My neighbor, Donna, is moving to Virginia soon and needs a new home for her kitty, Lacie. As an adult kitty, Lacie will sadly have some trouble finding a new family, but we're trying. She is a well-behaved orange-and-white kitty who is current on all her shots and has been spayed. At this time, Lacie is an inside-outside kitty, but I'm guessing she could easily become all one way or the other so long as she has someone to love her. The Cleveland Kitty Cottage is filled beyond capacity, so taking Lacie myself is out of the question. If any of you have any leads in the Salem, IL, area, please let me know ASAP. Donna is moving in three weeks.

This request offers a good segue to the North Shore Animal League. As you know, I am an enthusiastic proponent of no-kill shelters. The League is the largest no-kill shelter in the world.

This information is from Wikipedia:

North Shore Animal League America, headquartered in Port Washington, NY, is the largest no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization in the world. Since 1944, The League’s mission has been saving the lives of pets through adoption, rescue, spay/neuter and advocacy initiatives. Every year, the League reaches across the country to rescue, nurture and adopt nearly 20,000 pets and to date, the League has placed close to 1 million puppies, kittens, cats and dogs into carefully screened homes. One of the first animal rescue agencies on the ground in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the League rescued more than 1400 pets from the region.

The League is also home to the Alex Lewyt Veterinary Medical Center, which provides 24-hour care for the pets sheltered at the League.

In 2007, the League received three Chihuahuas born without front paws. They resembled pint-sized kangaroos, and got around by hopping on their back haunches. The pups were evaluated, and, in a special initiative, toy-sized aluminum wagons were custom built, allowing them to move more easily. They now live in a home with an employee of NSALA.

Every year the medical center takes care of more than 10,000 outpatient visits, administers more than 15,000 vaccinations and performs over 11,000 free spay/neuter procedures for every adopted animal, preventing over 132 million potentially unwanted litters. Additionally, the League’s SPAY/USA program is a nationwide referral service for affordable spay/neuter services. The League is also home to a National Shelter Rescue and Humane Education Team. North Shore Animal League America offers a wide variety of programs such as a mobile adoption program, adoption counseling, training and foster care for pets with special needs.

At the League's official site, you can read their mission statement and also learn about *mutt-i-grees,* the mixed-breed dogs looking for loving homes, too. Kathryn Erbe of *Law and Order: Criminal Intent* is a celebrity spokesperson for The Mutt-i-Gree Club. Through links from the home page, you can learn how to adopt pets, donate to the League, or sponsor a pet if you are unable to take one into your home. There are also links to news and advice articles, animal programs, and other no-kill shelters.

Please bookmark the site and shop here, too, whenever you need a gift for yourself or other animal lovers!