Late last year, two volunteers from RAPS visited a school in Delta to teach them about pets. The class had collected coins and supplies for the animals at the shelter. During the visit, the children provided us with drawings and questions about the shelter and the animals. Here are a few of those questions.
Q: How many cats do you have at the shelter? My guess is 17. ~ Carson and Abby
A: Carson and Abby, we have around 50 cats at the RAPS City Shelter on No. 5 Road in Richmond and around 800 cats at the RAPS Cat Sanctuary. They are all cared for until a home is found for them.
Q: How many pets do you have [at the shelter]?
A: At the RAPS City Shelter, we have about 45 rabbits, 50 cats and around 25 dogs. Sometimes we also have birds, chickens, ducks, ferrets, guinea pigs, cows and chinchillas.
Q: Why do cats and dogs go to the shelter? ~Justin
A: Justin, this is a great question. Dogs and cats end up at the shelter if they get lost or if they have never had a home to begin with. Some cats are born outside and have never been a pet. Also, some dogs and cats are brought to the shelter by their owners who can't care for them. At RAPS, we make sure we find a home for the animals.
Q: How many dogs do you have?
A: At the RAPS City Shelter, we usually have between 15 to 25 dogs at one time. In the summertime, we often have even more. We get a lot of dogs from people who bought them at pets stores and can't take care of them. At RAPS, we prefer that you get your animal companions from a shelter and not a pet store.
