The AWLA shelter is at capacity for cats, the organization said Tuesday afternoon. More than 100 cats and kittens are currently at the shelter or in foster care, and another 100 are “expected to arrive throughout the month.”
To help find homes for the shelter’s burgeoning feline population, AWLA is offering a promotional special for cat adoptions in June.
Neighbors of the Lyon Park mother and son whose house was destroyed by fire last week are collecting money for the family’s needs and for their cat’s medical bills.
Three people — Liz Tefera, her son, and a tenant who was renting a room in the home — were displaced after fire consumed the home on Wednesday, May 15. Tefera and her son, a 7th grade student, are now staying in a local hotel, having “lost everything” in the fire. The blaze also injured Baby, one of Tefera’s two cats, according to neighbor Donna Seabold and her husband, John.
Meet Espen, a talkative Arlington rescue cat named after her owner’s favorite hobby.
Here’s what Espen’s owner had to say about her.
Because of the possibility the vulnerable animals may contract an illness, AWLA cannot keep kittens under the age of eight weeks in its shelter. Young kittens also cannot regulate their own body heat, eat on their own or go to the bathroom on their own. They must be fed every three to four hours and kept warm. AWLA does not have overnight staff, so it is seeking volunteers who can care for the animals around the clock until they are old enough to be adopted.
AWLA Foster Care Coordinator Sara Emery explained that cats can only go into heat a few times each year and only during warm weather, so March usually brings a spike in births. Kittens typically continue being born and brought to the shelter through November, depending on the weather. Twelve kittens have arrived at the shelter in the last week alone and Emery expects around 60 more throughout the summer.
This week’s Arlington Pet of the Week is Kochi, an 8-year-old rescue kitty who lives in Aurora Hills.
Kochi is a survivor. She overcame a near-death experience last Christmas, says her owner, Martha.
Our Arlington Pet of the Week this week is Jasmine, a 7-year-old cat who’s awaiting adoption at the Animal Welfare League of Arlington.
More information about Jasmine can be found here. From the AWLA’s write-up:
From 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at the AWLA offices (2650 S. Arlington Mill Drive), the organization will be offering $30 microchipping and $10 rabies shots.
AWLA recommends microchips for dogs and cats to help with identification should they ever become lost.
The Animal Welfare League of Arlington is seeking volunteers to help it handle a seasonal surge in orphaned kittens.
“Kitten season,” as it’s called, begins in the spring. The League is specifically looking for foster parents who can help care for orphaned kittens until they’re old enough to be adopted.
In recognition of World Spay Day, AWLA will be offering low-cost spays and neuters on four days: Feb. 3, 10, 17 and 24. Participants must bring proof that their annual household income is $40,000 or less. The service will cost $25 for male cats and $50 for female cats and all dogs.
“Spaying cats and dogs eliminates the possibility of uterine and ovarian cancer, while neutering eliminates the possibility of testicular cancer,” AWLA noted in a press release. “Spaying and neutering reduces the potential for territorial marking, especially in your home, makes pets less likely to run away, and helps to reduce aggressive behavior, especially in dogs.”
The Animal Welfare League of Arlington is advising cat owners to keep kitty indoors, due to the hazards presented by Arlington’s urban environment.
A recent case handled by the AWLA’s animal control unit is cited as a case in point. From AWLA:
The Animal Welfare League of Arlington cleaned him up at their Shirlington shelter following the incident. He’s an orange tabby estimated to be about three months old, and has been neutered and vaccinated.
Axel has been hanging out in a foster home with some other kittens, but is now ready to find a permanent residence. Anyone interested in adopting Axel, or any other kitten, can check out the AWLA website for adoption procedures.
Firefighters were on a call at S. Greenbrier Street and 8th Road S., in the Columbia Heights West neighborhood, when an orange tabby kitten ran under their fire truck and into the truck’s engine compartment. The kitten was covered in grease by the time firefighters were able to free him, according to the Animal Welfare League of Arlington.
The curious kitty, named “Axel” by his rescuers, was brought to the League’s shelter in Shirlington, where he was cleaned up and given a physical exam and vaccinations.
