WINTER PARK, Fla. — As warmer weather approaches, central Florida animal shelters are starting to see an increase in the number of dogs and cats, many surrendered by their previous owners.
Now, neighbors are working together to bring more attention to kittens and puppies looking for forever homes. Barbara Manning calls it a labor of love.
She renovated an entire room in her home for one purpose.
“This is to make the Orange County Animal Shelter more comfortable for the cats they have there,” said the 74-year-old Winter Park resident. “It's to give them something nice to sleep on and play with.”
She has been working on mats, blankets, bandanas and toys for about a year. It all makes a difference not only to the pet, but also to herself.
“I found my purpose in life,” Manning said. “Last March, I became quite unwell and almost missed the event. This made me realize once again that there is a reason for me to still be here.''
But Barbara isn't doing all of that work alone.
At least five other neighbors, all in their 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s, are also putting their sewing machines to good use.
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“We just make things better for them while they're there,” said Stevie McGrath, a Winter Park resident.
“It might be a child coming in and saying, 'I want that little cat.' What led them to the little cat? It was on a little mat that Barbara made. It might have been a shamrock or a Disney character created by Barbara.”
Dozens of dogs and cats spend months in shelters across central Florida. McGrath also learned how to use social media just to get the word out. “I do a cat post every week,” she said proudly. “It's hard to know that not all of them will make it. It's sad.”
For Orange County Animal Services, every little thing helps, especially as warmer weather approaches.
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“First and foremost, it's what brings us together,” said Bryant Almeida with Orange County Animal Services. “Every little thing affects us. The weather affects us. For us, spring is an important season for kittens. It's kitten season, so we're overwhelmed by the number of cats that are coming. .”
As of the end of February, Orange County animal shelters had nearly 300 pets, including dogs and cats, and that number could grow quickly.
“Community connections are really important to us,” Almeida said. “We want the community to be more involved in our day-to-day things and not just donate their time, but to come to the shelter and see what we have to deal with. I think that's really important. It just brings us together.”
If you would like to support Orange County Animal Services, you can adopt or foster a pet or volunteer here.
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