Foxy's Cradle graduates last class of incubator kittens, plans for future

NORTH WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — While the rest of the Lehigh Valley prepared for a storm Friday evening, over in North Whitehall Township, Kandice Reinert and her volunteers watched over a collection of empty incubators.

It was the first time in more than a year that each and every unit at Foxy’s Cradle had been cleaned, sanitized and powered down, following the graduation of seven incubator babies who had grown enough to eat independently and survive in a kennel run.

The incubator nursery, a hallmark of the neonatal kitten rescue that has fought a long and difficult battle for its existence, had been officially disbanded after five years of service.

While it was wonderful to see the last class of kittens grow up enough to live independently, Reinert said in a Friday Facebook post, the event also marked another step in the complex tête-à-tête between the rescue and North Whitehall officials.

In the post, Reinert reminisced on the life-saving machines that had harbored so many kittens over the years; the supporters who opened their hearts after seeing the units in action; the number of volunteers who trained new bottle feeders at the location; and the children who learned how to help kittens in need.

“Our team stared in awe, knowing the behind-the-scenes level of fight and strength those babies held within them," Reinert's post said.

"This nursery saw some true miracle survivors and lots of heartbreak from the ones we lost. Tears of joy balanced by tears of grief. Many rescue partners visited, a few social media powerhouses visited, Santa visited, lots of news media visited, SO many friends spent time in this nursery.”

'This is my life'

The Facebook post said the incubators will be set up at new locations and be ready to roll again with the onset of kitten season 2024.

"But sadly they no longer will be accessible to the public,” it said.

“We have consistently shown the township our effort to comply, but at the same time find a way to continue our rescue efforts. Sadly that means that in the days to come this incubator nursery will be disassembled for the first time since our rescue formed 5 years ago,” the post reads.

“I will never understand what is so wrong about trying to save the lives of orphaned, sick or injured newborn kittens."

The announcement comes on the heels of an announcement that Foxy’s Cradle was reaching a settlement with the township, though Reinert’s attorneys have advised her and the volunteers not to discuss the matter until everything is finalized.

In a previous interview, Reinert said her attorneys at Fitzpatrick Lentz & Bubba said a decision could be made this week.

“They don't want a single neonate, a single baby at all within these walls," Reinert said in reference to the township’s issues with her home functioning as a business.

"There cannot be any cats inside this house, which is awful for me because this is my life. So they're basically stripping away that passion of mine.

“But it was a sacrifice that I had to personally do in order to keep the rescue functioning. They were not budging. They were not giving in — right now the lawyer is fighting with the township to allow me to even use this as an office.”

'How are we going to make this work?'

However, there is pleasant news: as previously reported, Reinert and her team were able to secure a recreational vehicle which is being renovated as a mobile command unit for Foxy’s Cradle.

Reinert said one of her volunteers originally suggested the idea of using an RV as a mobile base to skirt around restrictions from the township.

In addition to moving hosting to individual volunteer homes throughout the area, the plan seemed like a viable option to keep operations going.

Once the group found “Tattoo” Rob Stewart at Optimum RV in Pottsville, they knew they had a perfect match.

“Rob, he sold us on it," Reinert said. "He was he was a very good salesman, he did his job.

"But then, we basically sat in this camper looking around, like, ‘How are we going to make this work?’ And he let us sit there for probably a good hour, hour and a half, we spent in this camper brainstorming.

"And he chimed in, and he told us how easy it was to take this or that off, and when he would do in place of this. And he actually offered to help us do a lot of the work afterward.”

The kitten-mobile is set to premier at a Foxy’s Cradle spring event scheduled for March, though the details of the vehicle are being ironed out with the township to ensure everything is above-board.

'Keep your ... paws crossed'

In the meantime, Foxy’s Cradle supporters have been offering up spaces for special fundraisers to keep the operation going.

This Friday, Willow Street Pub will hold a get-together from 4 to 10 p.m., with 20% of food sales going toward Foxy’s Cradle, and a gift card raffle.

The pub has played host to several similar fundraising efforts over the years, drawing plenty of attention and cash to organizations in need, owner Michelle Ritter said.

“We're happy to be able to help them because what they're doing for the animals is incredible,” Ritter said. She said patrons should stick around for karaoke after the fundraiser.

As for Foxy’s social presence, Reinert reassured the cat fanatics and volunteers that while things may quiet down for a bit, plenty is going on behind the scenes, with the potential for celebration in the near future.

“Just because we are quiet lately on Facebook doesn't mean things are not happening at the nursery!” a post from the Foxy’s Cradle Facebook reads.

“Intakes usually slow down this time of year due to the harsh weather, the orphans we intake sadly do not survive the elements long enough to be rescued.

"We are still holding adoptions and making preparations for the upcoming kitten season! We appreciate your patience, and maybe we will have something to celebrate at the Dine & Donate Fight for Foxy's February Rally or Fight for Foxys Never Lose Your Voice Self Defense Class!

"Keep your fingers, toes, and furr-babies’ paws crossed!”