Foster Homes Needed - Part I
Did you ever wonder why there are so many cats and kittens in our city shelters, let alone running in the streets and alleys of our city?
From the cats' point of view, one day they have a loving and secure home with plenty of food, water, and love and the next day, they are put in a carrier for a ride in the car. All of a sudden they are placed in a cold stainless steel cage with food they don't like and a litter box the size of a coffee saucer. No loving hands to ease the terror. Sounds and smells that would frighten anybody.
Many of you may already know that when a cat is under great stress, it shuts down and can become sick. People coming to the shelter for a pet will not pick the one that has backed into a corner because they are afraid and don't understand what has happened.
A cat under stress leaves itself wide open to what we rescuers call a "stress upper respiratory." Once this happens, the cat is placed in isolation (more terrifying sounds and smells) for observation. Many of them stop eating or grooming themselves. The ones that do not recover from this stressful situation are often euthanized unless loving hands intervene. This happens too rarely to save most of them.
Valley Cats, Inc. was established in 1999 to try to save these cats and kittens BEFORE
they are sent to the shelter. If we can spare them the stress and fear of such a situation, they stand a much better chance of finding another home.
We have found that many of these cats are being sent to the shelter because they have developed bad habits. With a little education and encouragement, a good number of these pets remain in their homes, and all it took was a little conversation and some helpful ideas!
However, for those people who are determined to give up their animals, we must find foster homes to keep them until we can find another family to love them. Being in a foster home with good food, love, and attention is often all it takes to keep them happy and healthy.
If you can help us by opening your home to a foster cat or two, we need you! There are so many cats waiting to go to the shelters and so few people who will foster them. You would become part of what Valley Cats set out to do --- make a difference!
If you are interested in helping us in our quest to help all that we can, please call us. Leave a message and we will contact you. You can't imagine what a wonderful feeling it is to see a "throw-away" cat rebound and love and trust again.
If you have any questions about joining our foster home program, feel free to contact Valley Cats, Inc. at:
23705 Vanowen St., #130
West Hills, CA 91307-3030
or
Phone: 818/883-5252
FAX: 818/883-3708
E-Mail: valleycatsinc@aol.com