By Matthew Wood
Bone Appetit Ocean Beach Pet Supply owner Kelly Patri is looking for a few good cat owners. But be warned: She won’t give up her rescue kitties to just anyone.
“We have an application process,” Patri says about her cat adoption center in the back of the store on Sunset Cliffs Boulevard. “We’ve definitely turned people away.”
The adoption center is approved by San Diego County, meaning it has passed their requirements as an “approved adoption facility.”
“If they don’t have space in their facility – which they never do – they call on places like us,” Patri explained. “It’s such a great thing that they do.”
It’s a labor of love for Patri and the store, which just celebrated its 10th anniversary in OB. It is completely funded by donations – and out of Patri’s own pocket. Any cats they adopt out have all their shots, are spayed or neutered and tested for other diseases.
It is included in the $65 adoption fee, although that’s rarely enough to cover the costs.
“I’m in the red on most cats,” she said.
One of their biggest fundraisers for the center comes Saturday, at the store’s annual Holiday Open House, complete with raffles, prizes and other giveaways. There will also be a “Santa Paws” on hand (played by yours truly) to take pictures with pets. For a small $5 donation, you’ll come away with a print of your pet with Santa.
“We really like to get into the holiday spirit,” Patri said.
On any given day, there could be up to a dozen cats up for adoption. They are committed to finding good homes for as long as it takes.
“It could be one weekend where they all go, or it could take six months,” Patri said. “But we never euthanize.”
She also emphasizes that they don’t take cats from individuals. They need to go through the county. In the end, the goal is to find good homes for good pets.
“People need to understand, you’re not buying a rug or something like that,” Patri said. “We don’t want this to be temporary. This is for life. It’s a family member.”
This is a wonderful cat rescue, run by truly caring people who find wonderful homes for the cats. Best of all, the cats in Kelly’s care receive the love, attention and everything they need before she and her staff find them homes. It’s also a great local business.
If my house didn’t already have 4 cats, I would have adopted one on Saturday – it was real cute, an older teenager with beautiful black and gray colors.
Oh, and BTW I took some photos of Matt as Santa Paws, but he was the thinnest Santa I’ve ever seen. What’s up with that? Where was your pillow?