CUMBERLAND — Rarely has a litter box sounded so appealing.

The Homeless Animal Rescue Team of Maine is holding its sixth annual Litter Box Ball fundraiser at the Italian Heritage Center in Portland at 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3. Proceeds go directly to the shelter at 302 Range Road – a no-kill facility and adoption center – to support its more than 120 cats and aid in covering operating costs like veterinary expenses, foods, vaccinations, supplies and medicine.

“The Litter Box Ball is one of our most successful fundraising events, raising over $15,000 last year to support the shelter,” HART President Marcia Carr said. “HART handled 725 adoptions in 2008 alone, and took in 794 new cats. Many of the surrendered cats are strays, abandoned or brought in by families losing their homes due to financial reasons. We are also seeing an increase in cats coming to us from the elderly who are moving into assisted living facilities.”

Ethan Minton of Coast 93.1 will host the fundraiser, which will feature live and silent auctions of services and merchandise that have been donated by businesses around southern Maine. Hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar will also be available.

The non-profit shelter has no paid staff and is supported completely by volunteer efforts. It raises money from adoption fees and fundraisers, along with foundations and individuals. The cats live freely throughout the shelter’s various rooms until they are adopted.

Every cat and kitten at HART is spayed or neutered and made current on vaccinations. They are all tested for feline leukemia and Feline Immunodeficiency virus.

Alex Lear can be reached at 373-9060 ext. 113 or alear@theforecaster.net.

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