On this week’s AFM News Hour, news correspondent KP Whaley sat down with Andee Bingham, founder and director of the Esther Neonatal Kitten Alliance, to learn about the Alliance’s work in our community and their response to helping kittens in the wake of Helene. Andee first moved to NC from the Northeast, where kitten needs are much different. She saw that there was a need here to help kittens, particularly newborn and critically injured ones.
Andee discussed many of the challenges that animal rescue organizations face, including lack of experience, supplies, and training. She found that there was a need for these kittens beyond what typical rescues could offer. This is how Andee found herself beginning the Kitten Alliance. Their goal is to take in kittens that require a level of care that other shelters cannot provide. About 80% of the animals the Kitten Alliance takes in each year are either too young (under 5 weeks old) for traditional shelters or are too sick or injured. Andee said that, even though most of their animals arrive “pretty close to dead,” the Alliance saves about 89% of them.
Lastly, Andee shared some strategies for how to help kittens in need. She also told a couple of heartwarming stories of cats and kittens. If you love kittens, or even if you’re a dog person like KP, give Andee’s stories a listen in the archives, and visit the Kitten Alliance website for more information.