Successful winter cat shelter workshop builds community while helping caretakers

We had great time yesterday at the Betty White’s Birthday Winter Cat Shelter Workshop, Over 20 neighbors got together at Allegheny City Brewing on the Northside. Owner Amy donated the space and provided complimentary beverages. Nearby Bistro-to-Go sent coffee (January weather) and cheesecake bites (Betty White reference.) The good news outcome – we collectively made […]

Multiple Items Stolen Temporarily Shuts Down Local Pet Food Pantry

This project has operated for over a year without much incident. The few mishaps we had with pet distributions were miscommunication. People were helpful to each other, careful when they had to move bags around, quick to alert us of issues like a bag breaking open. Sadly in the past six weeks, we’ve had at […]

Volunteer to Distribute Cold Weather Cat Shelters This Wintry Weekend

UPDATE: Please read this post for an update on the pet food pantry being robbed. There are all sorts of winter shelters to help colony cats endure the worst weather. Some are heated where this is electricity, some are made from multiple layers inside a big Rubbermaid tote, some are cute little wooden houses painted […]

Pet Food Pantry, Allegheny City Brewery Host Winter Cat Shelter Community Service Event

Why winter shelters? Winter shelters are vital for community cats. A safe warm place to get out of the elements is a fundamental tool to manage a cat colony. A simple version made from a sturdy Styrofoam cooler, a contractor bag, tape, then stuffed with straw (not hay) is quite effective. Our focus is on […]

Someone stole winter items from a local pet food pantry. Now community help is needed to replace them

This is a disappointing update to share – some unknown person has stolen several items from the Dr. John P. Ruffing VMD Pet Food Pantry. Heated outdoor items critical for feral and homeless cats. We’ve had items donated that were assigned to our participants and caretakers. They were labeled and then they disappeared. No food […]

A Christmas Donation in memory of a special cat

Today Pittsburgh LGBTQ Charities received a letter in the mail. Hello A while ago, Sue Kerr posted on Nextdoor about a cat, I think named Chastity or Charity  (she means Charlotte) that had been cared for by ab older woman (street cat) The cat became ill and your charity spent $600 providing her care & […]

Fort Faulsey Finds Another Lost/Missing Cat or Why You Should Donate to #PghCatFolx

His name is Checkers. He’s been on the lam since escaping his carrier at Humane Animal Rescue (HAR) Northside a few days ago. Marie saw the flyer online and sprang into action. While I posted around the nearby Facebook groups, she headed out with treats and a carrier. Starting at last reported sighting, she “thought […]

Happy 5th Anniversary to the Fort Faulsey Community Cat Colony

This colony sprang to life before roads were paved or houses built, when the confluence of waterways, plentiful food, and the lush green life by the riverside flourished in this region. We are told that domestic cats arrived with colonizers, they were not native to these lands. But people were. Some of those people had […]

How “recent government regulations” paused fundraising for a local LGBTQ nonprofit

We’ve been through an ordeal with our crowdfunding platforms. The reason given? “Due to recent government regulations, your account was more than likely restricted as a precautionary measure.” What recent government regulations do you know about that would be tied to our small nonprofit? The cats? The clothing drive? Hmmm. Note that we do not […]

Your Gently Used Items Helped These Five Northside Cats

Carl and Billie Bean live in separate households, four or five blocks apart here in Manchester on Pittsburgh’s Northside. They are both cats, both female, and both went missing from their homes. We jumped into action when we learned about Carl, lending a heated bed, a trail camera, and related items to Carl’s human. I […]