FARMINGTON — The Franklin County Animal Shelter’s cat population will rise Thursday night when five cats arrive from New Jersey. 

The dog population will jump Friday with the addition of seven dogs from California.

The shelter joined in an effort by the Maine Federation of Humane Societies to bring 45 cats from Monmouth County, N.J., to Maine, Heidi Jordan, executive director, said.

These cats were already in shelters in Monmouth County when Hurricane Sandy took a toll on that area. 

The cats are being moved to provide room for strays now separated from their families because of the storm, she said.

Shelters in southern Maine and on the coast are accepting some of the cats but the local shelter is the only one in Western Maine helping with that effort, she said.

“We don’t need any more cats but they are hoping to empty the shelter of cats not claimed,” she said of the effort that will provide room for pets who lost their home and were separated from their families.

Someone from the shelter will drive to the Greater Androscoggin Humane Society on Thursday night to receive the five cats.

Seven small breed dogs will arrive Friday from Sonoma County Animal Shelter in California.

People call or come to the shelter looking for small dogs such as Chihuahuas and leave when they learn there are none.

“This helps us meet their requests. Shelter research shows cat adoptions also rise when there are dogs available for adoption,” she said.

Last time seven dogs were medically prepared to move to Maine, including vaccinations for heart worm and Lyme disease. California doesn’t have the two diseases and doesn’t normally vaccinate dogs, she said.

They are loaded on to a plane and flown to Boston where someone will meet them. The California shelter spent $1,200 to prepare and fly seven small dogs here. All were quickly adopted.

This time, they are expecting a couple of Chihuahuas, a Basenji, a Jack Russell terrier, a Cairn terrier, and a lab mix. It’s blond and looks like a Lab but weighs about 22 pounds, she said.

The dogs will be available for adoption on Monday but can be seen Saturday.

Jordan was pleased with the turnout of dogs and owners for the Chester Greenwood Day parade. The shelter had invited the public to bring their dogs and walk behind the shelter banner.

“Universally we love and are proud of our dogs,” she said of the large turnout for the parade.

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