The capital region is seeing more and more fundraisers for animal rescue groups. One was in front of Tallahassee's Fat Cat Cafe on Park Avenue Saturday, Jan. 22. Among those on hand was the cafe's founder Michelle Hartsfield.
"The kitties did not stop reproducing when COVID came. We all got nervous and had to shut down for a little while, but the rescues didn't stop. We didn't stop for long. We're all back out there again, doing [trap & release], we're spaying/neutering, we're rescuing kittens and cats."
And now, Hartsfield said, more people are finding themselves homeless and turning over their pets to animal shelters and rescue organizations like hers.
"I think the biggest struggle is probably the community members. We're hearing a lot about people becoming homeless and then they have cats and dogs and what do they do with their animals? They're turning to us for help and it's a struggle for all the rescues—not having space, to say no, or try to find the space."
Hartsfield said groups like hers, as well as the area's animal shelters, need financial support, more volunteers, foster homes, and permanent pet adoptions.
