The Lawrence County Humane Society is seeking help to take care of all the cats and kittens in their care.

Currently, they have other 40 cats and kittens. Most will be adopted out when they are old enough but right now, the Lawrence County Humane Society finds themselves in dire need of cat food, kitten food and kitty litter.

The humane society doesn’t have a building; rather three members foster the animals in their homes.

“A lot of the money comes out of own pockets,” explained Michelle Hill, a humane society trustee and one of the foster owners. “It is kind of tough to keep up with the demands for food and litter. So any little thing can help us.”

Susan Thompson, the head trustee of the Lawrence County Humane Society, said Walmart used to give the group bags of food and litter that were ripped or torn and couldn’t be sold. But that had recently changed.

“We are trying to do this for the community,” Thompson said, adding that they have spayed and neutered 13 cats that live along the river bank. “Can you imagine what the cat population would be done there if we hadn’t?”

Trustee Angela McHone said they have rescued 156 cats, 20 dogs and one potbelly pig since the first of the year. The pig had been left at a car wash in its cage.

“Between me, Michelle, and Cathy Artis, we have 46 cats and kittens. Eighteen of those are nursing kittens,” she said.

The group tries to get the cats either adopted out or they go to rescue groups to get them out of this area, because there aren’t always enough homes here in Lawrence County.

“We only charge a $25 adoption fee and they are spayed, neutered, got their yearly vaccines, rabies shot, dewormed and treated with flea medicine,” McHone said. “I do screen all homes before adoption.”

In an effort to help control the feral cat population, they capture the feline, get it spayed or neutered and then release it back in the area they found it.

“They kill rats and copperheads,” McHone said. “So they do serve a purpose.”

She added they focus on cats because there are other agencies that will take care of dogs but often, not cats.

“It is sad how many cats get put down in the Tri-State area,” she said. “I know that in Boyd County, over 800 cats were euthanized because of overpopulation.

And it’s sad, it’s heartbreaking. That’s why I put everything into saving these cats.”

The Lawrence County Humane Society is looking specifically for kitten chow, kitten replacement formula, adult cat food such as 9-Lives or Purina Complete, cans of cat food, clumpable cat litter, litter boxes, litter scoopers, cat toys, pee pads, pet carriers or kennels, feeding bowls and cleaning supplies like bleach.

To make a donation, go to their Facebook page, Lawrence County Humane Society of Ohio.