BALTIMORE (CBSDC) - June is Adopt-A-Cat month in Maryland and a local group is going beyond the call of duty to find homes for cats and kittens in the community.

The Baltimore Animal Welfare Alliance (BAWA) will be holding its 4^th annual “Baltimore 500: A Race To Save Lives” promotion. The alliance will attempt to find homes for hundreds of abandoned and unwanted cats and kittens. As a part of a joint initiative during the entire month of June, BAWA, the Maryland SPCA, the Baltimore Humane Society and Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter will all waive their adoption fees for cats.

“Overpopulation of cats is a serious problem,” explains Jen Swanson, Executive Director of Baltimore Humane Society. “Although we try to combat the issue with our spay and neuter programs, litters of kittens continue to be born in huge numbers.  Springtime is kitten season and shelters become inundated with kittens born under porches, in barns, and abandoned buildings.  June is the time these kittens are ready for adoption, so the Baltimore 500 was created.  All animals at Baltimore Humane Society are up to date on vaccinations, spayed or neutered, and micro-chipped prior to adoption.”

All cats and kittens available for adoption will be spayed/neutered  and vaccinated. Baltimore 500 adopters will receive a goody bag as well as a free wellness exam for their cat/kitten from the Cat Hospital of Towson. All other usual adoption procedures still apply.

In 2011, 580 cats and kittens were adopter during the Baltimore 500 and since the event’s conception in 2009, there have been 1,783 adoptions.

For more information on the Baltimore 500, visit the Maryland SPCA website here.