Foster Kitties |
The first week in December, with temperatures in the twenties, a
black and white kitty and her four kittens were brought to the Parkersburg
Humane Society. There was no room for the new arrivals; all the cages
were filled to capacity.
Cindy Mowry, executive director, says, “We called one of our
foster parents who usually fosters small dogs. In the spirit of the
season, she agreed to take the little motley crew, although she has
three cats and two dogs of her own. The mother was slight and so skinny,
still a kitten herself, only about five months old. Her kittens were
4-5 weeks old, three very shy black and white ones and one gray and
white adventurer. We put their pictures on our website and crossed
our fingers. Claudia Levy from Bethesda MD, a writer for the Washington
Post saw them and contacted us immediately. She called the foster
mother, took another look at the pictures and a deep breath and said
‘I’ll take them all!’”
“The weather was awful, but our volunteers came through and
drove the momma and her babies up to Hagerstown to meet their new
family. Claudia has written back that the little momma was the friendliest
cat she’d ever met, and her kittens ‘impossibly cute’.
She says the kittens figured out right away how to get into everything,
and are having a ball. It was a Christmas story with a happy ending.”
Cindy says “Foster parents are lifesavers for many of our animals.
If we’re full, animals must be put to sleep. Foster homes give
rescued animals time to find a new home. And, the new animal has a
safe place to stay while we try to find a home over the website. Fosters
also provide a temporary shelter for animals awaiting transport to
rescue groups or new owners out of state. If we keep them here, that’s
a cage we can’t use for an incoming homeless pet. Fostering
a pet costs nothing but it’s a priceless gift. It gives these
loving creatures the time they need to find someone to love them back.”
All 14 veterinary offices in Kanawha County will be participating
in the BIG FIX January 6 and February 12. During this major event,
female cats can be spayed for just $30 on January 6 and female dogs
will be spayed for $45 on February 12. Only so many procedures can
be done in one day, so call your chosen vet early to schedule an appointment.
Both shelters invite visitors to look for love online at www.hsop.org
or www.wvanimalshelter.com.
The Humane Society of Parkersburg, at the corner of 29th and
Poplar off Murdoch Avenue, is open Monday through Friday from 10-5
and Saturday from 10-4. Ph. 304-422-5541
The Kanawha/Charleston Humane Association, 1248 Greenbriar Street,
is open
7 days a week, Monday through Saturday from 12-6 and on Sunday
12-5.
Ph. 304-342-1576.
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