Statement as issued Tuesday by Fort Wayne Animal Care & Control:

Student members of the Animal Care Teen (ACT) program at Fort Wayne Animal Care & Control will gather together on Saturday, March 2 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. to conduct a special Stuff the Whisker Wag’n service event. Their goal is to collect much needed canned food for homeless shelter dogs and cats that arrive every spring, many resulting from cats and dogs that were never spayed or neutered. This is the 2nd year for the student project. In total 7,590 lost and homeless felines and 5,411 canines were sheltered at Animal Care & Control in 2012.

Citizens are asked to drop off canned food suitable for cats, kittens, puppies and dogs to help the shelter prepare for spring litters and homeless strays. Dry food is not needed at this time. So why the canned food?

• Canned food adds moisture to the animal’s diet

• It entices animals to begin eating

• Animals that arrive underweight can gain needed pounds and be made ready for adoption

People stopping with a donation will be thanked with a coupon for a free Chick-fil-A sandwich as supplies last. The Whisker Wag’n will be parked in the Fort Wayne Animal Care & Control parking lot located at 3020 Hillegas Road. Rain or shine, teens will eagerly await donations.

The Animal Care Teen program, in its 27th year, offers youth who are ages 13-17 an opportunity to learn about animal related careers, develop leadership skills, and to ACT for animals through service work.