Lurlene nurtured Noland as he outgrew her four kittens.

The Cleveland Animal Protective League's tale of a nurturing cat and a helpless puppy not only captivates and amazes, it added $25,000 to the nonprofit group's budget.

The Petco Foundation received more than 4,500 applications for 33 grants, and Thursday announced the winners -- based on the quality of an organization's overall work and the impact of their top success story.

The APL's winning story began June 12, when a humane officer investigating a call about animal neglect found a fly-covered day-old puppy alone in a garage. The officer couldn't find the puppy's mother, so she rushed the tiny pit bull mix to the shelter on Willey Avenue, where the animal care team named him Noland and discussed how to save his life.

"The team decided the best option would be to try placing Noland with a stray mom cat named Lurlene who had, two days before Noland's arrival, delivered a litter of four kittens," APL director Sharon Harvey said. "Remarkably, Lurlene welcomed Noland into her family, nurturing and nursing him as if he was one of her own. And the kittens were fine with him, too."

Noland's mother, Molly, was found later that day, chained behind the home, but she was too emaciated and frightened to care for her puppy, Harvey said, so Noland stayed with Lurlene and her kittens during the day and was bottle-fed at night.

Lurlene's kittens accepted Noland, too.

When Molly's owner was convicted of animal neglect, Noland and the kittens were thriving together. They were placed in a foster home until they were old enough to be neutered for adoption.

"We were a little concerned that Noland would get to be too big and rough for his less robust feline family, but Lurlene had things under control and it didn't take the kittens long to learn how to put him in his place," Harvey and APL director of development, Judy Hunter, wrote to Petco. "Actually, Noland blended in with the family so well, he was even found using the litter box a few times."

Noland then was placed in a foster home with a litter of puppies his age, and learned how to be a dog, while Lurlene and the kittens returned to the shelter and all were adopted.

When Noland returned to the shelter, he and his mother, Molly, were reunited for play sessions.

"Noland had certainly thrived with Lurlene, his feline siblings and foster families as he was nearly 18 pounds when he went home with his new family," Hunter wrote to Petco.

Molly fully recovered and learned to trust people, and she, too, was adopted.

"Truly, Noland and Lurlene's story encompasses everything we do at the APL -- protecting animals from cruelty and neglect, staff members and volunteers working together to nurse them back to health, finding them wonderful new homes, and learning from them about the power of forgiveness and unconditional love and acceptance," Harvey said. "And when you get right down to it, that's really what it's all about, isn't it?"

Stevie is available for adoption.

Rescued horses: Maggie's Mission horse rescue near Wadsworth offers Stevie for adoption. He is an older quarter horse gelding who, alone or with other horses, is steady on trails. Adoption fee is $200. Contact: gummocat@aol.com.

Cleveland pets: The Cleveland Animal Protective League offers various adoption discounts daily through Christmas. Details: Facebook, Cleveland Animal Protective League; 216-771-4616; 1729 Willey Ave.

Parma cats: Neutered, vaccinated kittens are $50 and cats are $25 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday at the Parma Animal Shelter, 6260 State Road; 440-885-8014, parmashelter.org.

Neutering Cleveland cats: The Euclid Beach Feral Cat Project has paid for 70 cats living in the 44110 and 44119 ZIP code areas to be neutered at the PetFix Northeast Ohio low-cost clinic at 885 East 222nd St., Euclid. The group hopes to neuter 30 more this month. Make an appointment by calling 216-732-7040 and mention the project. Details: ebfcp.org, petfixnortheastohio.org.

Pet-Santa photos in Valley View: The Cuyahoga County Animal Shelter offers $12 to $30 pet-Santa photos from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at 9500 Sweet Valley Dr. Details: cuyahogadogs.com, 216-525-7877.

Brunch for cats in Cleveland: Waterloo Alley Cat Project and deejay Bad Kitty host a holiday brunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at the Beachland Tavern, 15711 Waterloo Road. Cat food donations can be brought to the event.

Donating pet supplies in Westlake: Dr. Thomas Murphy, an oral surgeon, is collecting pet food and care supplies to distribute to local animal shelters in memory of his dog Rocky. Donors' names will be entered in weekly drawings to win $100 Visa gift cards. Dog and cat food and treats, leashes, collars and cat litter can be dropped off between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays and between 8 a.m. and noon Wednesdays and Fridays through Jan. 31 at 28871 Center Ridge Road.

Eastern bluebirds are thriving in Ohio, where hundreds of people maintain nest boxes for them.

Bluebirds: The sixth annual Ohio Wildlife Legacy Stamp photo contest features the eastern bluebird. Thanks to hundreds of Ohioans who maintain nest boxes, the state's bluebird population is at an all-time high, according to the Division of Wildlife. The winning photographer receives $500. Submit entries between Aug. 10 and 23. Teen photographers can compete in the youth category. Details: wildohiostamp.com. Stamp sales have raised more than $100,000 to support wildlife diversity through habitat restoration, land purchases, conservation easements, wildlife and habitat research and endangered species protection.

Labels for pets: Heaven's Homeless Angels in Wickliffe seeks the weight circles from Purina pet food labels to help pay for food and veterinary care for the shelter's elderly or disabled dogs and cats. Mail labels to Box 654, Wickliffe, 44092.

Volunteers needed in Euclid: Euclid Pet Pals needs volunteers Wednesday and Thursday mornings to help clean the shelter at 25100 Lakeland Blvd.; euclidpetpals.net, 216-289-2057.

Dog bathers needed in Lorain County: Volunteers are needed to bathe dogs at the Lorain County Dog Kennel, 301 Hadaway St., Elyria. Contact United for Animal Justice; loraincounty.com/ufaj.



