Lebanon, VA
Cat Lives Are Worth Saving (CLAWS) is a small nonprofit based in Lebanon, Virginia, run by two dedicated volunteers with full-time jobs. The organization got its start in 2022 when its founders fostered their first bottle-fed kittens; over the following two years they realized there was no local rescue willing to accept cats, even though a few community members had long been caring for colonies out of pocket. By 2026, CLAWS had identified 11 cat colonies and seven caregivers, fostered 19 bottle babies, and helped nine cats find new homes. If you decide to adopt a cat you have fostered for CLAWS, there is a $50 adoption fee payable to SVVS, since CLAWS itself does not collect the money. Volunteers help by taking good photos, sharing notes on a cat's personality, and assisting with meet-and-greets. CLAWS also accepts foster applications through its website, and it aims to be a local option for people who feel that surrender is their only remaining choice.
Note that if you decide to adopt your Foster, there is a $50 adoption fee, payable to SVVS (we do not collect the money.
If you adopt a foster cat, there is a $50 adoption fee payable to SVVS, since CLAWS does not collect the money itself.
You can apply through clawsva.org/foster-with-claws.
CLAWS was started to be a local option for people whose local shelter and county had no rescue willing to accept cats, for situations when surrender feels like the only option left.
What if there was a local rescue to accept cats when surrender is the only option left?
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