Photo Provided Belmont County Cat Stray Shun is helping seven week old white kitten Olivia looking for her forever home.

BARNESVILLE — Belmont County Cat Stray Shun is gearing up for the holiday season, hosting several fundraising initiatives and adoption days in hopes of finding forever homes for cats and kittens.

The events will also provide funding for the organization’s spay and neuter program.

The first event will be Barnesville’s Fun in the Ville on Dec. 6.

Belmont County Cat Stray Shun organizer Candace Fleagane said that her booth, along with other vendors, will be in the Main Street Barrel House from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m.

“We’ll have tons of Christmas decor, an assortment of dog coats, and several $1 bargain items will be available to purchase,” she said. “We’ll also have gift card trees available for raffle and kittens available for adoption.”

Fleagane will also be Center Court of the Ohio Valley Mall on Dec.13, 14, 20 and 21 from noon until 3 p.m.

She said cash or credit is accepted at all of her events. Several of the Christmas items that will be sold are posted on the Belmont County Cat Stray Shun’s Facebook page.

If you are not able to make it to either event, Fleagane said that she will be more than happy to meet you for a purchase.

Fleagane can be contacted at 740-338-9339 or through Belmont County Cat Stray Shun’s Facebook page. You can also contact her by calling the Belmont County Animal Shelter at 740-695-4708.

“Belmont County Animal Shelter is in much need of canned pate for cats, canned dog food, dry food with no red dye for cats and dogs. Felliway refills and clumping cat litter is also greatly appreciated,” Fleagane said.

She added that the fundraising events are important, because Belmont County Cat Stray Shun is solely responsible for all of the veterinary expenses and care for the cats and kittens at the Belmont County Animal Shelter.

Fleagane doesn’t only work with stray cats. It also helps low-income families who are cat owners. The organization will pay to spay and neuter cats owned by low-income families, because its goal is to reduce the stray cat population in Belmont County.

“Our organization also spay and neuter approximately 100 cats a month for low income, families, and cat colonies,” she said.

Fleagane added that she believes one of the big reasons why cats aren’t being spayed and neutered locally is because it costs too much.

“We try to provide it for a low cost to them and even help them pay if they can’t afford that,” she said.

Fleagane added that an adult cat costs her $100 to spay and neuter while it costs her $200 per kitten.

“Our organization is good for the community because the more cats we can spay and neuter, the less kittens will be born suffering without homes on the streets,” she said.