Nearly 200 cats accommodated in first year

“We had no idea at all what to expect,” said Orcas Animal Shelter Manager Marsha Waunch. “I only knew we’d have a lot of cats.”

But not in her wildest dreams did Waunch imagine the number of felines that would be brought to the shelter in just a one-year period. That number is 185, as of Nov. 19, 2003. (It has also provided care for 42 dogs.)

Waunch figured it would be about 20 years before the shelter saw this number of cats in a given year. As things turned out, she was 19 years early.

It was a little over a year ago, on Nov. 1, 2002, that the Orcas Animal Shelter formally opened in Eastsound, on Hope Lane, off Mount Baker Road. Since then, it has become one of the busiest places on Orcas Island, forcing shelter staff to set up extra rooms to accommodate all the cats. One such room, the isolation room, where new arrivals are placed until they are confirmed to be in good health, is filled to overflowing, requiring other rooms to be pressed into service.

Caring for animals is caretaker Laurie Michaels, who resides on the property, plus about 18 volunteers -- eight adults and 10 kids at last count, according to Waunch.

The volunteers vary widely in age, from little kids to senior citizens. But they’re all there for the same reason, namely, that they love animals, and they enjoy taking care of them.

Waunch and Animal Needs Coordinator Mary Rancourt feel they simply can’t stay away. The urge to be there is too great. “I’m being drawn there like a magnet,” Mary Rancourt says.

Sixth graders Stephanie Shaw, Alyssa Ledgerwood and Hannah North are among the youngsters who volunteer to be at the shelter. They come two afternoons a week to play with the animals, clean their litter boxes, and brush the cats and dogs. When asked why she keeps coming to the shelter, Stephanie says, “It’s fun, and it gives a lot of responsibility.”

The shelter not only provides a loving home for the animals, it also offers them a state-of-the-art facility that is quiet, odor free, with soft pastel colors and furnished with items for the animals to enjoy. And coming soon will be a stereo system providing the types of music that animals are known to enjoy, namely, classical and light jazz music.

All the animals that leave the shelter are spayed and neutered by veterinarian Joe Gaydos, also a volunteer. The spaying and neutering service is also made available to community members’ pets on a space available basis, and at low cost. Waunch is hoping that the service will reduce the number of stray cats on the island and, eventually, the number of animals needed to be taken to the shelter.

The shelter has gotten rave reviews, and not just from islanders. Representatives from other small communities have checked out the Orcas shelter and are now making plans to build a similar-type facility in their home towns.

Nevertheless, the shelter’s work is never done, and there will always be additional needs to be met. For example, the shelter could use more volunteers, and certain items, among them cat cages. Waunch says the shelter will soon be applying for a grant to obtain funding for the cages.

And speaking of money, Waunch insists that the shelter is in good shape financially because, she says, “We run a very tight ship.” But she acknowledges that the shelter will continue to rely on fundraisers to help pay for basic operations. Last week it presented the movie “Timeline,” a fundraiser at the Sea View Theatre. The Orcas Animal Protection Society also sent out its annual newsletter reminding members of the the shelter’s financial needs.

IT’S OPEN EVERY DAY

The Orcas Animal Shelter is open seven days a week, from 2 to 5 p.m. For more information about shelter operations, volunteer opportunities, and caring for pets call 376-6777.

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