Someone asked me the other night how NWAC is set up and where our "shelter" is located. I had to tell them, we don't have a "shelter" - we operate solely out of foster homes for both the cats and dogs. It is a network of people that has been built up over the years. We are always on the lookout for additional foster homes because, of course, it means we can accept more animals into the "pre-adoption" phase if we have someplace to house them. Animals stay in the foster home(s) until they are either(1) adopted at PetsMart (cats are there 24/7, dogs go in for "adoption afternoons" every-other-weekend from 1-5pm on Saturday and Sunday) or (2) adopted through a listing on PetFinders or our website.

By no means are the animals that come through the one foster home mentioned on this blog all of the animals that are currently available for adoption through NWAC. JoAnne is our Adoption Director; she both accepts animals into NWAC and adopts animals from NWAC. The rest of the NWAC volunteers are usually either foster homes or help clean the cat cages at PetsMart.

We have a lot of great animals just waiting for the right placement and since I'm not fostering additional dogs at the moment; you'll probably start hearing more about the cats!! We'll see...
I need to see who is still down at the store - the cats usually rotate through pretty quickly although we have had Princess for awhile (she is named Princess for a reason). She is a very pretty cat but not one that you can just reach down and pick up right away. Once she knows you, she is great but she usually stays curled up in her little house and doesn't come out to meet and greet people.

Fluffy came back - she is a long haired dark torti and just the sweetest cat. The people who adopted her in April have found out that the woman is pregnant so, Fluffy came back. Fluffy is usually right up at the front of the cage asking for lovin', she won't last long at the store. We accepted eight cats from a woman who is not expected to live much longer -- seven have been adopted and now we have rotated the last one into the store. The cat's name is Shy and she is an older cat -- and not at all happy to be at PetsMart. She has spent more time hiding in the litter box then anywhere else. She is a pretty little brown tabby.

Umm...I guess I'll have to take inventory when I'm at PetsMart tomorrow since I can't remember any of the other cats at the moment.

What a nice surprise. Bear and his family came to PetsMart to visit us yesterday. He has filled out so much and he is so much calmer - I didn't even recognize him at first. He sure knew me, though!! It was great to have him wiggling around in front of me so happy, happy, HAPPY. I told his family that I was absolutely impressed - his coat was glossy, his tummy was well-rounded and he was grinning from ear to ear -- AND, he didn't jump on me and almost knock me down. THAT is a definate improvement. The gentleman said they had Bear in a training class and that things were going really well. It is so nice to have a visit now and then to see progress ...

I took Luna to a behaviorist and she gave me some ideas that we are going to try. No more foster dogs at my house for awhile - and hopefully Amelia will get adopted and out of my bathroom soon. She is a cat that likes company and doesn't get too much right now.

Well - Spring is on it's way -- it was sunny, snowy and hailed today. The forsethya is blooming, the daffodils are almost ready to bloom and the tulips have poked their way up. It's a good time for new beginnings!!

...and it's been three weeks and the volunteers cleaning the cat cages are still working great -- WOW -- it just doesn't get much better than this! :-)