Two local organizations with the same goal of ending the euthanasia of cats and kittens announced this morning that they have merged.
Cat Haven and Project Purr BR joined forces, effective one week ago, and the transition should be complete by Oct. 30, according to a news release. The group will continue to operate under the Cat Haven brand.
“It became apparent that both of our organizations have a similar goal,” Peggy Polk, who founded Project Purr BR in 2010, says in a prepared statement.
Polk and Cat Haven founder and executive director Wendy Decker hope that by combining the resources of both organizations, they can save operate more efficiently and save more animals by finding them permanent homes.
“We want to support the Companion Animal Alliance in saving more cats and kittens from euthanasia at the municipal shelter serving East Baton Rouge,” Polk says.
In the past five years, Project Purr BR has placed more than 2,500 cats and kittens from the parish shelter into homes. Cat Haven has coordinated adoptions for more than 9,000 cats and kittens since opening its adoption center in 2008.
“Our mission is for our Baton Rouge community to become a ‘no-kill,’ community,” Decker says.
Cat Haven’s Candy Ray and Abby Santini from Project Purr BR are leading the transition team. The Cat Haven adoption center at 11130 N. Harrell’s Ferry Road remains open from noon until 6 p.m. on Monday through Saturday, and is closed Sunday.
