
Otherwise, the cats are paired with others who have similar personalities, like in the senior compound Haas said was fondly named "Shady Pines" and the young adult compound.
Five of the cats are kept separated due to feline immune deficiency, which, unlike the human version of the disease, is passed through bites, scratches and saliva.
"They're more susceptible to infections, but as long as they have the appropriate care and are kept on a premium food to help their immune system, they can live a normal, healthy life. Cats with FIV also should be kept indoors and need to be watched more closely with other feline housemates in case they fight."
LAPS recently partnered with PetCo near the Lycoming Mall, Pennsdale. Kittens are on display at the store, which may be adopted through LAPS.
The majority of the cats that come to the shelter are strays or drop-offs and others come from families who could no longer take care of a cat because of relocating or the passing of a parent. Most of the cats are adults and unfortunately, Haas said, the shelter will be their permanent home, although four 15-year-old cats were adopted last year.
"The beauty of a senior cat is that what you see is what you get," she said. "With kittens, you don't know how they're going to turn out. They might be cute and sweet, but not be like that at all when they're older. Everybody wants to go straight for a kitten, but kittens scratch and climb."
Haas said with upward of 90 cats, there's certainly one to be found for any personality, whether the adoptee is looking for a sleepy, mellow cat, or an active, playful cat.
"And if a person's situation ever changes or if they just find that the cat isn't a good fit, we'll take the cat back. We are a lifelong support for the cats, we certainly don't want any of our cats to end up as strays."
The facility is in need of volunteers and hopes to one day work with service organizations like the Boy and Girl Scouts of America and high school students, Haas said.
"Youth can volunteer as long as they have an adult working with them. It's good to teach young people about giving back to the community," she said. "We can find something for anyone whether it's for two days a week or one hour, whether it's doing laundry, giving medications or returning calls, we'll take whatever we can get."
Adoptions are $50 for an adult cat, which always is up-to-date on all shots and is spayed or neutered and kittens, which are $75, are up-to-date on shots and, although they are not spayed or neutered, a certificate is provided by LAPS for the procedure to be handled at the animal hospital. Haas encourages those interested in adoption to stop by the facility during its hours - 9 a.m. to noon Mondays, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays, 8 to 10 a.m. Wednesdays and 7 to 9 p.m. Fridays - to discuss with a volunteer exactly what it is that they're looking for.
"We have every flavor, shape and size of cat and it's OK if someone isn't sure. We want them to get as close to the right place as possible and we get cats all the time, so if you don't see one this time, maybe next week."
Those who cannot adopt a cat may sponsor one of their choice for $20 a month, which will go toward the cat's medical bills.
LAPS T-shirts make the perfect Christmas gift. For $15 to $20, shirts are available for all sizes and in various colors.
For more information, visit www.lapsshelter.org, where an adoption form also is available, along with the LAPS wish list. The shelter also may be reached by calling 327-8707 or e-mailing info@ lapsshelter.org.
