WASHINGTON — It鈥檚 the start of the summer season, with trips to the beach and barbecues with neighbors.
But for local animal shelters, this is a different kind of season: it鈥檚 鈥渒itten season.鈥�
Katherine Zenzano, community outreach coordinator with the Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center says at this time of year, shelters like hers are inundated with adorable, but very needy kittens.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a phenomenon that goes on across the whole country for shelters across the country at this time of year,鈥� she says.
Right now, her shelter has filled up. 鈥淪ometimes we get a litter with a mom, sometimes we get just a solo kitten.鈥� And she says they鈥檙e fragile. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e so young. They鈥檙e not at an age where they can be adopted yet.鈥� So MCASAC is looking for foster families for their felines. Zenzano says you wouldn鈥檛 be on your own: there鈥檚 training and support—and free supplies available to volunteer fosters.
Foster candidates will get matched with kittens suited to their circumstances; if you work, long yours you wouldn鈥檛 be matched with a kitten that needs to be bottle fed every few hours鈥攁nd yes, they get those.
鈥淎ny time you take one animal, or a litter of kittens, it鈥檚 opening up 聽space for another animal that is going to be coming into the shelter. It鈥檚 really hard to put into words how critical these fosters are,鈥� Zenzano says.
If your heart melts at the sound of a kitten鈥檚 meow, and you long for a furry, purring bundle to care for until it finds a permanent home, you鈥檙e exactly what shelters are looking for.
Here are just a few of the area shelters that could use your help:
