Read the text below.
A bookshop in Nova Scotia [NOH-vuh SKOH-shuh], Canada, hosts kittens up for adoption.
Otis & Clementine’s Books & Coffee is a secondhand bookstore that also functions as a coffee shop. Ellen Helmke [HELM-khuh] opened the store back in 2011 but only started to foster kittens in May 2019.
According to Helmke, she started housing the kittens because she thought it would be fun and enjoyable for her customers. She said having the animals in her shop is a win-win situation: she gets more customers, and the kittens learn to socialize, helping the felines find homes easily.
Each kitten is from the South Paw Conservation Nova Scotia (SPCA), a local animal rescue group. The SPCA temporarily places cats in foster homes, like Helmke’s bookshop, until the animals find a permanent home. The organization also manages the adoption process. Interested adopters have to pay less than $200, and that already covers the animal’s medical expenses. Potential cat owners have to submit an online application and present proof that they are responsible pet owners.
Helmke advised customers to act fast if a cat catches their eye since the animals are adopted quickly. She also assured potential adopters that the kittens are healthy and vaccinated.
Helmke said starting the foster program was a turning point in her business. She is thrilled that the program has boosted her shop’s sales since business has been tough before, even on good days. She added that a lot of customers are happy with the program and have posted about it on social media.
So far, the shop has a 100% adoption rate, with over 30 cats successfully adopted.