After numerous cats were found abandoned around Langley in recent weeks, an animal shelter made an unprecedented move Saturday.

Residents were encouraged to bring in cats they could no longer care for.

“There’s so many people that just don’t know what to do with their kittens or cats,” said Langley Mayor Jack Froese.

The shelter even sent volunteers to pick up unwanted cats from homes.

“You take something that was unwanted and left in the trash literally, and find [it] this amazing home,” said volunteer Shelly Roche.

Arielle Joyal heard about the event and went to the shelter to adopt a cat.

“I think it’s wonderful they’re getting all these animals another chance to be owned and have a family,” she said.

In early July several young kittens were found taped inside a cardboard box and left by a dumpster.

Jayne Nielson of the Langley Animal Protection Society said the tiny felines were found just in time.

“They would not have probably survived much longer,” Nielson said.

Another litter was found in a plastic container at a park.

“We’ve had some kittens come in dehydrated and malnourished because when they’re tiny they can’t really fend for themselves so they can’t get food,” Nielson said.

A real-time video streaming online shows the cats in the shelter and has made them stars around the world. It costs about $1,300 to nurse one litter of kittens back to health and so far donations have come from as far as Sweden and Croatia.

“To me it’s very heartwarming to take what is a horrible story, and turn it into something beautiful,” Joyal said.

Nearly 40 cats were dropped off and are now looking for good homes.

Visit the shelter’s website to find out how to adopt one of the furry animals.

With a report from CTV Vancouver’s Scott Roberts