New cat haven opens in South Park
Cats bring joy to lots of people, but when there are lots of cats in the world and not enough people to revel in their company, then that becomes a problem.
And that’s where something like Bailey’s Cat Haven comes in.
The cat rescue program, part of the Washington County-based Angel Ridge Animal Rescue, has set up shop in South Park, moving into a home built in the 1830s on Brownsville Road, located immediately across the road from the township’s library and municipal offices.
Having outgrown its space for felines in Chartiers Township — they were set up in just four rooms there — the eight-room brick building has enough capacity to shelter 27 cats. In the new digs, there will be more room for cats to play and meet potential “cat parents.” Angel Ridge also hopes the new space will allow them to expand their educational programs and opportunities for volunteers.
“We’ve been looking for quite a while to find a new cat facility,” said Barb Brown, Angel Ridge’s cat care coordinator. “We just ran out of room.”
She added that in the new space, “both volunteers and cats will be able to move around.”
Evictions following the COVID-19 pandemic, cats that are unceremoniously abandoned along roadsides or in wooded areas by heedless owners and families who no longer have the means or the ability to care for pets have increased the number of cats in need of adoption. Along with Bailey’s Cat Haven, Angel Ridge works with 25 volunteers who foster cats.
“There are so many cats in need,” Brown said. “There just needs to be better education in the community. Everybody’s trying to help, but there are just too many cats.”
Being a no-kill shelter, a cat will remain at Bailey’s Cat Haven until they draw their last breath, but, she added, “the goal is to get them a forever home.”
Angel Ridge Animal Rescue opened in 1999. It’s a 501©(3) charity, and its goal is providing permanent homes for animals that are infirm or aged. Dogs will remain at the Washington County facility.
“The goal of adopting a cat is finding one that fits into your family,” Brown said. “Some people travel far and wide looking for cats.”
Additional information on Angel Ridge Animal Rescue and Bailey’s Cat Haven can be found at angelridgeanimalrescue.org.