by Sarah Wyatt



Beginning Thursday, December 4, Friends of the Animals Foundation of West Seattle (FAF) will hold its annual Home for the Holidays adoption and donation drive at Next to Nature. The campaign ends January 2.

The local promotion is held in conjunction with the international Home for the Holidays program. The campaign was initiated by Helen Woodward Animal Center in California in 1999 with 13 other animal shelters. The annual event has helped more than 9.3 million families experience pet adoption during the holiday season, including more than 1.7 million pet adoptions in 2013.

“It’s especially rewarding this time of year for our rescue volunteers to take in a malnourished little kitten, and with a little food and love, that kitten blossoms, and then finds a new home,” says Marianne Hudson, president of FAF. “Animal adoption is a good way to celebrate the holidays. We’re happy to be part of this nationwide drive.”

The international Home for the Holidays pet adoption drive began with a growing concern for the number of rescue facilities closing their doors during the holiday seasons. In seeking the perfect holiday gift, would-be adopters were forced to resort to pet stores or puppy mills. Additionally, pet store staffers, untrained to assess the likelihood of a successful family match, contributed to an increased number of pets sent to shelters once the season was over. The Home for the Holidays Campaign asks rescue facilities to keep their doors open and get the word out.

Approximately 20 kittens and cats are available for adoption at the Next to Nature store and in FAF foster homes throughout West Seattle. The store offers areas for cage-free interactions with the cat, providing opportunities for families to interact with them. Next to Nature is located at 4543 California Ave SW at the Junction, near Terjung's Studio of Gifts.

“We'll have a fantastic variety of kittens and cats,” Hudson explains. “We want the West Seattle community to meet them, and to consider helping the rescue by donating a gift from the holiday wish list. We have a critical need for food and supplies.”

Items on the wish list include: canned or dry kitten or cat food (Taste of the Wild, Pro Plan or Royale Canin), kitten milk replacement (KMR, Just Born), Gerber beef and chicken baby food, pellet-style cat litter, kitten toys, cleaning products including bleach, and paper towels.

“With more than seven million homeless pets in the U.S., it is important everyone get involved to help save an orphaned animal this holiday season,” said Hudson. “We’re proud to be a part of this amazing campaign and are dedicated to placing orphaned pets in homes so they can experience a happy new life.”
Friends of the Animals Foundation is a no-kill, non-profit shelter and adoption center that serves King County through sheltering and adopting animals and providing pet owner education. The group is located in West Seattle and utilizes foster homes throughout Puget Sound. For more information, call 206-719-4864. Other West Seattle rescue groups, including Community Cat Coalition and Kitty Harbor, are hosting similar holiday programs. For more information about the nationwide Home for he Holidays campaign, please visit www.home4theholidays.org.