Unlike some shelters in the United States, the City of Powell/Moyer Animal Shelter cares for animals until they find a home. In some cases, it may take weeks, months or even years for a pet to be adopted.

While cats and dogs wait for a home, new animals arrive at the shelter. If residents don’t step forward to adopt pets, the shelter inevitably becomes crowded — as is the case now.

“We can’t take any cats, because we’re full,” said Elfriede Milburn, longtime leader of Caring for Powell Animals.

As of last week, the shelter had around 30 cats. Milburn said the shelter tends to get crowded every summer.

If you have considered adopting a cat, now’s the time. The shelter is open Mondays through Fridays from 9-10 a.m. and 3:30-6:30 p.m. On Saturdays, the shelter is open from noon to 3 p.m. It costs $25 to adopt a cat that has been spayed or neutered and also has its shots.

The shelter requires cats and dogs to be spayed or neutered before they’re adopted. If an animal is too young to undergo the procedure, then the shelter follows up with the animals’ new owners later.

The crowded shelter illustrates the importance of spaying and neutering animals.

Every year, more than 2.7 million healthy, adoptable cats and dogs are euthanized in shelters nationwide, according to the Humane Society of the United States. Thankfully, the Powell animal shelter continues to feed and care for animals that are waiting for homes instead of euthanizing them. Two dogs have been at the animal shelter for years, Milburn said.

Recently, a resident brought in a mother cat and a litter of kittens after finding them in an alley behind an old fridge. Shelter leaders must now find a home for the kittens as well as the mom.

“We have to get her spayed, of course, get her shots and beg somebody to take her,” Milburn said.

It’s important to spay or neuter pets to prevent overpopulation.

The Park County Animal Shelter will offer a low-cost spay and neuter clinic for dogs on Sept. 15-16 at the Boot and Bottle Club, 69 South Fork Road in Cody. For more information, call 307-578-8902.

In addition to spaying and neutering your pets, you can help the local animal shelter by sending a donation to Caring for Powell Animals at P.O. Box 504, Powell, WY 82435.

By keeping animals off the streets and finding homes for them, the animal shelter is an asset to our community. We’re glad Caring for Powell Animals leaders remain committed to keeping it a no-kill shelter.

“None of us would be there — we just couldn’t do that,” Milburn said of euthanizing animals waiting for adoption. “We’ll figure out something.”

By adopting a pet, volunteering or sending support to the shelter, you can be part of the solution.