This week’s featured cat is Juniper. She’s available for adoption through Project Meow and is currently at Baltimore Pet Shoppe (4532 Baltimore Ave). Juniper’s foster mom sometimes calls her Butterball because she has a bright orange silky coat of fur (a rare color for a female), and also because she loves getting tummy rubs and simply melts if someone scratches her behind her ears.

Juniper was living on a lady’s porch since last summer, and she lost her litter of kittens, so she might seem shy and timid at first. But she warms up immediately when someone shows her love and affection. She can often be found snuggled into the massive folds of fluffy blankets, or cozying up against her new parent.

Juniper would really like to find a permanent home with a mommy or daddy that can welcome her into their family, because she so desperately wants to be a part of one! Please email projectmeowadoptions@gmail.com for an application or stop by Baltimore Pet Shoppe to fill one out (and to meet Juniper!).

Reminder: This year’s first GO WEST! Craft Fest will be held on Saturday, April 14, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. at The Woodlands (40th & Woodland).

This will be the biggest Craft Fest yet – fifty of Philadelphia’s finest artisans will present their handcrafted wares like jewelry, ceramics, clothing, accessories, home accents, edibles, knitted & crocheted items, cards & paper goods, all-natural soaps & bodycare, terrariums, teas, toys and more. Also, don’t miss live entertainment by Sour Mash, Jay Sand of All Around This World, and TinyCircus by Tangle Movement Arts. Complete details and the list of vendors can be found at: gowestcraftfest.blogspot.com.

Note: The Fest will be on the lawn near the entrance, set apart from the actual cemetery. Rain date – Sunday, April 15.

Here’s some great news for low-income pet owners. PAWS (Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society) is now offering free spay/neuter for residents of 19143, 19145, and 19146 who are on any form of public assistance (Access, Medicaid, etc.). This is thanks to funding from PetSmart Charities and the ASPCA. In addition to the spay/neuter surgery, pets also receive rabies and distemper vaccinations if needed, and pre- and post-operative exams.

The goal is to spay/neuter 1,200 animals by the end of November as part of this program, in hopes of reducing the number of animals that end up in Philadelphia shelters or produce unwanted litters.

All services are provided at the PAWS Clinic, located at 2900 Grays Ferry Avenue. You can call 215-298-9680, email clinic [at] phillypaws.org, or stop in to make an appointment. They are open seven days a week.

Since opening in March 2010, the PAWS Clinic has served more than 24,000 rescued and owned pets. “I know we can make an even bigger difference in the community, thanks to this funding,” PAWS executive director Melissa Levy says.

Neighbor Eileen Doyle took this photo, titled “Pretty Sky. Grand Tree”, on 44th Street near Pine.

Send your photo of the neighborhood at editor@westphillylocal.com. Please don’t forget to include your name and photo’s title or caption.

West Philly resident Mike Howard has a 12-year-old brother, Christopher, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and a very rare chromosomal abnormality called Kleefstra syndrome. Christopher is only one of 50 to 60 people in the world diagnosed with this condition.

As you can imagine, life has been quite hard for Christopher and his family. The boy has been in and out of the hospital for years now and it’s getting harder and harder for his family to cover all the medical expenses as Christopher’s insurance company is becoming less and less helpful.

To help his brother and his family, Mike has set up a fundraising page on Gofundme.com. Mike’s family are unaware of his fundraising efforts as he wants to surprise them and Christopher on his birthday.

To read more about Christopher and to donate, click here.

Update: Police are searching for Tyheem Melton (pictured), a 43-year-old male from the 6400 block of Race Street. Melton is wanted for the murder of Troy Wimberly and Crystal Shadding that occurred on Friday, April 6, inside the Corral Bar located at 5231 Market Street. Melton is considered armed and dangerous, and anyone with information of his whereabouts should call the Homicide Unit at 215-686-3334 / 3335 / 3336 or dial 911.

The man walked into the bar at about 1:30 a.m. and opened fire, killing a man and a woman, police say. There were about 10 people inside the bar at the time.

It is not known whether the victims were targeted or bystanders. The male victim has been identified by his relatives as Troy Wimberely, 38, a father of four from West Philadelphia, Philly.com reports. The female victim has been identified as Crystal Shadding, 43.

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