If you missed the cat shelter making workshop organized by Project M.E.O.W. earlier this winter, here’s another chance. This Saturday, Project M.E.O.W. and Best Friends Animal Society are hosting another workshop, from 1 – 4 p.m. at Beaumont Warehouse (5027 Beaumont Ave) in West Philadelphia. At the workshop, you can learn how to build a simple shelter out of a plastic bin for cats in your neighborhood or for your own cat. What you can bring to help: 18 or 37 gallon Rubbermaid plastic bins with lids. Check out the event flier below for more information. Please email: philadelphiacats@bestfriends.org or info@projectmeow.org with questions or call 215-913-6013.

Flier for missing dog Kara.

Our readers may remember Kara, a black Lab mix with white nose and white chest, that went missing more than two years ago from the Powelton neighborhood. Kara ran away from her home near 36th and Lancaster on December 3, 2012 and was last seen running down Spring Garden Street.

Kara’s owners continued their search for the dog for many months after he disappeared. They posted numerous flyers and ads, including one on West Philly Local.

And here’s great news: Kara was found earlier this week about five miles away in the suburbs! Kara’s owner, Ayse Gürsan-Salzmann, an archaeologist at Penn, says that her dog was sighted and picked up by volunteers at Francisvale shelter in Radnor. “He was found near the railroad tracks at Merion station,” Ayse wrote us in an email.

This is amazing, and we’re very happy that this story has a happy ending.

Kara, who originally was rescued in Turkey and brought to the U.S., looks more mature now (he’s now 3 and a half years), but his owners recognized him right away when they saw him at the shelter.

Check out this video by FOX29 News:

UPDATE 2 (1/7/2015): We received a great update from the person who rescued the dog. The dog is now being fostered by a Project MEOW volunteer in West Philly and may be adopted!

UPDATE (12/30/2014, 12:30 p.m.): The dog has been picked up and is in foster care now. She doesn’t have tags or a microchip. She has minor abrasions, but otherwise is fine (not injured as it was reported earlier).

The person who is fostering the dog told us that she will try to keep her until her owner is found. If you have any information about the dog, or would like to contact this person please check out her Craigslist posting.

Earlier: A reader found this dog this morning outside West Philadelphia High School (49th and Chestnut). The dog’s leg appeared injured and he/she couldn’t be moved.

This dog was spotted this morning at West Philly High. Appeared to have an injured leg. Not aggressive. pic.twitter.com/1tTAzOSIl0

— West Philly Local (@WestPhillyLocal) December 30, 2014

A West Philly resident, Laura, is seeking a new home for her lovely cat Billie. Due to personal circumstances, Laura can’t keep Billie.

“She’s staying with a friend now, but she can’t stay there indefinitely,” Laura wrote in an email.

Billie is about a year and a half old, very sweet and energetic. She likes playing around and cuddling in equal parts. She’s still pretty kitteny, but she is filling out nicely and has a beautiful coat and no special needs. “She can still have some spazz times where she zooms around and zips up the stairs, so she probably isn’t right for someone looking for a mellow sleepy cat (she does sleep a lot though), but she’d be just right for someone looking for a sweet and spunky kitty,” Laura writes.

Billie is fixed and up to date on her shots.

Laura can provide a litter box, a carrier, and a plethora of toys for her cat. Billie needs a long-term home, and may or may not get along with other cats. She might do well with a cat similar in age or who has not been in the house long, but probably won’t do well with a long-standing and territorial cat.

Laura can be reached at this email address: lj.brubaker[at]gmail.com

This cute little pooch was found tonight at 48th and Springfield. The person who found it was able to find a shelter for the dog for the night. The dog has a collar, but no tags. It will be taken to the PSPCA in the morning. If you have any information about this dog or its owners please leave a comment below or email: editor[at]westphillylocal.com

A reader and Cedar Park resident, Gwen, sent us a letter wondering why there are more abandoned dogs in her area. She’s particularly referring to the 4900 block of Cedar Avenue where a few dogs have been found lately wandering about. Gwen and her neighbor found two large dogs (pictured) there on Monday. Here’s what she writes:

“I spent [Monday] afternoon trying to locate the owners of two enormous pitbulls with another West Philly resident. When I posted about the incident on Facebook, two different friends responded with stories of their own regarding discovering abandoned dogs at the same corner. Very disheartening, dangerous and cruel to the poor dogs, and dangerous for residents, their children, and their dogs. Who is abandoning these dogs? They were friendly, but seemed truly lost/abandoned, with no leashes or tags, and they were walking in the road. I can’t stop thinking about them.”

Unfortunately, these dogs’ owner was not found, but hopefully they will find a new, better home soon. Gwen says that after a couple of hours of knocking on doors, checking in with the Baltimore Pet Shoppe, and borrowing rope from the block captain, the person who first found them took them to the ACCT Philly shelter. “They will be ready for fostering and adoption as of this evening,” Gwen writes.