| | | | Kitten Season at Seattle Humane: So Much Cuteness, So Much Work 
Just a few of the kittens going to new, loving homes this week.
It was predicted months ago and now it’s officially here — the Great Kitten Surge of 2021. It’s the result of what some have called a “perfect storm” — a mild winter and pandemic restrictions, which prevented many people from getting their pets spayed and neutered. The proof arrives daily at Seattle Humane, with crate after crate filled with young furry faces, many of them born in the wild just weeks ago. But all that cuteness requires care. LOTS of care.
“Kitten season at Seattle Humane is a time of high energy and hard work,” according to Shelter Care Manager Manders Vandel. “They’re adorable, but they need a lot of specialized care. Their immune systems are not fully developed, so we have to be extra careful not to inadvertently spread germs to them. They are also in a prime window for socialization, which means they need plenty of positive human interaction in order to develop into confident, people-savvy cats.”
Seattle Humane’s on-campus cat population can triple, even quadruple during kitten season, which tends to run from late April through October in Washington. The warmer summer months are prime breeding months for cats, with female cats as young as five months able to have their own litters of kittens.
It all adds up to a very busy time affecting every shelter department. Vandel, who’s survived many a kitten season, has a more practical view.
“Kittens are eating and pooping machines! We need to make sure they end the day with full bellies and empty litterboxes.”
June is Adopt-A-Shelter-Cat Month! If you’re thinking about adding a kitten or cat to your family, start by viewing all our available cats at seattlehumane.org. Many of our kittens are still in foster and need to grow a little more. There's a lot to learn about these tiny tigers, including what to do if you find a kitten out in the wild. You'll find it all on the new Kittens page on our website. Check it out!
Microchipping Makes Happy Reunions Possible
 Gizmo's mom, seeing him for the first time in nearly 10 years, thanks to a microchip!
It’s a frightening statistic — one in three pets will become lost at some point during their life. Microchipping — one of the many affordable services we offer in our Wellness Clinic — gives lost pets with no identifying tags the best chance of making it back home. Each chip number is unique and registered with a national database that links to your address and phone number. If your lost pet is brought to an animal shelter like Seattle Humane or a veterinary clinic, your pet’s microchip will be scanned, making a happy reunion possible.
It happened to Gizmo the cat, nearly a decade after he disappeared. It’s an amazing story. Watch it here.
Join Us for a Summer of Support: Pawparazzi and Day of Giving
Put your pet in the spotlight and enter our Pawparazzi photo competition!
Fess up, you have dozens (maybe hundreds?) of photos of your fur baby on your phone. Here’s your chance to share all that’s amazing and adorable about them with the world! Our 2021 Pawparazzi photo competition and fundraiser kicks off June 14! It’s just the start of what we hope will be an incredible summer in support of pets, culminating with our second annual Day of Giving on July 16.
Here’s how Pawparazzi works: You upload a favorite photo of your pet, then get your family and friends to vote for your pet’s picture. Each vote costs just $1! The more votes your pet receives, the more pets we can help. The top-three winners — to be announced on our second annual Day of Giving on July 16 — get bragging rights AND an inscribed brick in the Seattle Humane walkway this fall! What are you waiting for? Register today!
Help Pets in Need and Donate That Car!
Looking to get rid of a vehicle taking up valuable space in a garage or driveway? There’s an easy way to donate it AND help local pets in need!
Seattle Humane’s Vehicle Donation Program is operated in partnership with Charitable Adult Rides & Services (CARS). We accept all types of vehicles including cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats, and RVs, running or not. The process is fast and easy — CARS handles all of the towing and paperwork, including the documentation you’ll need for tax purposes. And here’s the best part — you avoid the hassle of selling or trading it and get the satisfaction of knowing proceeds from the sale of your donated vehicle will be put to work immediately caring for cats, dogs and critters in need. Get started today!
'Thank you for helping us find our sweet Eddie'
One-year-old Eddie, the red and white dog in the photo on the left, came to us from the Houston SPCA on Feb. 26. He was picked up as a stray with an embedded collar injury to his neck. He was adopted from Seattle Humane in early March.
"Eddie has been such a joy and source of laughter in our home. He is learning new tricks, sweetly waking us up every morning with a smile, lounging in the backyard, and becoming best friends with our dog Diego, Squid our cat and our 7-year-old daughter. We visit the dog park daily and he is a well-known character. He has best dog friends he plays with and greets every dog and person. We took him on a camping trip to the Washington coast. Eddie loved it, but was a bit wary of the ocean. Eddie’s constant tail wag and pouty lip melt our hearts. He is so sweet! We just love Eddie!" — The Smith Family
What We’re Reading
This month it’s “Lost Cat: A True Story of Love, Desperation, and GPS Technology,” by Caroline Paul.
It’s the story of Tibbia, a cat who mysteriously disappears, only to return weeks later. Where had he been all that time? Was he loving someone else? Determined to find out, Paul uses GPS Technology, cat cameras and more to get the answer. It’s a funny, sweet read we think you’ll enjoy. If you have a book suggestion for animal lovers, we’d love to hear it! Contact marketing@seattlehumane.org.
June Foster Parent Spotlight
Evelyn and Ducky, after she first brought him home.
Evelyn Barron-Roemer is a familiar face to staff at Seattle Humane, known for her patience and compassion for animals big and small. From the tiniest bottle babies to her foster fail Ducky (a massive St. Bernard puppy who's still growing!), Evelyn never hesitates to take on the most challenging medical cases. But her volunteer work isn't limited to fostering. Read all about this beloved member of the Seattle Humane family in this month's Foster Parent Spotlight.
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