Welcome

Kittens!---- Those adorable bundles of energy.

Kitten season has hit full force this year.  In just the past two months, we have taken  100 kittens into our care.  These kittens were found on the side of the road, born outside to a feral mom or in a home where they did not receive proper care. Without us they most likely would be dead.

Every day we receive calls from caring people asking us to help and take kittens into the shelter.  It breaks our heart to say “no” because we know it could mean life or death for that kitten but we can only help as many as we can properly support.  It is important that we provide the medical care and love they need until they find their forever home.

This is where Foster Programs become so important.  The best environment for the fluff balls is a foster home in a small room where they can play and get used to human contact.  Kitten litter boxes need to be changed almost daily and they tend to eat like there is never going to be another of morsel of food.  They’re growing after all!

Most rescues provide food, litter and toys.  Fosters provide the love and a safe space for kittens to grow and gain important socialization skills with other cats and humans.

Have you thought about fostering?

Want the joy of kittens without the long-term commitment?

Then fostering might be for you.

To foster you will need to:

1. Provide a quiet space away from other animals in your home

2. Bring kittens to their medical appointments

3. Take pictures and provide information on personalities

4. Have a few hours throughout the day to spend with them

Click "How to Help" above to learn more about becoming a Foster.

Kittens require also medical resources before they can be placed in their forever home.  Each kitten needs a spay/neuter surgery, rabies vaccine, three fvrcp shots, a microchip and fiv/felv tests.  Not to mention deworming and flea control. During their time in our care, Sheltering Hands performs all of these tasks on each kitten. Multiply that by each of the 100 kittens we are fostering right now and you can see how busy the staff is with these loving furballs!

All of these take resources of time and money. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit, Sheltering Hands relies on the support of donors to provide a safe, loving and enrichment living environment for each cat as we seek to place them in forever homes. Last year we found 250 cats forever homes. This year we hope to do even more!

There are several ways to help us reach that goal:

• Follow us on Facebook, Like/Share our posts to spread the word on what is happening at Sheltering Hands;
• Volunteer a few hours a week helping at the main adoption location in Ocala (cleaning and socializing with the cats), at the Lady Lake PetSmart location (cleaning and socializing with the cats), as part of our Surgical Support Team (helping during Spay/Neuter appointments) or provide your expertise in the physical upkeep of our shelter (we are always looking for help with painting, lawn care, landscaping, building renovations and more).

Click "How to Help" above to complete a volunteer information packet.

• Donate supplies like dry/wet food, litter, paper towels, 13 gallon garbage bags, etc..

• Become a financial patron/supporter of Sheltering Hands.  For just $5 a month, you can help provide the critical support needed to help us take care of our cats during this time.  Donors receive a magnet to proudly show their support, a voucher for 10% of an adoption or spay/neuter and receive 20% off any purchase at our Yard Sale events during the year.
  

Click "Donate" above to become a registered member and supporter of ShelteringHands today!

Thank you for your support of Sheltering Hands.  Without you we would not be able to better the lives of these kittens and all the a cats we encouter throughout the year.  As always, remember "Time with a cat is never wasted".

- Elena G.
  Chair, Board of Directors - Sheltering Hands