San Diego Humane Society Celebrates 15th Anniversary Of Kitten Nursery

SAN DIEGO, CA — San Diego Humane Society is celebrating the 15th anniversary of its Jim Lester Kitten Nursery and Foster Center, which has saved more than 27,000 kittens since opening in 2009.

The Lester Kitten Nursery at the organization's San Diego campus was once the first of its kind in the country, according to San Diego Humane Society. It was created to meet the needs of neonate kittens, or kittens under 8 weeks of age. Young kittens are one of the most at-risk populations to enter shelters because of the time and resources needed to keep them alive.

"Our Lester Kitten Nursery is critical to helping us stay at zero euthanasia of healthy or treatable shelter animals," said Jackie Noble, senior director of behavior, nursery and foster at San Diego Humane Society. "In other communities, baby kittens often have nowhere to turn. But here in San Diego, we are committed to giving every kitten who needs us a second chance."

Since the nursery opened its doors, San Diego Humane Society has opened additional nurseries at its Escondido and Oceanside campuses. A network of specially trained foster volunteers plays a key role in the work, according to the organization.

Fosters raise kittens in their homes and provide around-the-clock care until the kittens are big enough for adoption, including Rose and Ruby, two of the nursery's earliest arrivals this season. The kittens, who were just days old when they arrived, were named after the flower and gemstone to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the nursery.

San Diego Humane Society expects to welcome more than 10,000 kittens this year alone.

Visit sdhumane.org to learn about donating or becoming a foster volunteer.