Our first Adopt-a-Pet, a sweet pit bull mix Ruby, has found a forever home. West Philly resident Alon Abramson, who organizes a local runners group called West Philly Runners, adopted Ruby last week after reading about her here. He says Ruby will be joining him on runs around the neighborhoods.

Reader Lulu Todorov, who does volunteer work for the PSPCA’s Animal Care and Control Team, was a great advocate for Ruby. Abramson wrote us that her description of Ruby “was really accurate and helped me with the selection.”

Adopt-a-Pet runs twice weekly, with a cat on Monday and a dog on Wednesday. This week’s cat is Demona and the pooch will be up later today.

We are beginning a new twice-weekly feature today at westphillylocal.com called Adopt-a-Pet, which will feature a cat on Mondays and a dog on Wednesdays that are looking for good homes. We will put you in touch with the agency that is caring for the adoptable pet and the rest is up to you.

Today’s dog is Ruby (right), a female pit mix that was brought to the PSPCA’s Animal Care and Control Team (ACCT) after she was found in an abandoned building. A reader, Lulu Todorov, is Ruby’s “pen pal” and her job is to work with Ruby on manners and to help find Ruby a home.

Lulu writes:

Ruby, an apartment-sized sweet Pit girl, is looking for her happy ending! Ruby – much like her name implies – is gem! She is the right size, the right temperament and plain adorable.

Ruby was brought to ACCT after she was found in an abandoned house. This little girl (6 – 12 months) is energetic but once she got out the wiggles, she is snuggly and all about love. Playing with other dogs, playing with toys or goofing around are activities she enjoys. Despite her young age she isn’t jumpy or mouthy but very gentle when meeting new people. Ruby is absolutely great in the car (believe me, it’s important), has no problem with body  handling of any nature (you can grab her a little more firm, check her  teeth or ears) and is an incredibly fast learner. She knows “sit” and “down.” Next up we’re working on “stay”, “leave it” and staying in the crate.

E-mail Lulu at lulu_todorov [at] hotmail.com if you have questions about her or if you’d like to meet Ruby in person.

Tonight is the Fourth Annual Art Auction to benefit City Kitties, the fantastic West Philly-based feline rescue organization. City Kitties is as busy as ever thanks in part to their amazing working helping to rescue cats from the Windermere Apartments fire earlier this year, which raised the organization’s profile across the city.

Dozens of artists from across the country have donated more than 200 original pieces for the auction, which runs from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Studio 34 Yoga | Healing | Arts (4522 Baltimore Ave.) The suggested admission donation is $5. The party that goes along with the auction will include complimentary wine, hors d’oeuvres and live entertainment.

The auction will feature original artwork, including photographs, paintings, drawings, sculpture, pottery, metalwork, jewelry, and more. The auction is the organization’s largest fundraiser of the year.

Even if you’re not a cat person there are at least two reasons you should come to this event. First, the art. Second, West Philly would likely be overrun with stray and feral cats if these folks were not out there working the streets. City Kitties is no kill and volunteer-run.

The Clark Park bowl will go to the dogs this Sunday with the second annual Lug-Nuts Weight Pull and a day of protective pooch maintenance.

Low-cost vaccines and microchipping ($20-25) will be available at the park from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event, sponsored by P.A.W.S. Philadelphia and the Penn Vet Animal Welfare Society, will also include advice and deals on spay and neutering.

The highlight of the day is the weight pull, which kicks off at 1 p.m. No prior training is required to enter. No registration is required either. Just a willingness to strap on a harness. Everything from poodles to pit bulls to pomeranians are welcome to give the pull a try. Entrants receive free dog food. Free dog training and gifts will also be available.

This note has been passed around the neighborhoods by e-mail yesterday and today and we thought we should pass it along:

Neighbors,
Our dog was viciously mauled late this afternoon. The dog that attacked (a big, dark, brindle pit bull terrier) was tied up outside  Salt and Pepper at 47th and Chester, but broke its leash, raced across  the street and attacked our dog. As we wait to learn about the extent of his injuries from the good folks at PennVet, I wanted to warn everyone to be especially cautious, especially those with small children and animals. Thanks to the kindness of a few strangers the police have identified the owner. Please be careful.

The poster for Annie that was put up around the neighborhood.

Another Windermere cat was found alive a month and a day after the West Philly building was devastated by fire. Annie, a tortoise shell, jumped into the arms of a City Kitties volunteer around dawn this morning outside of the Windermere Court Apartments at 48th and Walnut. You may have seen posters for Annie up around the neighborhood (see left). She is missing her tail.

Here’s how the volunteer tells the story (on the City Kitties site):

Before dawn this morning, as a City Kitties volunteer left her house, she heard a cat howling in distress. On a neighbor’s porch, she spotted a tailless tortoiseshell cat. “Annie?” It couldn’t be.

The second she heard her name, Annie came running and practically jumped into the volunteer’s arms. She knew this was her chance, and once safely inside, she knew just what to do: purr like crazy.

One month and one day after the Windermere fire, just when hope seemed to be running out, Annie made a miraculous appearance one block from the burned out building she used to call home. Not only that, she showed up right outside of City Kitties “headquarters.” We don’t believe in fate — just really smart cats who know exactly where to find help.

A rally for Windermere residents and their pets is planned for tomorrow outside West Philadelphia High School. See the story about that here.