Donations & dollars are needed to support over 400 kittens!

By Erin Hansen

Worcester Animal Rescue League (WARL) is pleased to host its Annual Spring Kitten Shower on Saturday, April 2, 2011 from 10am to 2pm. The event is a public donation drive to help collect supplies and funds WARL needs to care for over 400 kittens each year. Free and open to the public, guests are asked to donate items including Kitten Milk Replacement (KMR) Formula, feeding bottles, canned and dry kitten food, human baby food (100% chicken, turkey, etc., not meat mixed with vegetables) blankets, toys, and cleaning supplies (NOT kitty litter, thanks to a giant donation already received).

“Just like a baby shower, there may not be any kittens here that day, but we need supplies to prepare for their arrival,” explained Executive Director Allie Simone. “Last year Worcester County residents helped us raise over 800 pounds of kitten food, which fueled us through the majority of the year. Can we raise 1,000 pounds of food? I hope so!”

The Spring Kitten Shower is a great opportunity to learn about the WARL foster parent program. Becoming a foster parent is one of the most important ways that a volunteer can help WARL’s homeless pets. In 2010, hundreds of animals found new homes because of WARL’s foster program.

At the Kitten Shower, guests will meet the shelter staff while enjoying refreshments, touring the League, viewing the current art exhibition “Forever Home” by Jessica Walsh, and meeting other friends and fans of WARL.

For more information about WARL or the Kitten Shower, visit www.worcester-arl.org, call (508) 853-0030, or visit the Facebook page.

community-warl_adoption_weekend_flyerAbout Worcester Animal Rescue League (WARL)

Founded in 1912 by a group of women determined to save overworked and abused farm horses, WARL continues this legacy of love for animals. As a no-kill, private, non-profit organization that does not receive any county, state, or federal funding, WARL relies heavily on the generosity of donors and volunteers. The facility annually assists over 2500 cats, dogs, kittens, and puppies in the 17 communities surrounding Worcester MA. Programs and services include lost and found, boarding, adoptions, low-cost spay/neuter & vaccine clinics, end-of-life/euthanasia, educational programs, foster and volunteer opportunities. Now the largest animal shelter in Central MA, WARL is a limited intake shelter, accepting pets only when enough kennel space is available; it does not believe in time or space limits for adoptable pets, and uses every resource available to place each one. Today, WARL is led by Executive Director Allie Simone and a staff of 18. In April 2012, WARL will celebrate 100 years of serving the homeless pets of Worcester County. Located at 139 Holden Street in Worcester, WARL is open Mon-Sat from 8:30am to 4:30pm, and Sun from 12 noon to 4pm.