News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Kelsie McConnell gives a kitten at the Huron Humane Society some love on Tuesday. The shelter gave its semiannual report to the Alpena Municipal Council on Monday and said kittens and cats are coming in as fast as they are adopted.

ALPENA — Animals are coming into the Huron Humane Society in Alpena as fast as they are finding new homes, officials say.

At Monday’s Alpena Municipal Council meeting, Humane Society board member Mary Eagan provided the shelter’s semiannual report to update council on finances, adoptions, and improvements at the facility.

The city allocates $20,000 a year to have the shelter provide animal services.

The Huron Humane Society has operated in Alpena County since 1982.

Eagan said the shelter is in the midst of kitten season, which is impacting the shelter’s bottom line. She said so far this year, the shelter has taken in 150 kittens and 58 cats, many of which need medical care.

“A huge number of those animals were in ill health when they were admitted to the shelter, which means they need veterinary care,” Eagan said in her report. “In the first six months of this year, HHS has spent $26,196 on veterinary care alone. That does not include in-house testing, vaccinations, and preventative medicine we perform at the shelter.”

When the costs of care for housing, feed, testing, vaccination, and veterinary care for 24 dogs admitted to the shelter are factored in, Eagan said it has cost the HHS over $125,000 so far this year.

A high percentage of the animals admitted to the shelter find homes, Eagan said. She said so far, 169 of the 232 animals served at the shelter this year have been adopted and six have been returned to their owners.

Even with limited funds, the Humane Society board and facility staff continue to make improvements to ensure a better way of life for the animals and staff.

In her report, Eagan updated the council on some of the facility’s recent modifications.

“Understanding that a healthy and enriching shelter results in happier and healthier animals, HHS continues to improve the shelter,” she said. “We’ve added new doors to the cat colonies that open onto catios, which allow cats to safely access the outdoors. We sanded and painted the metal on the outside of the dog runs that are attached to our canine kennels.”

Eagan thanked the city for its investment in the shelter and helping it fulfill its mission and goals.

“Your support really does make a difference and it’s greatly appreciated,” she said.