Gertie the cat was found abandoned in Vernon on a cold winter day in February.

Today, she peers out from the cat room at the BC SPCA's Education & Adoption Centre in Richmond anxiously waiting for a loving new family to take her home. As the centre struggles to deal with a nearly 50 per cent drop in cat and kitten adoptions over 2009, Gertie isn't alone.

"We're at a loss to explain it," says Rae Goodridge, who manages the non-profit SPCA facility.

In May, June and July 2009, the centre found homes for 76 homeless felines. During the same period this year, only 46 cats and kittens have been adopted.

In an attempt to boost adoption, Goodridge is frequently rotating the centre's 24 available cats and kittens between the centre itself and three Bosley's Pet Food Plus satellite adoption centres in Richmond and Ladner.

"We're trying to give them as much exposure as possible, and we're also encouraging visitors to really consider adopting an adult cat rather than a kitten, as they're so much more difficult to find homes for."

Goodridge is also discounting adoption fees for adult cats; families who adopt two adult cats get 50 per cent off the adoption fee of the second adult cat.

Adoption fees are $179 for kittens under six months, $149 for adult cats and $74.50 for senior cats. All animals are spayed/neutered and vaccinated.

"Give an animal a second chance, and they'll enrich your life," says Goodridge.

The BC SPCA Education & Adoption Centre is located at 7791 Steveston Hwy. Hours of operation are Saturday to Thursday from noon to 6 p.m. and 2 to 8 p.m. on Fridays. For more information on adoptions, visit spca.bc.ca/Richmond or search for available animals online at spca.bc.ca/adoptme. You can also read our official press release.

The BC SPCA is a not-for-profit organization reliant on donations from the public. You can help the BC SPCA Richmond Education and Adoption Centre provide care and shelter for homeless animals right now. Please donate today.

Photo caption: Gertie (above) waits for someone to adopt her at the BC SPCA's Richmond Education & Adoption Centre.

The BC SPCA is a non-profit organization funded primarily by public donations. Our mission is to prevent cruelty and to promote the welfare of animals through a wide range of services, including cruelty investigations, emergency rescue and treatment, sheltering and adoption of homeless and abused animals, humane education, advocacy, farm animal welfare, spay/neuter programs, and wildlife rescue and rehabilitation.