Parma Animal Shelter: Shelter Foster Support Grant Report
How did this grant help your organization and the pets in your care?
The Shelter Foster Support Grant from the Petfinder Foundation made a meaningful and immediate difference for the cats and kittens in our care. With this funding, Parma Animal Shelter was able to purchase essential supplies that directly support our foster families and the most fragile animals who rely on them.
Thanks to the grant, we added:
– Kitten‑sized litter boxes that help young kittens learn good habits early and make daily care easier for fosters.
– Feeding syringes and nursing tools that allow us to safely support neonatal kittens and orphaned babies who cannot yet eat on their own.
– A precision scale to closely monitor kittens under 2 lbs. — especially those who are sick, underweight, or struggling to thrive.
– Special foods and supplements for nursing mothers, ensuring queens have the nutrition they need to keep their litters healthy.
– Heating elements and warming supplies that are critical for orphaned or newborn kittens who cannot regulate their own body temperature.
These items have strengthened our foster program by improving safety, reducing stress on volunteers, and giving our tiniest kittens the best possible chance to grow, gain weight, and thrive. The grant has allowed us to respond quickly to urgent needs, equip new foster homes with confidence, and provide a higher standard of care for every vulnerable cat who enters our program.
We are deeply grateful for the Petfinder Foundation’s support and the life‑changing impact it has on our animals, our fosters, and our community.
How many pets did this grant help?
Total animals helped in 2026: 60–100 cats and kittens, depending on the severity of kitten season and the number of neonatal cases.
Please provide a story of one or more specific pets this grant helped.
Clementine is one of the most memorable cats to benefit from the Petfinder Foundation’s Shelter Foster Support Grant. She arrived at Parma Animal Shelter late one evening after volunteers had closed for the night but were still finishing up tasks. The man who brought her in believed she had been hit by a car, but once we examined her, it became clear she had survived something far worse.
Her right front leg was swollen to twice its normal size and she had deep puncture wounds on her thigh and all four paws. The infection in her leg was so severe that our veterinarian determined the only way to save her life was to amputate.
Clementine spent the night in the hospital receiving IV antibiotics and pain control before going into foster care with our experienced Health & Welfare Chairperson, Rita.
Even with Rita’s expertise, Clementine’s recovery was intense. She needed twice‑daily dressing changes, laser therapy every other day, and close monitoring to ensure the infection didn’t return. This is where the Shelter Foster Support Grant made a tremendous difference.
Thanks to the grant, we were able to provide Clementine’s foster home with:
– A heating element to keep her warm and comfortable as she healed from surgery
– A scale to monitor her weight — critical for a cat recovering from infection and trauma
– Specialized food and supplements to support her immune system and overall recovery
– A secure playpen to keep her safe while she regained her balance on three legs
– Kitten‑sized litter boxes that made it easier for her to navigate with her new mobility challenges.
These supplies ensured Clementine could heal in a calm, supportive environment without placing additional financial or logistical strain on her foster family. They also allowed us to respond quickly to her changing needs — something that would have been far more difficult without the grant.
Today, Clementine has made an incredible recovery. She is bright, affectionate, and adjusting beautifully to life on three legs. She is now almost ready for adoption, and her transformation is a direct result of the care made possible by the Petfinder Foundation’s support.
Clementine’s journey shows exactly why foster resources matter. This grant didn’t just help one cat — it helped save her life and gave her the chance to move forward into a loving forever home.
