Life-Saving Kitten Nursery Opens in Pasadena

Every year, shelters across the Greater Los Angeles area are inundated with thousands of very young, orphaned and abandoned kittens who require extra care before they can be put up for adoption. Sadly, many of these kittens do not make it past day one, as many shelters lack funds, shelter space, and overall capacity to care for this vulnerable population. To further its mission of compassion and care for all animals, the Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA is teaming up with the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) and County of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control to open Kitten-Garten, a nursery for kittens four to eight weeks old at its Raymond Avenue Shelter.

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Kitten-Garten is made possible by a generous grant from the ASPCA in the amount of $325,000. It is the first phase in a larger project that will include a purpose-built kitten nursery to provide round-the-clock care for all kittens under eight weeks.

The ASPCA will transport young kittens from Los Angeles County’s Baldwin Park Animal Care Center to the Pasadena Humane Society’s Kitten-Garten weekly. Kittens will be cared for by Pasadena Humane staff, on-site volunteers and foster parents until they are ready for adoption. Many kittens will be made available for adoption at the Pasadena Humane Society, while others will be transferred to partner shelters across the country by the ASPCA’s Animal Relocation Program.

“The opening of Kitten-Garten marks the beginning of a critical life-saving partnership with the ASPCA and County of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control,” said Julie Bank, President & CEO of the Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA. “We look forward to growing this project, which aims to save one thousand kittens in its first year.”

In collaboration with County of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control, the ASPCA has cared for more than 430 kittens since April 2017 in its Los Angeles Kitten Foster Program. This work is part of the ASPCA’s Feline Pilot Project at Baldwin Park Animal Care Center with the goal to increase the number of cats’ lives saved at the shelter. To date, this
program’s efforts accounts for almost half of Baldwin Park Animal Care Center’s intake of kittens between the ages of four to eight weeks old. The program has increased the number of kittens’ lives saved at the shelter by 200 percent.

“The opening of this specialized care center will make a tremendous impact on our ability to save the lives of local vulnerable kittens,” said Matt Bershadker, President and CEO of the ASPCA. “Working in partnership with Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA and the County of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control, we’re committed to building on the success of our Baldwin Park foster program to provide even more safety and stability for these animals so they can ultimately be placed in safe and loving homes.”

The Pasadena Humane Society has been working with County of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control since 2016 to transfer adoptable pets from County facilities. Since 2016, more than 70 pets have arrived in Pasadena from Los Angeles County animal care centers located in Baldwin Park, Carson and Downey. Kitten-Garten is the next step in strengthening this relationship.

“We are thrilled to have this fantastic opportunity for our underage kittens to develop and thrive,” said Marcia Mayeda, Director of Animal Care and Control for Los Angeles County. “This public-private partnership will save many lives, and demonstrates the positive outcomes when nonprofits and local government work together to solve community issues.”

The Pasadena Humane Society is calling on community members to help kittens in need. The organization is looking for nursery volunteers, foster homes, adopters, and monetary and in-kind donations to further grow the program. For more information, visit pasadenahumane.org.

About the Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA

The Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA is a donor-supported, nonprofit organization that provides animal care and services for homeless and owned animals in the Greater Los Angeles Area. The organization is dedicated to promoting humane treatment and compassionate care for all animals. The animals in its care come from 11 animal control contract cities, as well as partner shelters across the Los Angeles area and beyond. The Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA also offers lifesaving programs and services to the community that support the human-animal bond and keep pets in homes. To learn more, visit pasadenahumane.org.

About the ASPCA

Founded in 1866, the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) is the first animal welfare organization in North America and serves as the nation’s leading voice for animals. More than two million supporters strong, the ASPCA’s mission is to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, the ASPCA is a national leader in the areas of anti-cruelty, community outreach and animal health services. For more information, please visit www.ASPCA.org, and be sure to follow the ASPCA on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.