Holidays are for meeting (and maybe adopting) animals
Christmas With Kitties
The small but hard-working Nose 2 Tail Cat Rescue in Washington County is having a free Christmas With Kitties party from noon-2 p.m. Sunday at its rescue headquarters, 127 E. Lincoln Ave., McDonald (15057).
Meet lots of adoptable cats and kittens while snacking on cookies and other baked goods, hot chocolate and eggnog. There will be crafts for kids and giveaways.
Participants are asked to bring a cat toy or other items from the rescue wish list, including kitty litter, wet and dry cat food, newspapers, paper towels, and canned sardines. Go to nose2tailcatrescue.org for more information.
USA-made for cats
Diane Danforth had trouble finding American-made products for her cats, so she started her Pittsburgh-based Americat Co. to offer safe, lead-free products, including food and water bowls, scratchers, and ID tags.
You can see her wares Saturday, noon-5 p.m., at a pop-up shop at the Colony Cafe in the Strip District.
Four local stores carry Americ a t products: Healthy Pet Products in McCandless and McMurray, Lawrenceville Pet Supply, and Petagogy in Shadyside.
Priceless adoptions
The Animal Friends Home for the Holidays Adoption is offering free adoptions Dec. 16-17 for all dogs, cats and rabbits at the Ohio Township shelter, 562 Camp Horn Road, 15237.
Adopters will still go through the standard adoption application. Adoption fees are covered by grants from ASPCA and Subaru Share the Love.
Holiday hounds
During this busy holiday season, people who love greyhounds are bringing their retired racing dogs to the Pittsburgh Mills Mall in Tarentum to raise public awareness about adopting these gentle, loving canines.
Volunteers with Three Rivers Greyhounds will be at the mall through Dec. 23 from 5-8 p.m Fridays, 1-7 p.m. Saturdays and 1-6 p.m. Sundays.
Meet the greyhounds inside the Galleria Entrance 1, between JoAnn Fabric and Macys. Turn right at the train and look for the
dogs near Santa.
Go to www.gpathreeriversgreyhounds.org/ greyhounds-as-pets/ for further information.
Looking for something to do with the kids between Christmas and New Year’s Day? Send them to the zoo to meet some animals. The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium has minicamps for 5- to -9-yearolds from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Dec. 27-29.
Dec. 27 is “Backyard Animals,” featuring owls. Dec. 28 is “Designs in Nature,” with the red panda. Dec. 29 is “Tricky Tracks,” featuring penguins. Children also make crafts.
The cost for one camp is $32 for children of members, $38 for nonmembers. For all three days, the cost is $80 for members $98 for nonmembers.
Go to www.pittsburghzoo.org and type “Winter Mini Camp” in the search box to register online or call 412-365-2545.