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Canadian women host furry Middle East war refugees using open house, postcards to promote homeless cats
Kanab, UT - (04/05/2007) - Jennifer Arnold and Carolyn Pinsent of Chilliwack, British Columbia, re using some innovative ideas to find homes for 7 cats rescued from the Hezbollah-Israeli conflict.
The women are holding an open house on Sunday, April 15 and distributing a postcard to pet-related businesses promoting the cats. Quite an undertaking, considering neither of them operates an animal rescue. So why are they advocating for cats from
Jennifer, Carolyn and their husbands have been volunteering with the United States-based Best Friends Animal Society for the last four years, going to the society's sanctuary located in Kanab, Utah to work with the animals. That's where they met the Lebanese cats.
In the fall of 2006, Best Friends worked with both Israeli and Lebanese humane groups, and these cats were part of the unprecedented airlift of almost 300 cats and dogs from war-torn Beirut after local shelters were destroyed in the bombing. The four-footed victims of war came to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah on their way to finding new families.
"We got there a week after the animals arrived and worked with the dogs at the temporary housing set up for them at Best Friends. Back home, I used to board cats and still had the cattery. So when we got home, Carolyn and I looked my cattery and said, hmm&." Arnold said.
They contacted Best Friends and said they would like to take on 9 of the kitties who were going to need some special care before being ready for new homes. The cats arrived in January. Two of the cats were adopted by a couple in Vancouver.
Then their good friend, Fred Granzow, got in on the act. He's a retired teacher who started a design business, "loGos." The three of them came up with the idea of a postcard that promotes the rescue effort and the cats.
"I'm just doing a bit to help the animals. Carolyn and Jennifer are inspirational in their efforts and provided me an opportunity to contribute," Granzow said.
OPEN HOUSE TO MEET AND GREET THE FURRY REFUGEES
2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 15
41751Yarrow Central Road Chilliwack
For more information call 604-823-4905 or 604-792-1994
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Best Friends Animal Society operates the country's largest sanctuary for homeless animals, and provides adoption, spay/neuter, and educational programs nationwide. For more information, go to www.bestfriends.org
