LA's Architectural Community Design Stunning Shelters for Outdoor Cats to Benefit FixNation

Los Angeles, CA, February 26, 2016 (Newswire.com) - ​​One of Los Angeles’ most innovative design events – Architects for Animals® “Giving Shelter” exhibit – returns to the HermanMiller Showroom in Culver City on Thursday, March 10, 2016.  The event will be a fundraiser for the LA-based nonprofit FixNation, which provides free spay and neuter services for the city’s legions of homeless cats.

Architects for Animals® invited LA’s top architecture and design firms as well as individual architects and designers to design, build and donate creative and functional outdoor dwellings for cats.  Shelters will be displayed at a unique cocktail reception attended by the public, VIPs and media representatives.  Kate Benjamin, the co-author of Catify to Satisify and Catification (written with Animal Planet cat behaviorist Jackson Galaxy), will also be on hand to sign books and host the Hauspanther Style Lounge, featuring stylish cat-centric designs, new products and home décor ideas.  Also on display – nearly two dozen cat food bowls decorated by celebrities, including Betty White, Jay Leno, Jackson Galaxy, Beau Bridges and Kristin Bauer, which will be available for purchase via an online auction.

"Some of the most talented architects and designers in the city are participating, creating innovative shelters that will not only help raise awareness about the plight of homeless cats, but also provide practical and humane solutions that can be implemented throughout our community."

Karn Myers, FixNation Executive Director

“These cat shelters are absolutely remarkable,” says FixNation’s Executive Director Karn Myers, who co-founded the organization nearly ten years ago with her attorney husband Mark Dodge.  “Some of the most talented architects and designers in the city are participating, creating innovative shelters that will not only help raise awareness about the plight of homeless cats, but also provide practical and humane solutions that can be implemented throughout our community.”

Los Angeles is home to one of the nation’s largest populations of homeless cats – an estimated one to three million animals.  FixNation is a model for successful Trap-Neuter Return (TNR) initiatives and humane colony management programs across the country.

“Many communities use lethal methods in an attempt to control the population of stray, abandoned and feral cats.  Such methods are not only horribly cruel, they simply don’t work,” explains Myers.  “We founded FixNation because we believe TNR is a much more effective and compassionate alternative.  Our mission is to manage colonies of homeless ‘community cats’ and gradually reduce their number through sterilization programs.”

Participating design firms this year include Standard Architecture | Design, DSH // Architecture, Formation Association with Buro Happold, HOK, Lehrer Architects, Perkins and Will, RNL, RTKL, Brandon Nuckelt and Knowhow Shop.

The “Giving Shelter” event is open to the public from 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm at the HermanMiller Showroom. Tickets are $50 and may be purchased online, or at the door.

About FixNation
FixNation is an award-winning Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization that supports Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs for homeless cats.  The organization provides a free full-time spay/neuter clinic for homeless cats as well as affordable spay/neuter services for pet cats.  FixNation’s programs have successfully sterilized more than 125,000 cats to date.  For more information, please visit fixnation.org.

About Architects for Animals
Architects for Animals plans one-night events benefiting select animal welfare organizations.  Participating architecture and design firms as well as individual architects and designers design, build and donate creative outdoor shelters to provide animals with refuge from the elements.  Additional details can be found at architectsforanimals.com.