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Spring into Action for our 5th Annual Project Kitten!
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The Animal Welfare Society (AWS) to date has received almost 2,000 pounds in donations of much-needed supplies and an estimate of $2,400 to help care for the more than 600 homeless kittens expected in the next few months as a result of the Project Kitten campaign.
AWS launched the campaign in March to raise public awareness of the cat overpopulation problem in Southern Maine and generate donations of Kitten Milk Replacement (KMR), dry and canned kitten food, cat litter and toys. Donations collected since the start of the campaign were weighed and tallied for the grand total during the Kitten Shower held on Saturday, May 5th, at the AWS facility in Kennebunk.
Girl Scout Troop #229 took first prize in the “Project Kitten Challenge” as the group that collected the largest amount of donations (445 lbs). In addition to bragging rights, they received a group night out at the movies compliments of Smitty’s and will be featured in an AWS newsletter as the 2007 Project Kitten Champions.
The Talbot Family placed second by collecting 110 lbs of supplies and won a $50 gift certificate to the Kennel Shop and Fea Beede took third place by collecting over 61 lbs of supplies and won a free pass to Funtown Splashtown.
Winners of the Cat Alumni Photo contest are:
Beth Hazen and “Willow” for Cutest Kitten
Diana Huot and “Hollis” for Coolest Cat
Jill Fogg and “Harrison” for Most Photogenic
Judy Dutton and “Sara” for Best Sleeping Cat
Gail Rouse and “Mister Newman and Little” for Best Friends
Gail Rouse and “Ethel” as Judges Choice
The Project Kitten campaign continues through the end of May, and donations may be dropped off in West Kennebunk at the Animal Welfare Society.
What can you do?
- Collect donations of supplies and bring them to our Shower on May 5th
- Send in your AWS cat alumni photo with $5.00 entry fee and compete in our Alumni Photo Contest
- Sell and be part of our "Kit Kats for Kitty Cats" promotion
- Pay for a Spay and help end cat overpopulation
- Attend our Kitten Shower, adopt and spread the word about AWS
 The Animal Welfare Society is expecting over 600 kittens to care for during the next five months alone. In 2006, AWS saw over 1100 kittens in total and we expect that this number could be even greater for 2007 because of recent early spring-like days. Due to this annual influx of needy cats, the Animal Welfare Society (AWS) is once again launching “Project Kitten”, a campaign to raise public awareness of the cat overpopulation problem in Southern Maine, and at the same time generate much needed donations of supplies to help care for the hundreds of furry friends we expect to see.
According to the Humane Society of the United States, a fertile cat can produce an average  of three litters per year, with an average of four to six kittens per litter. Using these figures, a pair of unaltered cats and their offspring will be able to produce 420,000 cats in just seven years! These unwanted cats and kittens are surrendered to the AWS, where we provide food, shelter, medical care, love and the chance to find a permanent home. With warmer weather on the way, we are gearing up for the arrival of the first wave of kittens, which are typically born in April, May and June. Project Kitten enables us to get a start on preparation for our busiest season.
“Project Kitten is a wonderful opportunity for us to get the word out about cat overpopulation and the importance of spaying and neutering,” says Steven Jacobsen,  Executive Director of the Animal Welfare Society. “It also enables us to get the public excited about the many kittens that will soon be available for adoption. These animals need loving homes and we encourage any family to seriously consider visiting the shelter to meet some of our great cats.”
Key elements of the Project Kitten campaign include:
- Acknowledging the reality of hundreds upon hundreds of homeless kittens born in Southern Maine and brought to AWS each year.
- Emphasizing the need for responsible pet ownership, which includes spaying and neutering of our companion animals.
- Giving caring individuals the opportunity to help through volunteering or making a much-needed donation.
The campaign not only seeks to gather donations of vital kitten supplies- Kitten Milk Replacement (KMR), dry and canned kitten food, cat litter and kitty toys- so that all the kittens can be given the proper food, shelter and loving attention for their first 8 to 10 weeks, but it also hopes to fund its “Year of the Cat” Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Certificate program that assists individuals in getting their family pet spayed or neutered.
Donations of kitten supplies for Project Kitten will be accepted at the AWS shelter on Holland Road in West Kennebunk, or you can look for the Project Kitten Donation Boxes at our Project Kitten Drop Off Locations, which will be coming soon. Donations to the Year of the Cat program can be sent to The Animal Welfare Society, C/O Pay For A Spay, PO Box 43, West Kennebunk, ME 04094.
In addition, local schools, community groups and interested individuals are encouraged to  participate in the Project Kitten Challenge by collecting donations and delivering the items to the AWS for the weigh-in ceremony at the fifth annual “Kitten Shower” which will be held in on Saturday, May 5th. The winner of our Project Kitten Challenge will earn bragging rights, a group prize and will be featured in a future issue of the AWS Newsletter as well as coverage on the AWS website. The public is also invited to attend the Kitten Shower to learn more about AWS and the many things we are doing to improve the outlook for cats in our community.
We’re also selling “Kit Kats for Kitty Cats” this year to benefit the cats in our care. You can buy a Kit Kat candy bar for $1.00 with proceeds that will go directly to the cats! Feel like helping out even more? Sign up to sell a box of 36 bars and make a real difference to our furry friends. Let’s get out there and when people think Kit Kat….they’ll think about AWS Cats!
Groups interested in participating in our Challenge, or anyone interested in learning more about Project Kitten should contact Katie Lisnik at 985-3244 for more information.
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