SACRAMENTO, Calif., — For the second straight year, The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and the Sacramento River Cats have joined forces with local animal agencies to educate cat owners on the dangers of allowing their cats to roam outside, needlessly putting their feline friends at significant risk.
Cats are America's most popular pets, but an estimated one-third of all cat owners allow their pets to journey outdoors. At the River Cats game on Friday, June 17, The HSUS will be joined by other animal experts from across the region to hand out free cat toys and cat-care information outlining how cats can endanger wildlife, and even face threats that include traffic, diseases, and animal cruelty when they are allowed outdoors.
"Many people think that it's acceptable for cats to be kept outdoors, but that's just not the case," said Eric Sakach, director of The HSUS' West Coast regional office. "Cats face many dangers when outdoors, and it's up to us to protect them by keeping them indoors. We hope that once cat owners learn the facts, they will transition their outdoor cat to an indoor cat."
The HSUS will have an information booth at the game, as well as a computerized kiosk to search for adoptable animals in the area. Besides great information, the first 300 "Safe at Home" attendees will also receive a free commemorative T-shirt.
Other animal care agencies that will be in attendance include the Sacramento SPCA, Sacramento City Animal Care Services, Sacramento County Animal Care and Regulation, Placer County SPCA, Placer County Animal Control, Yolo County Animal Services, Amador County Animal Control and El Dorado County Animal Control.
The city of Sacramento also supports keeping cats indoors. Mayor Heather Fargo proclaimed March 13-19, 2005 as Safe Cats Sacramento Week for the third year.
The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization representing more than nine million members and constituents. The non-profit organization is a mainstream voice for animals, with active programs in companion animals and equine protection, disaster preparedness and response, wildlife and habitat protection, animals in research and farm animal welfare. The HSUS protects all animals through education, investigation, litigation, legislation, advocacy, and field work. The group is based in Washington and has numerous field representatives across the country. On the web at www.hsus.org.
