Vol. XXXXII No. 2 San Diego County, CA Summer 2015

Ten Years After: Katrina Cats at FOC

August marks the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and the effects of the storm. Many of the remaining cats had been found on devastation it inflicted on the Gulf Coast. Katrina left over 2000 people the streets of the Lakeview and 9th Ward districts, where homes had dead in its wake, but its animal victims numbered in the estimated been reduced to rubble. Several other cats had been rescued from gas- hundreds of thousands—primarily pets whose owners could not kill shelters in Lafayette, Louisiana, where they had been given only 3 retrieve them from destroyed or flooded residences, or those turned days to find homes before being euthanized. away by evacuation shelters enforcing strict no-pet policies. The latter Twenty-two of the cats were adopted—including Stan, who found a issue struck a nerve with the public, and due to an overwhelming home with FOC Board member Angela Asuncion—although two were response, Congress passed the Pets Evacuation and Transportation returned to the Shelter, where they still reside. Eight of the cats were Standards Act the following year, requiring rescue agencies to treat feral—and seven of these cats still live at Friends of Cats. In all, the animal lives with the same care as human lives during natural disasters. nine current Katrina residents are: AlphaH, Beta H, Delta H, Jose H, In this respect, Hurricane Katrina was a watershed event in creating Lester H, Francis H, Philippe H, Nate H, and Wilma H—the staff added positive change in the area of animal welfare. the letter “H” (for “Hurricane”) after the name of each cat for tracking In the weeks that followed the disaster, humane organizations purposes, and as a reminder of their journey. The ferals still live in the housing hundreds of cats and dogs in makeshift locations throughout Shy Trailer with 15 other feral or very shy cats. If you would like to see the Gulf region appealed to out-of-state shelters to take in animals. the Katrina cats, please request a special tour from the office staff. In a tricky balancing act, local rescue groups were caught between the And, if you adopted a Katrina cat, we would love to hear your story; hope of reuniting pets with their owners, and the need for getting the please contact us with an update and photos of your cat and let us know animals to safety and ultimately increasing their chance of adoption. what your experience has been. In the aftermath of the storm, a decimated population without normal channels of communication struggled to find their pets, and volunteers from across the U.S. combed the internet to help devastated owners with their searches as well as locate shelters willing to offer housing and care. A grass-roots network of rescues and volunteer cross-country transporters became a vital link to the survival of countless animals. Friends of Cats was part of this effort. The Shelter had publicized its availability to take in approximately 30-40 cats after the 90-day holding period, and responded to an appeal from a rescue operating out of a New Orleans grocery store parking lot that desperately needed a place to send 40-some cats due to overcrowding. Within an hour of FOC’s agreement to take the cats, arrangements were in the works for volunteer transport to San Diego. Three weeks later, a rendezvous was arranged in San Bernardino between FOC staff members—with a van-load of cat carriers—and volunteers ferrying a horse trailer with 31 cats (as well as 13 dogs bound for a northern California no-kill shelter.) Arriving back at FOC at midnight after a grueling day, the cats were placed in warm rooms with fresh food, water, and clean litter—no doubt the first indoor environment that they had experienced in months. Paperwork showed that approximately one-third of the cats had been relinquished by owners in Louisiana and Mississipi whose FEMA funds had run out and December 2005: Cats in transit to FOC from hurricane-stricken New Orleans had no way to provide for their animals—a testimony to the ongoing arrive in San Bernardino for pickup by Shelter staff. Friends of Cats Join Us for “Catoberfest!”

Our Mission Statement To maintain a Shelter for homeless and unwanted cats with the goal of placing all healthy cats into loving, adoptive homes while providing a sanctuary for cats that are terminally ill, considered unadoptable, or whose owners have prearranged for their continued lifetime care. In a nurturing, rehabilitative environment, we ensure the health of all cats entrusted to our care, promote spaying and neutering, and resort to euthanasia only as a matter of compassion for cats whose terminal illness causes suffering.

Board of Directors President: Terry Hogan Vice-President: Lydia D’moch Treasurer: Open Corresponding Secretary: Chris Degurse Recording Secretary: Jean Foster Accounts Payable: Christine Hogan Member at Large: Angela Asuncion Member at Large: Gayle Kane Member at Large: Karen Hansen Member at Large: Edward Kane Member at Large: Julie Tirpak

Cat Tales Published Quarterly Editor: Lydia D’moch Printing: Streeter Printing, Inc. Mailing and Distribution: Mail Management Group, Inc. Contributors: Edward Kane, Christine Hogan

Cat Tales welcomes your photos, letters, and stories, as well as queries regarding ideas for articles. Please send to us at: Come join us for our annual Catoberfest on Saturday, September 26th as we open our [email protected]. doors for public tours and events from 10 am to 1 pm. From kitten races to great Images should be high-resolution for shopping at out our Cat Boutique, we’ll have loads of activities—plus terrific traditional publication. We reserve the right to edit or condense content due to German fare. Great raffle prizes will be awarded throughout the day—including a space limitations or for clarity. stunning grand prize cat quilt. Raffle tickets are available on our website, as well as at the event—or you can clip and mail in the tickets in this issue on page 9. Our friend and supporter Coe Lewis of KGB 101.5 will host from 11am to 1pm, guiding the day’s activities; come meet her in person! Jot down the date today—we hope to see you at the Shelter on September 26th.

