Wayne Adams had to stop traffic in front of Bayshore Mall on Friday as he rescued a small, tabby kitten that was frantically dodging cars trying to reach a place of safety. He immediately brought "Dodger" to the Sequoia Humane Society, where he knew she would receive the love and care she so desperately needed.

Judy Lewis, SHS Board President, recalls, "When I held Dodger in my arms she was so scared, she clung to me desperately. She is a sweet, affectionate and playful kitten with a strong voice. We also recently discovered that her tail is broken - most likely it was run over as she tried to cross the street."

This is a typical story being enacted almost every day in Humboldt County - abandoned kittens and puppies are left by the highway to fend for themselves, and if they are not found by a Good Samaritan like Wayne they are hit by cars or starve to death. When people neglect to have their pets spayed and neutered they end up with kittens and puppies they can't or don't want to care for, and when shelters like ours can't take them because all our cages and kennels are already full they may abandon these poor, defenseless animals to fend for themselves, often with tragic results.

Last week SHS received a call from a woman who had 3 mama cats and 15 kittens. Could we take them, she asked - she was moving and couldn't take them with her. We don't have room right now so we had to put her on a waiting list. When we do take in kittens we encourage the owners to have their adult animals spayed and neutered, to end the cycle of too many animals, not enough homes.

There are many wonderful, caring people who rescue as many animals as they individually can handle, pay to have them spayed and neutered, then foster these animals until they can find them loving homes (many keep the animals themselves!).

Thank you to all of the animal angels out there who make our jobs a little easier by taking personal responsibility for the needy animals they run across. And thanks to all the wonderful people who donate to the Sequoia Humane Society, helping us can keep our shelter operating.

The Sequoia Humane Society has lots of young, healthy, adoptable kittens in all colors and personalities. We are currently offering a "2-Fur-1" special on the adoption price for kittens. Please visit the SHS Pet Adoption Center at 6073 Loma Avenue off the King Salmon exit.