BOONE, Iowa — It’s time to Clear the Shelters in Central Iowa. All this month, we are teaming up with local animal shelters to highlight pets in need of a good home.

Moonpie has made fast friends at the Boone Area Humane Society.

“He was friendly right from the beginning,” said shelter volunteer Sara Reddish.

Up until a few weeks ago, the black and white cat was living in filth in a home with six other cats and three dogs. Moonpie barely made it out alive.

“Moonpie had a horrible infection in his front paw. It was so bad the skin was fluffing off. It was nasty, we didn’t even show pictures of it, it was so bad. I don’t know how much longer he would have lasted at the house,” said Boone Area Humane Society Board Member Kim Adams.

After a life saving surgery, he went to the shelter to heal.

“Having three legs now has not slowed him down in the least. He goes, he’s happy, he climbs on cat towers, and he will be ready for adoption,” said Adams.

There’s a full shelter of pets ready for adoption in Boone. At last count, 59 cats and 11 dogs. The numbers are higher this year because they’re seeing more owner surrenders.

“This year has been particularly bad, owner surrenders, so I think people are being hit hard by the economy so we’re getting a lot of animals in through that way,” explained Adams.

A few cats brought into the shelter are harder to adopt out. The cats that have been there the longest have feline leukemia.

Kado and Benson, aka the Meow Mayor, have called the shelter home for some 170 days and counting. Both tested positive for feline leukemia, a virus that weakens their immune system.

“They can live with other feline leukemia positive cats. No other cats that are not feline leukemia positive. They can also live with dogs. It’s not transmitted through species at all. It’s just cat to cat. It doesn’t bother humans,” said Adams.

While they wait it out at the shelter, volunteers like Reddish make sure all the cats get a little TLC.

“After all the chores are done, I spend a lot of time petting the cats, socializing the ones that are more or less feral and some of them I can’t reach, but others I can earn their trust,” said Reddish.

As for Moonpie, the sweet and trusting little cat may have lost a leg, but he gained a new healthy life, and a lot of new friends.

You’ll find more information on him and all the other animals at www.bahs.us. The Boone Area Humane Society is holding a clear the shelter event on August 23. You can take advantage of reduced adoption fees on all adult cats and dogs