Carbon County Friends of Animals is settling in nicely to its new home.

Kimmy Mulik, a board member of CCFOA, said that now that the building in Jim Thorpe is almost complete and the cats are becoming accustomed to their new, larger home, the organization is ramping up its community efforts."We want them to thank our supporters," she said. "If it wasn't for them we wouldn't have this building. It's truly a godsend. The animals are so much more social."Susie Yaich, co-founder of CCFOA, added, "It was a big step to move from the shelter to this building, but the cats are much happier, more social and our adoption rates have gone up because of the living conditions now."It was hard work but it was definitely worth it because the animals are worth it to us."The group has worked since December to get the building ready for the shelter and has been in it since early January.Mulik thanked all the volunteers who made the new shelter possible and specifically thanked the Sargent family of Jim Thorpe who donated their time and energy to install the flooring in the new building.To ring in the occasion, Mulik announced that there will be an open house for county residents from 1-4 p.m. May 31.She said they want to show residents how the change in location and more space has benefited the cats and made them more adoptable. Currently there are approximately 120 cats that call CCFOA home.Mulik said residents who wish to help the cats can bring items from CCFOA's wish-list to the open house.Items that are needed include: bleach, nonclumping cat litter, Purina cat food and kitten chow, baby rice cereal, Gerber's chicken baby food, cat nail clippers, cleaning products and more.For a complete list of needed items, visit

http://ccfoa.info/how-you-can-help/wish-list.For more information on the shelter, how to donate or on adoption procedures, call the shelter at 570-325-9400, visit

www.ccfoa.info or stop by the new building at 77 W. 13th St.