Lightning strikes at TLAC

Aug 24, 2012

AUSTIN, August 24, 2012 – Austin Pets Alive!, a nonprofit dedicated to making Austin a “no-kill” city, recently rescued Lightning, an orange tabby kitten with burns to her paw pads, nose bridge and ears, and needs to find a foster home for her immediately.

The burns appear to be environmental, said APA! President Dr. Ellen Jefferson, meaning that Lightning was likely laying on hot asphalt for too long. Lightning is about 3 weeks old, and her injuries seem to have occurred in the last few days.

Her ears likely will be permanently scarred - she will probably lose half of each ear - but she should otherwise recover in a couple of weeks with no major issues, Jefferson said.

Neglected animals like Lightning are suffering the consequences of a hot summer and crowded shelters, she said. "We cannot take more babies like Lightning without fosters and adopters."

Kitten season, which typically runs from April through October, is almost over. "But we are bursting at the seams with kittens, and we can't save more lives until these babies are taken into new homes. Our current fosters are all full."

Jefferson said kittens who no longer require bottle feeding are easy to care for and require very little room.

"Often a small, clean space in someone's home can be enough to keep a kitten or a litter secure, healthy and socialized for adoption," said Jefferson, whose nonprofit has already taken in more than 1,500 kittens this year.  "Some of our fosters even take their kittens to work."

To foster, simply visit our foster page and submit an online application, and our foster team will contact you.