To the Citizens of Arlington and City Representatives,

We at Arlington Cats Alive, urge the City of Arlington to prioritize the welfare of vulnerable animals by establishing a dedicated kitten nursery program at Arlington Animal Services (AAS).

The Problem:

Sadly, many orphaned or abandoned kittens arrive at AAS without their mothers. These fragile creatures require specialized care and a quiet, nurturing environment to thrive. Unfortunately, AAS currently lacks the resources to properly care for these vulnerable newborns.

Limited Equipment and Space: AAS lacks a designated nursery space with proper temperature control, specialized bottles, and formula. This hinders their ability to provide the intensive care these kittens require.

Help Shortage: The absence of a dedicated employee or volunteer coordinator makes it difficult to connect with and mobilize foster volunteers who could provide a loving temporary home for these kittens.

Tragic Outcome: As a result of these limitations, many healthy kittens are euthanized due to space and resource constraints.

The Solution:

A dedicated kitten nursery program at AAS would significantly improve the survival rates of these vulnerable animals. Here's how:

Specialized Nursery: Creating a designated nursery space with proper equipment and temperature control will ensure optimal health for the kittens.

Volunteer Network: Establishing a volunteer coordinator position will allow AAS to build a network of trained foster volunteers who can provide vital socialization and care in a home environment.

Increased Staffing: Hiring 2-3 additional staff members dedicated to the nursery will ensure proper feeding schedules can be maintained, volunteers and rescues can be effectively coordinated, and the overall well-being of the kittens is addressed.

The Benefits:

A well-resourced kitten nursery program will have a profound impact:

Increased Live Release Rate: By providing specialized care and fostering opportunities, the program will significantly increase the number of healthy kittens adopted into loving homes.

Stronger Partnerships: This program will provide partner rescue groups more time to find placements for litters of kittens, fostering a positive and collaborative relationship with the shelter.

Improved Morale: Seeing these vulnerable animals thrive will boost employee and volunteer morale, fostering a more positive and rewarding work environment.
A Call to Action:

We urge the City of Arlington and City Representatives to take immediate action by:

1. Appropriating funds to establish a dedicated kitten nursery at AAS, including hiring 2-3 additional staff members.
2. Creating a Kitten Bottle Baby Coordination position to build a network of trained foster volunteers.
3. Providing staff training on specialized care for orphaned kittens.
   By taking these steps, we can ensure that every healthy kitten arriving at AAS has a fighting chance at a happy and healthy life.

Together, we can make a difference!

Please sign this petition and share it with your friends and family. Let's show our support for Arlington's most vulnerable animals!

Thank you!