Donate To A Local Shelter This Holiday Season!

Greetings of the season to our readers and a big holiday hug for another year of helping homeless pets.Thank you to The North York Mirror for the opportunity to showcase pets of many kinds who are looking for that second chance at love and life.  In this column, we introduce you to Kimmi, an exuberant black Labrador mix, and to Maurice, a handsome tabby cat with a knack for making everyone feel welcome.  During this upcoming time of giving, please consider making a donation to an animal shelter or rescue group, whether it is a financial offering, supplies or a gift card; all donations are graciously accepted and appreciated.  Kimmi is a year-and-a-half-old black Labrador mix whose owner surrendered her to the animal shelter for adoption because she was undergoing surgery and realized that she would no longer be able to keep up with Kimmi's high activity level and need for generous amounts of exercise. Shelter staff say that Kimmi has a sweet, charming and exuberant personality, which can be said of most young labs.  Kimmi needs space to run, roll, play and run some more. A house with a fenced-in backyard is recommended over an apartment, as Kimmi is an active, outdoorsy type of girl.  A family with children 12 or older is suggested, as Kimmi may accidentally knock over smaller children. A home with another dog for her to play with would be a bonus, but no cats please - Kimmi will take chase. Her future family should also be committed to taking her to obedience classes, as she needs some polishing and is an eager learner.  If you are interested in knowing more about Kimmi's adoption, please contact Toronto Animal Services East at 416-338-7539 or visit www.toronto.ca/animalservices. The shelter is located at 820 Progress Ave. and they will soon have their Christmas tree erected, anxiously awaiting gifts of supplies, toys and treats for their residents.  Maurice is a young, neutered male tabby cat who is about two years old. He is full of feline antics, knows how to find a nice sunny spot to sprawl in and enjoys not only being in the sunlight, but the spotlight, too. He is known as the Wal-Mart greeter because he's always the first cat to welcome the volunteers when they arrive at the shelter each day.  Maurice is extremely social and gives affectionate head bumps and kisses to human friends, old and new. He is an all-around super boy who has beautiful markings and an extraordinary disposition. He will require some special attention to his diet as he has a sensitive stomach but this is quite easy to manage. If you are interested in knowing more about Maurice or any of the other cats through Furry Friends, email adopt@furryfriendsshelter.org, call 705-792-4911 or visit their website at www.furryfriendsshelter.org

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