Pawsitive Knits for the Dublin SPCA

Kitten Season 2013

Jenny — Fri, 10 May 2013 12:41:05 +0000

Kitten season has begun again and Pawsitive Knits are appealing for crafters to knit or crochet some toys this kitten season. Kitten season is the time of year when cats give birth; flooding the Dublin SPCA and other busy animal rescue shelters across the country with homeless litters.

When the warm weather coincides with female cats’ reproduction cycles, they go into heat, sending the male cat population into a mating frenzy; visiting the ladies from near and far. This usually begins in spring, peaks early summer and runs right through to October.

As you can imagine, the cats are not the only ones feeling the effects of the stress. The burden also presents enormous challenges for the Dublin SPCA, with space and finances stretched to the limit and, on top of their usual compliment of rescued animals they are inundated with hundreds of homeless cats.

Bloglovin

Jenny — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 18:59:24 +0000

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Pawsitive Knits at DSPCA !!

Jenny — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 19:06:07 +0000

Reblogged from EcoLogic:

The DSPCA are calling on everyone to get knitting for the animals at the shelter this Christmas season. In a new campaign highlighted at the RDS Stitch and Knit Show, the DSPCA want knitters (and people who can just about hold two needles) to get knitting dog coats and cat toys for their rescue animals.

Lil Alvin

Jenny — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 10:31:06 +0000

Alvin came to the DSPCA as a cruelty case when he was just a tiny puppy. When the inspectors picked him up he has a fractured skull and was immediately treated by the vets at the shelter.

One of his front paws was also deformed because of an old break that didn’t heal properly and it needed to be amputated, although they needed to wait until Alvin was strong enough for the operation. Alvin has been in foster care with one of the members of staff from the shelter. You can see more photos of Alvin on the DSPCA Facebook page.

Alvin had surgery a few weeks ago and is now doing great running around on three legs. However even at seven months he’s only a teeny tot and had been really feeling the cold since his operation. His foster mom couldn’t find a dog coat small enough so I knit him a special little jumper with leftovers from my hot water bottle cover as part of the Pawsitive Knits project. Despite everything Alvin has been through he’s a happy little puppy and a total cutie and is rocking his new jumper.

We love post

Jenny — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 11:49:40 +0000

At Pawsitive Knits we love post. And I get so excited when we see post arriving to the shelter addressed to us. It’s such an amazing feeling to know that knitters and crocheters are responding to our appeal for hand crafted cat toys. It’s an honour and a joy to open the packages that are arriving.

The cats and kittens love them. I think that’s obvious from the some of the photos posted on the blog. But the staff love them too. As I’m a volunteer I’m only at the shelter once a week and the staff were itching to distribute the toys when I arrived up on Friday but at the same time wanted to let me see what had been delivered.

One of the animal care workers also explained to me how she had come up with a system for cleaning them. She soaks them in the disinfectant used at the shelter, squeezes the excess out and leaves them to dry on the window sill. This means they are properly sterilised but don’t need to go through the washing machine. I think it’s amazing that the staff – who are so busy caring for the huge numbers of animals that come through the doors – really appreciate the work that goes into each and every one of the toys.

Pawsitive Knits on Pinterest

Jenny — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 10:09:38 +0000

Pawisitive Knits is now on Pinterest. Come over and follow us for lots more crafty ways of getting involved and donating to the Dublin SPCA.

Toys, toys, toys

Jenny — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 15:47:02 +0000

Some more beautiful toys were delivered to the shelter again last week. These are so stunning we hardly want to give them to the kittens. (But we did). If you knitted them please let us know so we can say a proper thank you. They are so gorgeous. We are blown away by the effort that wen into these and generosity of crafters. If you’re posting toys please include your name and address so the cats and dogs can say a proper thank you.

Go on you kitties in Green

Jenny — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 09:32:44 +0000

Look at these gorgeous brothers enjoying playing with these fabulous crocheted toys. These were posted to the DSPCA by someone who is clearly an Ireland fan and we love them. And as you can see the kittens love them too. Thanks you so much to the generous crocheter who made these, if that’s you please let us know because the kitties would love to say thank you to you.

If you’re posting toys to the shelter, please include your name and address so we can say thank you properly.

Pawsitive Knits on the DSPCA website

Jenny — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 12:40:12 +0000

Pawsitive Knits now has it’s own page on the DSPCA website at http://www.dspca.ie/PawsitiveKnits. Why not check it out!

Could you knit a dog coat?

Jenny — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 14:44:55 +0000

We’re heading into colder weather, it’s so sad to feel that winter nip in the air already. Some of the dogs up at the shelter also feel the cold, some come to the DSPCA emaciated or suffering from skin conditions and need a bit of extra insulation. Some breeds such as lurchers and greyhounds have very low body fat and feel the cold more too.

Pawsitive Knits is appealing to more experienced knitters to knit dog coats for the dogs at the shelter. If you prefer to sew that’s great too!! I know the dogs would send wet slobbery kisses as thanks. Here is a list of free dog coat patterns but there are many, many more available so just pick your favourite. If you have one that you love let us know in the comments and we’ll add it to the list.

Knitted coats:

Crocheted coats:

You can post finished dog coats to the Pawsitive Knits, Dublin SPCA, Mount Venus Road, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16, Ireland or bring them along to the Knitting and Stitching Show. If you post them to please add your name and address, as we love to know who you are.