Cats and their human friends will each find something to like at a fund-raiser for the Animals in Distress shelter on Monday, Dec. 22, from 3:30 to 5:30, in front of the Village Market on Old Ridgefield Road.
The Capelle family of Wilton will be manning a table filled with homemade cat treats as well as brownies and cupcakes for people. All proceeds will go directly to the no-kill shelter at the town hall campus on Danbury Road.
The Capelles were prompted to hold the fund-rasier after reading in The Bulletin about the shelter’s struggle to meet its medical expenses, which have exceeded $10,000.
“For us, helping others is not just a one-time effort during the holidays,” said Nancy Capelle. “It’s a way of life. When our daughters heard about the needs of the cat shelter, they were immediately coming up with ideas on how we could help. We put all of our ideas together and came up with an event that will have unique offerings.”
Along with the edible treats, Ms. Capelle, who is an EMT with Wilton Volunteer Ambulance Corps, will demonstrate pet CPR and choking relief as well as basic pet first aid. In addition, photographs and bios of all of the cats at the shelter will be on display as well as the Animals in Distress Amazon Wish List.
“I think all of the cats stayed up late one night and created the wish list,” Ms. Capelle said. “It’s really their letter to Santa. Most of all, they just wish for a forever home. That is certainly not too much to ask.”
To view the wish list, which includes things like food and toys, visit amzn.to/1uq6qnZ.
Animals in Distress is also registered with Amazon Smile, which donates 0.5% of eligible purchases made through the site to a customer’s specified charity from those registered. Shoppers may log onto smile.amazon.com and shop as they normally would on the Amazon site.
Many of the cats at the shelter have heartbreaking stories. Many have suffered physically and emotionally from multiple abandonments, abuse, starvation and pain. However, despite what they have been through, they are gentle, loving and now healthy.
Because many of the cats that have come to the shelter were injured or sick, the cost of caring for them has strained the shelter’s resources. The shelter is also at capacity and cannot take any additional rescues.
Ms. Capelle fears cats and kittens in need of rescue could end up at a shelter where they will be euthanized or given to medical testing laboratories.
For information on the shelter, visit animals-in-distress.com, email kittiesforkeeps@gmail.com or call 203-762-2006.