Blue Ridge Humane's 'kitten shower' aims to raise funds for life-saving incubators
With spring-like weather returning to Western North Carolina, Blue Ridge Humane Society is preparing for the start of “kitten season” with its annual Kitten Shower from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, March 26 at the 2nd Act in Hendersonville.
The event seeks to equip the Blue Ridge Humane Foster team with vital supplies and funds to care for the hundreds of kittens that will come through the doors of the rescue organization this year, according to a news release.
This year, Wag! A Unique Pet Boutique is matching donations up to $1,250 through March 26 to fund the purchase of two incubators for Blue Ridge Humane Society. Professional-grade incubators run in the $1,200-$1,500 range, but the lifesaving capability they extend to the most vulnerable neonatal kittens and puppies is priceless, the release says. Kittens under four weeks old cannot thermo-regulate and depend completely on an external heat source to keep their bodies at an appropriate temperature.
“Each year when we start to see the first signs of daffodils peeking up, we know that kitten season is just around the corner,” said Angela Prodrick, Blue Ridge Humane Society’s executive director. “The local population of community or feral cats start having kittens who are then found by well-meaning animal lovers. They want to do what they can to help, which often leads to kittens without mothers being brought to local shelters, quickly overwhelming available space and resources. The addition of the sorely-needed incubators means that we’ll be equipped to provide our community with an even higher level of medical care that is needed by the smallest neonates our Adoption Center takes in.”
Members of the public can help by donating and noting “incubator” or “kitten shower” in the notes, or by shopping for “kitten registry” items at a pet supply store that can be dropped off or sent directly to the Adoption Center at 88 Centipede Lane in Hendersonville.
Registry items include:
Smart Pet Love Snuggle Kitty or Puppy with Heartbeat
Play pens for neonates
Hide-away cat beds
Kitten bottles and puppy bottles
Shaker Bottles
Cat Bowls
Miracle Nipples
2 Nebulizers
Food Scales
Whole Earth Farms Grain-Free Real Healthy Kitten Recipe Canned Cat Food
4 Health All Life Stages Cat Kibble
Purina One Kitten Kibble
Baby Blankets
Heating pads and warming disks
32 Oz Plastic Spray Bottles For Cleaning
Tissues
Baby wipes
Dawn Dish Soap
Litter boxes (all sizes)
Litter (clumping and non-clumping)
Attendees to the Kitten Shower can also learn about what to do when kittens are found, find out about becoming a foster for cats or dogs, drop off donations and play kitten-themed games and enjoy refreshments from the 2nd Act.
"Kitten season is where shelters receive an influx of kittens due to the weather becoming warmer,” said Katie Thomas, Foster Coordinator with Blue Ridge Humane Society. “Kittens end up being orphaned for multiple reasons and without their mothers, these kittens are dependent on foster care. With so many kittens coming through the shelter at this time, it is crucial to be as prepared as possible by receiving donations and accruing bottle-baby kitten fosters."
For those interested in joining the Foster team, learn more at www.blueridgehumane.org/foster. All training, supplies and support are provided to fosters from Blue Ridge Humane Society. Animal lovers can also learn what to do when they find kittens and how to evaluate when and how to intervene on a special kitten page on the Blue Ridge Humane Society website at www.blueridgehumane.org/kittens. Blue Ridge Humane can provide additional assistance and supplies for finders who can foster found kittens.
For more information about Blue Ridge Humane Society, including how to donate and volunteer, by visiting the Blue Ridge Humane Society’s website at www.blueridgehumane.org or call 828-692-2639.
This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: BRHS 'kitten shower' aims to raise funds for life-saving incubators
