SOUTH PARK, Pa.(KDKA) – Angel Ridge Animal Rescue Center will open a brand new facility for cats on Sunday.
The animal rescue group will host an open house at its new Bailey’s Cat Haven on Sunday afternoon. We started with a tour of the new facility.
It’s a cat’s paradise, with plenty of room to snack, bake cookies, nap and play with toys.
Angel Ridge Animal Rescue is a 501c3 nonprofit organization located on a farm in Chartiers Township, Washington County. It started as a dog rescue, but cats made their way in with paws and purrs, and Bailey’s Cat Haven opened on the property about 10 years ago.
“There are so many cats here that our house is packed with people,” said Barb Brown, cat care coordinator at Angel Ridge Animal Rescue’s Bailey’s Cat Haven. “We live in a two-story apartment. We use every inch of the apartment.”
Brown, who started Angel Ridge’s cat program, said her rescue needed an upgrade.
Bailey’s Cat Haven has officially moved to a state-of-the-art facility in South Park, Allegheny County.
“I have great volunteers who have really helped me build this program,” Brown said.
Brown and her husband started volunteering as dog walkers at Angel Ridge, but everything changed because of a cat named Bailey.
“He was the greeter on the grounds and anytime someone came to see a cat or a dog, he was right up front and he was really our first rescuer and unfortunately he passed away in 2014, but he’s always been our mascot since then,” Brown said.
The “purr-fect” facility, located at 2650 Brownsville Road, will be on display during an open house Sunday afternoon. The event is from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
The facility features a spacious vertical cat enclosure, a welcome room, a kitten isolation area and a roaming room with a cat tree and wall-mounted furniture.
“We love a space that allows us to do more with our cats; work with them, help them become more adoptable, provide for our volunteers and socializers,” Brown said “More space to interact with cats.” .
Moving into one of South Park’s oldest homes was a labor of love.
The facility is home to 27 cats and kittens. Some of them are in foster homes.
Barb said they need more foster homes and volunteers to care for the frightened kittens.
Arya Zevallos, 12, wanted to help animals, so she started volunteering two years ago with her parents, sister and brother.
“It’s great to come every Saturday and see how the cats adapt to the whole environment and how they grow and become more social, and to see them adopted into wonderful families,” said Arya Zevallos.
The Zevallos recently began fostering. The experience has filled their lives with a love for kittens.
“It’s nice to be able to help her and make her very sociable,” said Omar Zevallos. “Her sister was adopted very quickly and is very sociable, so we hope she will be too.”
“It’s great, it’s fun. If you’re having a bad day, cuddling with a kitten always makes it better,” Amber Zevallos said.
Brown said cats are misunderstood, but they all have their own unique personalities.
They can be affectionate and loving, curious and playful, friendly and talkative, or even quiet and shy.
“When they start to trust you, they really become your companions, just as they can be your enemies, and once they get along with you, they love you like your best friend in the world. Amber Zevallos said.
It is said that cats have nine lives, and these cats are living their best lives in their new homes.
“We’re very, very grateful to be here,” Brown said.
So come take a tour of the new facility, meet the rescuers, and learn how you can be the catalyst for Bailey’s Cat Haven and give cats a second chance and a loving home.
