Second Chance Animal Shelter is a privately funded animal shelter and a nonprofit, Operations Director Leanne Bloom said.

“I think that everyone needs to have a cat or two,” Bloom said. “We find that kittens do really well with a buddy, so if people are considering getting one kitten, getting a pair just gives them someone else to kind of run around with and play with and then not be as destructive in the house as they can be on their own.”

The shelter started in 2018 as a shelter for kittens and cats. In 2022, they received the certifications to start sheltering dogs.

Bloom said that cat overpopulation is more of a problem in the community than dog overpopulation. Second Chance provides needed space for kittens when government-funded shelters become overcrowded.

News Photo by Reagan Voetberg Sumac lays in a cat bed on Friday at Second Chance Animal Shelter. Sumac is available to be adopted on Friday and Saturday.

Last year, $40,000 in funding came from their resale shop, which is located at the shelter. Even if you are not interested in adopting a kitten at Kitten Palooza, you can help the mission of the shelter by making a purchase at the resale shop.

There are 21 kittens up for adoption at Kitten Palooza. Kittens are all at least nine or 10 weeks old, Bloom said. The kittens learn how to behave and socialize when they are given time to grow before adoption.

Some of the kittens include a litter named after types of trees. Bloom said that they name litters with different themes. Another three kittens were named after Star Wars characters.

The tree litter includes Sumac, Sassafras, Fir, Spruce, Hickory, and Beech.

“All of our kittens are vaccinated, litter box trained, dewormed, flea treatment, and they come with a certificate for a free spay or neuter, so people really get a good deal,” Bloom said.

Reagan Voetberg can be reached at 989-358-5683 or rvoetberg@TheAlpenaNews.com.