Furry Friends in need of assistance

Posted By MATT LUCAS

Posted 15 days ago

The Furry Friends may be one of the largest safe havens in the region for cats in need, but lately the organization has found itself in great need of relief as well.

"We have about 15 foster homes helping us out, but we're still full to the max here," said Marie Aldred, the group's president.

"People don't think to come here to adopt a cat or kitten, but they should. We have so many that would make wonderful pets to the right home."

For the past 16 years, volunteers like Aldred have helped create what she considers a family committed to giving abandoned , unwanted and sometimes unadoptable cats, a caring environment for them to spend their lives.

Furry Friends operates from a 1,200-square-foot shelter at 11 Hart Dr., with many scratching posts, cat beds and homemade afghans spread throughout the area to accommodate the 70 plus cats and kittens. Furry Friends has purchased land at 455 Tiffin St. to build a new 5,000-sq.-ft facility.

"We've renewed our lease here (11 Hart Dr.) for two more years, and hope to have the new shelter by then," she said.

"But it costs a lot of money to build the new place and we have to raise about $300,000. The shelter is in desperate need of public donations."

Furry Friends also operates in PetSmart, but has seen their time there cut in half.

To help combat this, Furry Friends recently opened a gift shop in a space provided by Steckley-Gooderham Funeral Home on Worsley Street, with all funds going towards developing the new shelter.

Furry Friends is a non-profit, volunteer run organization. The adoption centre is open from 6 p. m. and 8 p. m. each week. Call 792-4911 for information.

Matt Lucas is the Examiner's coop student from Barrie Central