FARGO — After a recent plea for support during an influx of stray cats, a no-kill shelter in Fargo wants to assure the public of its cardinal rule: They will not euthanize any cats.

Cats Cradle's Executive Director Gail Ventzke says the shelter has been swamped with calls after Valley News Live mistakenly reported the shelter was considering euthanizing adoptable animals.

Ventzke highlights the story with the online headline, "Local shelters say they may have to put down healthy animals" by Valley News Live on Dec. 10.

"This couldn't be farther from the truth as we have kept our strict no-euthanasia policy for eight years, saving cats from pounds in the Fargo-Moorhead and West Fargo area," Ventzke said.

Ventzke said no representative from Cats Cradle was interviewed for the story.

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Since publishing the story, the news outlet did run a correction, but Ventzke says the shelter is still feeling the fallout from the public and its donors, which it relies on to fund the shelter.

The story was sparked by a Dec. 8 posting on Cats Cradle's Facebook page that pleaded for support from the community.

As of Dec. 11, Ventzke says the shelter has 218 cats available for adoption. Besides the annual increase of surrendered animals during colder months, Ventzke says the additional influx is because of cultural reasons.

"Many people refuse to get their impounded cats out of the local pounds when they get picked up by animal control or turned in by a Good Samaritan because they don’t want to pay the fines to get them released," she said.

Venzke says some people regard cats as "disposable. "

"Others feel if their cat is indoors, they do not need to spay or neuter," she said. "This is false reasoning because the pounds are full of the unspayed/un-neutered cats that slip out of their homes, and once they get outside, there will be kittens."

Cats Cradle opened in 2011 and has remained dedicated to saving animals and finding their forever homes. Ventzke, who co-founded the shelter, says the nonprofit organization has rescued cats from the pound and does not have a time limit to get them adopted.

"If a cat does not get adopted, it will live at the shelter," she said. "I believe our longest-term resident was with us for three years before finding her forever home. We believe there is an adopter for every cat, we just need to be patient and wait for the right person to walk through the door."

Ventzke says Cats Cradle has a palliative foster care program in place when cats have health issues.

"We are a rescue. We save lives, and we hope every cat gets adopted but, if not, we will care for them and provide lifelong medical care while they live in our program," she said. "Not having a home is no reason to die."

Because of the recent increase of cats available for adoption, Ventzke reminds people of the benefits of owning a pet.

"Studies show having a pet can enrich your life by providing emotional support and benefit health by lowering blood pressure," she said. "In the case of fostering, we have seen some pretty amazing young families teach their amazing young children about helping those who cannot help themselves and the importance of community service."

To find out more about adoption, visit catscradleshelter.org/how-to-adopt. People can also visit the shelter on Tuesdays from 4 to 7 p.m. or Saturdays from noon to 5 p.m.

If a person cannot adopt a cat, Ventzke suggests donating supplies or funds, including a variety of options to work with any person's budget. Find out more info at catscradleshelter.org/donate.