On any given day, Clinton resident Eva Creed can be found taking care of her many cats, felines that have either shown up on her property or have traveled with them as they moved across the United States. But, as much as she loves her cats, Creed said she is worried that some cats and dogs may not be as lucky as her furry friends, all because of an increase in animal adoption fees in Sampson County.

According to Animal Control director Susan Holder, the new adoption fee for cats and dogs has jumped from $25 to $100 for dogs and from $10 to $100 for cats. Included in this new fee is a $75 voucher that can be given to a veterinarian to help cover the costs for spaying and neutering the animals. In a pervious interview, Holder stressed that she expects atleast an approximate $15,000 in revenue to be be produced as a result of this change.

However, while this may produce some additional funds for the county, it leaves a sour taste in the mouths of residents, including Creed and her husband, Bill.

“I think that is just too much,” stated Eva. “This will deter a lot of people from adopting. People aren’t going to put out that kind of money for a cat.”

While she has her cats to contend with, she feels that some of Sampson County’s felines and canines will probably end up euthanized because many people who might adopt might be unable to pay the required adoption fee.

And that very thought troubles her since she saw her own father put some unwanted cats in a bag and drown them in a river when she was a child.

“We had a cat that had kittens in our basement, and my dad didn’t want them. So, he put them in a burlap bag, and he put them in a river,” said Eva.

She said she and her brother begged her father to not do it, but their pleas fell on deaf ears.

But from this traumatic experience has come a determination to do her part and take care of her “kitties,” as she calls them.

Eva also has some ideas for helping the animal shelter find more homes for the cats and dogs living there.

“They need to solicit donations for adoptions,” said Eva.

She also stresses that the price for adoption should be lowered to encourage more people to due their part and bring a pet home.

“If the price is reasonable, more people will be willing to adopt,” said Eva.

Bill also agrees that $100 is more than people are willing to pay for a cat.

“That is just too much,” said Bill. He stressed that when they lived in Arizona, they were able to adopt animals for a much lower cost and received a voucher to get an animal neutered for free.

But even as the price has increased, nothing is going to deter the Creeds from caring for their “kitties.”

“We will always take care of cats, no matter what,” said Bill.

A neighbor of the Creed’s, Pat Wood also agrees that the fee will discourage people from taking a furry friend home from the animal shelter.

And if the county wants to see any more animals adopted in the county, Wood stressed, “I think they should adopt them for $25 and then get the $75 voucher.”

Katie Holland can be reached at 910-592-8137, ext. 136, or by e-mail at silife@myclintonnc.com.