Animal lovers can find double the love for the price through theend of the month at the Brookhaven Animal Rescue League.

During the month of June, cat lovers can capitalize on thetwo-for-one pricing at BARL. Instead of paying the customary $40cat adoption fee, felines can be adopted for $20 each through theend of June.

“It’s just a month we use to promote the adoption of shelter cats,”said BARL volunteer Rusty Adcock.

Adcock said so far this month the shelter has adopted out 10 catsand kittens, and there are still plenty to go around.

“We had a bombardment of kittens come through the last couple ofweeks,” said Adcock.

In addition, Adcock said, there are several more kittens that areliving with BARL volunteers who foster them until they’re oldenough to live at the shelter with the other cats.

“When we’re at capacity, we try not to take them in until they’reof size,” Adcock said. “If we can take them and they’re not oldenough to be taken out to the facility because they still need tobe weaned off a bottle or something, sometimes we have volunteerswho’ll take them in and nurture them until we can get them in thecolony.”

BARL center caretaker Rita Powell said even if adoption isn’t on ananimal lover’s mind, volunteers are encouraged to come to BARL’sfacility to interact with the animals, as socialization with humansis always important. Being with the animals is not just beneficialto them, but it can also benefit a human, Powell said.

“You have to spend time with the animals to get to know them,” shesaid.

Adcock said that in addition to the several kittens that reside inthe cat colony, there are a few in cages right now that are weanedfrom bottles but are still not quite large enough to integrate intothe cat population.

The cat colony is an area at BARL’s facility where cats have a roomand porch all to themselves. The area is equipped with toys andclimbing apparatus and all sorts of things to keep themoccupied.

In addition, Adcock said, contrary to popular belief, cats aresocial animals and enjoy each other’s company.

“Cats are kind of like horses, they’re colony animals,” he said.”They’re more sociable if they have partners, if they’re in withother cats. That’s why it’s better to have two cats because they’resocial animals who want to have friends in their environment.”

For that reason, Adcock said, the goal of adopt-a-cat month is notjust to get the animals into loving homes, but when possible, toget them homes together.

“Our adoption fee this month is at half price, so try to push theidea of adopting two since the social issue makes it good to gettwo at a time,” he said.

Cat month continues through the end of June, though Adcock saidthere is leeway for those who might be out of town or who mightdecide last minute.

“We’ve got a little leeway to play with,” he said. “Our main focusis to try to find them a home. If it comes up and July 1 or 2,people want a kitten, we’ll hold it over for a day or two.”

BARL also has a large selection of dogs, who have their own specialadoption month in October.

All animals are up to date on vaccinations, dewormed, and spayed orneutered. In addition, all the dogs have permanent microchipidentification and are on monthly heartworm preventative. Animalsadopted through BARL are also eligible for free pet healthinsurance.

Animal lovers looking for a cat or two of their own can contactBARL at (601) 757-4367 or visit their Web site athttp://www.barl.net/.