The health benefits of having pets are well known, lowering our stress levels and providing companionship, enjoyment and love. In a time of uncertainty, crisis and isolation, the comfort and stability our furry buddies provide is even more important.
Local foster-based rescue Helen Sanders CatPAWS, named after the late Seal Beach cat rescuer icon, typically takes at-risk cats and kittens out of municipal and county shelters. With those shelters temporarily closed to the public because of COVID-19 and operating with reduced staff hours, there was an urgent need to get animals out of the shelters and into foster homes. Along with other area rescues, CatPAWS answered the call and took in more cats, some with immediate – and costly – medical needs.
Although public adoption events have been suspended, CatPAWS continues to pair cats with loving homes while observing safety protocols. According to Director Beth Lyons, “We work individually with each potential adopter, our volunteers use personal protective equipment, disposable carriers, hospital grade cleaning solution and more to ensure the safety of all involved. We have developed some creative solutions like ‘Foster to Adopt’, in which a kitty is ‘delivered’ to the approved adopter’s house to see if it works out. Kind of like ‘Doordash’ with paws”, she added with a smile. In doing this, according to Lyons, the rescue organization continues its commitment to ‘Saving Cat Lives and Making People Lives Better’.
Additionally, CatPAWS continues to provide spay/neuter vouchers to those members of the public who find cats, or even have their own, and cannot afford to get them altered. This program helps ‘turn off the faucet’ of homeless cats and unwanted litters which too often end in tiny kittens losing their lives.
To learn more about Helen Sanders CatPAWS, please visit www.helensanderscatpaws.com and follow them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