Pet food: Rescue Bank distributes free pet food to small, nonprofit rescue groups; rescuebank.org, 800-765-6920.

Hammy was a stray kitten who was hit by a car. Waterloo Alley Cat volunteers are asking for donations for his veterinary bills.

North Collinwood cats: Waterloo Alley Cat Project volunteers neuter and feed feral cats in Cleveland's North Collinwood neighborhood. Donations are needed. Checks made out to Northeast Shores Development Corp., with WACP in the memo line, can be mailed to Box 19246, Cleveland, 44119. Details: 216-481-7660.

Neuter in Parma: The Northeast Ohio SPCA offers low-cost pet sterilization by appointment Monday through Friday; $26 for male cats, $45 for females, $55 for small male dogs, $65 for small females. Vaccinations are given between 9 a.m. and noon, Monday through Friday, at 9555 Brookpark Road; 216-351-7387, northeastohiospca.org.

Neuter in Medina: The Quick Fix Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Clinic alters female cats for $50, males for $35 and female dogs for $85, males for $75. Low-cost vaccinations, deworming, flea treatments and heartworm tests are offered without appointment from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays at 930 Lafayette Road, Medina; 330-558-1540, kittenkrazy.org.

Cat sanctuary in Lake: Caroline's Kids Cat Sanctuary in Lake County needs cash to help pay its veterinary bill. Mail a check earmarked for vet bills to Box 24068, Mayfield Heights, 44124, or use PayPal at: carolines-kids.org. The sanctuary cares for nearly 300 cats at 7394 Morley Road in Concord Township and is open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., or call 440-449-3496 to make arrangements to send a check directly to a veterinary clinic.

Happy Tails Cat Sanctuary offers these cats for adoption.

Cat sanctuary in Geauga: Happy Tails Cat Sanctuary needs Purina dry cat food, Friskies or Nine Lives canned cat food, scoopable cat litter, cat beds, towels, blankets, paper towels, bleach, trash bags, gift cards and cash, that can be mailed to Box 581, Chesterland, 44026. Call 440-759-0076 or email to arrange a time to drop off donations. Volunteers and foster homes are also needed as the shelter is full.

Collies, shelties: Almost Home Dog Rescue of Ohio seeks foster homes. The group pays for veterinary care and food for its rescued collies and shelties. Details: almosthomeohio.org, 740-369-6600.

Golden retrievers: G.R.I.N., Golden Retrievers in Need Rescue Service, seeks members interested in fostering and fundraising; 216-229-0295, grinrescue.org.

Veterinary game: The American Veterinary Medical Association has created a game for pet owners to test their skills at diagnosing and treating animals. AVMA Animal Hospital is available for free through Apple's AppStores, Google Play and the AVMA website. Clients bring their pets to the virtual veterinary clinic and players race the clock to learn about each animal's condition, diagnose it and provide treatment. Suitable for children as young as 10. "Games are a great way to learn, and we hope AVMA Animal Hospital helps educate and inspire the next generation of veterinarians," AVMA CEO Rob DeHaven said.

Dog fighting: Anyone with information on dog fighting in Cleveland is asked to call the city kennel, 216-664-3069, or police, 216-621-1234. The Humane Society of the United States offers $5,000 rewards for information on animal fighting; call your local police or sheriff's office and the Ohio attorney general's office at 1-877-244-6446 (1-877-AG4OHIO). If the animal fighter is convicted, ask the law enforcement agency involved to write a letter to the Humane Society stating that your tip helped lead to a conviction. Send it to Reward Program, HSUS, 2100 L St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20037, or fax 301-721-6414.

A puppy mill protest in Millersburg, Ohio.

Puppy mills: The Humane Society of the United States offers $5,000 rewards for information leading to animal-cruelty convictions of puppy mill operators. Call 1-877-645-5847 (877-MILL-TIP). You can remain anonymous.

Pet food pantry: The People Care Pet Pantry in Portage County provides free pet food to Ohio families facing hardships and is seeking donations of pet food, toys, collars, blankets, beds, cat litter, gasoline cards, index cards, printer paper and cash. Details: peoplecarepetpantry.webs.com, 330-389-5116.

Paying for vet care: The Jake Brady Memorial Fund, named after a beloved Dalmatian, helps low-income families pay for veterinary care for pets with serious injuries or illness; myjakebrady.com, 440-937-4000. Since May 2006, the group has raised more than $80,000 and assisted more than 85 pets. Donations are welcome.

Fairminded Fran sees three black cats looking for food in her school's Dumpster, and she becomes determined to help them.

Feral cat book: Children can learn about caring for feral cats by reading Linda Elder's new book, "Fairminded Fran and the three small black Community Cats." The 47-page paperback follows Fran's successful campaign to neuter and feed three cats living near her school's Dumpster. Elder is an educational psychologist and president of the Foundation for Critical Thinking. Order it at criticalthinking.org or call 800-833-3645.

Ohio rescue: Rescue Me Ohio shares information on rescued dogs, dogs in danger of being euthanized at county pounds, legislative updates, fundraising events, links to pet transportation and financial assistance for pet owners and more; rescuemeohio.org and on Facebook.

Free soothing shelter music: Rescue Animal Mp3 Project, founded by North Canton veterinarian Pamela Fisher, gives MP3 players loaded with music to animal shelters and rescue groups to calm caged pets and boost adoptions. Details: rescueanimalmp3.org, 330-266-2500.

Send animal news to dJmiller@plaind.com; fax 216-999-6374; 216-999-4852. Get more animal news at cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/animals/index.html and blog.cleveland.com/missing-pets.