Fort Wayne, IN – Fort Wayne Animal Care & Control has received a grant of $37,135 from the Orphan Kitten Club to support the shelter’s growing foster department.

The grant was used to hire two additional staff members to address an increase in the number of animals being saved through fostering. The additional staff will allow the foster department to take in more animals, provide more support to foster families, and provide more positive outcomes for animals coming into the shelter’s care.

The life-saving efforts of the foster department relies solely on donations and grants to provide care to the most at-risk animals in our community. More than 1,550 animals were saved by foster families last year, which is nearly five times more than the number of animals saved five years ago. More than 850 animals have been saved by the foster program so far this year.

Fort Wayne Animal Care & Control is always looking for more families willing to open their homes to foster animals in need. If you are interested in fostering or would like to support this program visit our foster website here.

About Orphan Kitten Club

The Orphan Kitten Club is a national organization founded by Hannah Shaw, better known as the Kitten Lady. The Kitten Lady is a professional kitten rescuer and humane educator who travels the country to teach classes about kitten care and has gained a loyal social media following.

Fort Wayne, IN – Fort Wayne Animal Care & Control will celebrate “Kitten Week” July 5th through July 11th to find more foster families and raise money to support the foster program at the shelter. Adoption fees for kittens will also be waived this week to make more room for incoming animals.

So far this year 664 animals have gone through the foster program, 599 of which were cats and kittens. At this moment more than 220 animals are currently out in foster homes.

The foster department relies solely on donations and grants to provide life-saving care to the most at-risk animals in our care. More than 1,550 animals were saved by foster families last year, nearly five times the number of animals fostered five years ago.  

The need for fostering continues to grow in our community and is only possible by the generous support of citizens. “Kitten Week” is a social media campaign that will feature opportunities for citizens to learn about becoming a foster, get a behind-the-scenes look at how our foster team works to provide the best outcome for animals, and will give citizens the chance to help save more lives of at-risk animals in our community.

To view the shelter’s wish list click HERE.

Click HERE to follow “Kitten Week” on FWACC’s Facebook page or HERE to follow along on Twitter.

Interested in fostering? Learn more about how to apply and guidelines HERE. 

FORT WAYNE, IN – With the Fourth of July soon approaching, Fort Wayne Animal Care and Control urges pet owners to take extra precautions to keep their pets safe and comfortable.

Summer months, especially around the Fourth of July, are the busiest time of year for animal shelters. To ensure your pets stay safe at home this holiday, here are some helpful tips:

• Keep your pets inside in a confined room with curtains over any windows.
• Try playing calming music or playing Animal Planet on the TV.
• Give your pets enrichment and their favorite toys so they can keep their minds busy and not focused on the loud fireworks. Try filling a toy with peanut butter or various treats.
• Some pets are more anxious than others. We recommend talking to your veterinarian to see if any medication could aid in keeping your pet’s stress level down.
• If you have cats, we recommend purchasing and using a non-sponsored product called Feliway. It puts out a calming pheromone that is unique to only cats.
• If you need to take your dog outside to use the bathroom, make sure they are wearing a properly fitted collar or harness while they are leashed even if you have a fence.
• Double check your fence to make sure there are no openings or loose areas, as well as checking that all latches are secure.
• Make sure all pets are wearing up-to-date I.D. tags on their collar.
• Make sure your pet is also microchipped and that the information is current. FWACC offers microchipping for just $15. To check to see if your pet’s microchip is up-to-date, visit our website.

While we understand you might want your dog(s) to be a part of the festivities, it can be overwhelming for many dogs. A stressed or anxious dog is more likely to try to run away or even bite. For the safety of you, your family, and your dog(s), please keep them safely inside your home.

Fort Wayne Animal Care & Control will be closed Monday, July 4 for the holiday. If your dog or cat happens to get loose, start looking immediately. File a lost pet report through Fort Wayne Animal Care and Control, post to Lost Dogs of Fort Wayne’s Facebook or Lost Cats of Fort Wayne, and check our website daily for current housed stray animals. Lost pets will be able to be picked up starting Tuesday, July 5 when the shelter reopens at 11 a.m.  If you find a lost pet it’s important to get it checked for a microchip at a veterinarian’s office, pet store or by an Animal Control Officer so its owner can be contacted.