Honey is a sweet girl looking for nothing but love. She was surrendered by her owner because she wasn’t able to feed her large litter of puppies anymore, it looks like she has had many litters.

Honey was very depressed the first few days she was at the shelter but has really come out of her shell after spending time with her Pen Pals and other volunteers/staff. She really enjoys just being able to be a dog. Honey doesn’t seem to know how to play with toys but gets very excited and prances around when she is taken outside. Her Pen Pals are working on teaching her how to play and some basic commands. She likes to be in your lap and just be pet and hugged.

Honey’s perfect match would be someone who will spoil her rotten for the rest of her life, snuggle up on the couch with her and take her for leisurely walks. Come in and fall in love with all of Honey’s sweetness. Contact her Pen Pals kdingler[at]pspca.org or Alugo[at]pspca.org. Come to meet Honey today and see just how sweet this girl is!

This dog is located at 111 West Hunting Park Ave in Philadelphia. Adoption hours are 1 – 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. on weekends.

If you are interested in fostering, please contact nsmith[at]pspca.org or jsweeney[at]pspca.org.

We got a word from a reader that one of Desi Village‘s family members, Rashed, is hosting a marrow donor drive this Sunday, Jan. 8, from 1 – 3 p.m. to try to find a match for his 4-year-old son Raqib. In May 2011 Raqib was diagnosed with life threatening HLH (hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis), the only cure for which is a marrow transplant. Unfortunately, the national marrow registry doesn’t have a match for him so he needs your help. Please join the drive and be tested to find a match for Raqib. The test is just a swab.

The drive will take place in Upper Darby, at the American Legion Post #214, 6914 Chestnut St.

Here you can find more information on the National Marrow Registry.

Folks of any age or gender are invited to a free knitting and crocheting class this Saturday, Jan. 7, 2:30-4:00 p.m. at the A-Space Gallery (4722 Baltimore Ave). Long-term West Philly resident and activist Katie Krauss will teach you how to knit or crochet (it’s your choice) a variety of things, such as arm warmers for winter biking, baby hats and more.

Katie will also bring a list of resources so that you can easily continue your project and will discuss thrifty ways to get fancy yarn. If you would like to attend, please RSVP to kate[at]aidspolicyproject.org and let her know whether you own knitting needles or a crochet hook or need them. If you have a choice, bring the biggest ones you have (small ones will work too).

Yarn and snacks will be provided. A contribution to the A-space of a few dollars is appreciated but not mandatory. If you already know how to do needlework and just want to hang out and work on a project, you are also welcome.

The American Volkssport Association (AVA), a national walking club, has created a new self-guided walk in the University City area. The walk route includes the Drexel, Penn and USP campuses, Clark Park, and Woodland Cemetery.

The word Volkssport is German for “a sport for the people” and Germany is where the Volkssport walking clubs were started. The local chapter of the club is the Liberty Bell Wanderers and they sponsor walks in Philadelphia and the surrounding suburbs. The walks are intended to encourage fitness while enjoying a walk created by locals to highlight interesting local sites.

The club holds two kinds of walks. The first type is the Year Round Event (YRE) like the one created for University City. The second type is a one time event walk where club members get together to walk a special route on a specific day. Most walks are 10 kilometers or 5 kilometers and designed to show scenic and historic locations and other interesting sites.

The walk is free but if you become a club member you are requested to pay $3 for the walk. Club members receive books that are stamped after each walk and prizes, usually a pin or patch, when a member reaches a walking milestone like 50 walks or 100 kilometers walked.

If you want to try the University City walk, here’s what you need to do. Visit the Cosi Restaurant at 30th Street Station and ask for the Walk Box. The box will provide you with walking directions. Please be sure to sign in so that the Liberty Bell Wanderers know how many people have participated. Some more information on the walk is available here.

For more information on the AVA or to become a member, please visit AVA.org.

We haven’t featured cats available for adoption for a couple of weeks, so this week we are presenting two of them.

Howard ended up in animal control when his owner surrendered him. He was 18 lbs at intake, but after two months in the stressful shelter environment, he lost 4 pounds, more than 20% of his body weight! Once he was in a comfortable foster environment, Howie’s appetite came back, and he looks great! He loves to be around people and wants to follow his foster mom everywhere. He is a little nervous around new kitties, but never aggressive – he just needs some time to adjust to them. Howard loves to curl up next to his people and purr, and purr and purr. If you sit down with him for a minute, Howie will rub against you, flop down, and roll over for pets. He is such a sweet guy! Howard would prefer a home without a dog, but he should do really well with kids, given his gentle nature. Please give this big boy the forever home he deserves!

Howard is about three-five years old, neutered, FIV/FeLV negative, FVRCP and rabies vaccinated, tested/treated for fleas/parasites as needed, and uses the litterbox.

Jenni was rescued form a junkyard along with her rambunctious kittens during an early snowstorm. She will start to purr just by talking to her. When you actually pet her, look out! She is a true lap cat. She loves to get on laps and be petted and just purr away. Jenni doesn’t really play with other cats, but she does like to play with toys, preferably ones with bells, whistles, rattles, etc. She isn’t a fan of loud noises or boisterous households, so she would do well in a quiet home by herself or with another laid back kitty.

Jenni is one-two years old, spayed/neutered, FIV/FeLV negative, FVRCP and rabies vaccinated, uses the litterbox, and was treated for fleas and parasites as needed.

Both cats are available for adoption through City Kitties. If you have questions about either one of them or want to meet them, please visit this page for more information.

Anyone interested in starting or joining a town watch group on their block or neighborhood is invited to a meeting on Thursday, Jan. 5 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the Renewal Presbyterian Church which is on the corner of 47th and Cedar.

The meeting will include a discussion with Tara Smith from Town Watch. The meeting is specifically aimed at a group forming from St. Bernard to 47th, Kingsessing to Baltimore. But anyone interested in starting a group of their own will find the meeting useful.

If you are interested in attending, contact Patty Bulack at pbulack[at]gmail.com so she can get a rough head count.