Culver City will be hosting the annual Architects for Animals Giving Shelter event again this year on Thursday October 19. The event—which allows architecture and design firms to build one-of-a-kind outdoor cat shelters—is a one night fundraiser that “benefits select animal welfare foundations.” This year’s party will raise money for Los Angeles-based non-profit FixNation.
FixNation provides free spay and neuter services for Los Angles’ homeless cat population. Martin Feinberg, Realtor, was surprised to learn that L.A. has one of the largest populations of homeless cats in the country. It is estimated to be between one and three million felines. FixNation utilizes the Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) method of managing feral and abandoned cat populations. They have been able to care for almost 150,000 cats to date.
The TNR model of feline management is considered by many to be the most humane way to handle homeless cat. It consists of trapping the animal, spaying or neutering it, and then returning it where it was found.
According to Karn Myers, FixNation’s Co-Founder and Executive Director, “Many communities use lethal methods in an attempt to control the population of stray, abandoned and feral cats. Such methods are not only horribly cruel, they simply don’t work. We founded FixNation because we know TNR is the effective and compassionate alternative. Our mission is to manage colonies of homeless ‘community cats’ and gradually reduce their number through humane sterilization.”
Citizens of the community or non-profit organizations generally deal with feral and abandoned cats found in the Culver City Real Estate area. Culver City requires all interactions with homeless cats be humane.
This year’s Architects for Animals Giving Shelter event is a great way to raise both awareness and money in support of homeless cats in the area. Not only does the event provide functional outdoor cat dwellings, but it will also raise money by selling cat food bowls painted by celebrities. This year’s celebrity artists include Jay Leno, Beau Bridges, Elvira, William Shatner, Clint Eastwood and Morgan Fairchild, among others. These bowls will be available for purchase through an online auction.
Participating architecture and design firms include: Abramson Teiger Architects; d3architecture; ES-EN-EM; the team of formation association, Terremoto Landscape and Arktura; HLW; HKS; HOK; Knowhow Shop; Kollin Altomare Architects; RNL now Stantec and Standard Architecture | Design.
Both the shelters and the decorated cat food bowls will be on display during a cocktail reception at the HermanMiller Showroom at 3641 Holdrege Ave, Los Angeles CA 90016. The reception will run from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and is open to the public. Tickets may be purchased online or at the door.
Coalition For Pets, Michelson Found Animals, and Modern Beast are sponsoring this year’s Giving Shelter event.
Martin Feinberg, Culver City Realtor, encourages those interested to buy their tickets soon because the event is expected to sell out.