2 Cat Tales Summer 2015 “Getting to Zero” in San Diego County Shelters

San Diego Animal Welfare Coalition representatives at “Getting to Zero” press conference, with Friends of Cats’ Janet Bianchini, second from left.

On July 29th, the San Diego Animal Welfare Coalition (SDAWC) Care Facility, El Cajon Animal Shelter, Friends of Cats, Rancho announced that, as of July 1, no healthy or treatable animal Coastal Humane Society, County of San Diego Department of entering any Coalition shelter in San Diego County will be Animal Services, and the San Diego Humane Society. These euthanized. This achievement—the goal of the “Getting to Zero” organizations have entered into a pact to save the life of every movement to eliminate unnecessary euthanasia—is a milestone healthy animal, which allows transfer of homeless pets between in County history, making San Diego one of the nation’s most shelters to ensure the best adoption solution for each one. pet-safe communities. The announcement was made at a special This is only a first step. Maintaining zero status is not the press conference held at the San Diego Humane Society campus. shelters’ responsibility alone. It requires partnership with the Friends of Cats’ Shelter manager Janet Bianchini was in community to help with volunteering, fostering, rescuing, and attendance, since Friends of Cats is one of the seven local organiza- providing transport—as well as adopting. Ongoing action by all tions representing 11 animal shelters that comprise the SDAWC. of us is necessary to permanently eliminate euthanasia in our San The others are: Chula Vista Animal Care Facility, Coronado Animal Diego County shelters.

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Summer 2015 C a t T a l e s 3 Mrs. Kitty Returns “Home” to FOC

In April, Friends of Cats received a call from the Adams County Animal Shelter near Denver, Colorado. They reported that they had a stray cat with a microchip identifying FOC as the owner. Research into our records database gave us the name and phone number of the person who adopted “Mrs. Kitty” in 2011, but the owner did not return our phone message. The records showed that Mrs. Kitty had originally been brought to the shelter as an abandoned cat in May 2010, and was adopted six months later. Mrs. Kitty was slated for euthanasia by the Colorado shelter, so Board President Terry Hogan drove to Denver to bring her back to FOC. On the road trip, Mrs. Kitty spent a lot of time calmly looking out the car window and wasn’t bothered at all with spending a night in a Quality Inn in Richfield, Utah. Terry reports that as his car pulled into the FOC parking lot, Mrs. Kitty perked up as though she recognized the area—perhaps she felt she was “back home.” Mrs. Kitty is a sweet and friendly cat, approximately 8 years of age, who is looking to start a new phase of her life in a loving, permanent home. Please come by and visit this beautiful girl.

FOC Seeks Homes for Five Special Kittens

Friends of Cats held its third annual Cinco de Meow in May. If you are interested in adopting or in long-term fostering of one of Just as the Staff and Board Members were finishing their our Cinco de Meow kittens, please call the shelter for more information. clean-up process following the event, a man walked into the Two of the Shelter’s Board members have lived with FeLV positive cats shelter carrying a worn cardboard box containing five tiny for more than 20 years and would be happy to talk to you about their kittens. He said that he had found them in a tool shed, and didn’t experience, as well as any questions or concerns. see a mother cat. He hoped that FOC could take the kittens. The infants were weak, and not yet weaned, so the Shelter’s long- time Foster Care Giver took them home. Jean and Greg specialize in caring for very young kittens. The little ones survived—but to our great sadness, they were found to be FeLV positive. While FOC has a building specifically for housing cats with this communicable disease, with 9 cats currently in residence, the kittens were too small to be put in with the nine FeLV positive adult cats. These kittens, now about 3 months old, are adoptable, as long as they are an only cat or live with another cat that is FeLV positive. They are delightfully friendly and happy cats: Fiesta (male), Siesta (male), Taco (male), Speedy Gonzales (male), and Nacho (female). At this time, while they are carriers of the disease, they are not sick. Many cats afflicted with FeLV live to be 8 to 10 years old, with the appearance and disposition of a healthy cat. In fact, of the FeLV positive cats living at the Shelter, Tattoo and Pickle are the eldest ast ages 7 and 5 and a half, respectively. In some instances, an FeLV positive kitten will become FeLV negative over time, so FOC will re-test them at about 6 months of age. Our five “little amigos” need special homes or fosters.

4 Cat Tales Summer 2015 Padres’ Game Benefits Friends of Cats Friends of Cats is always looking for ways to raise money and increase public awareness of the Shelter. As a novel approach to achieving both, Board Member Julie Tirpak, a dedicated advocate for animals and a self-admitted die-hard Padres fan, coordinated a Padres game fundraiser on June 13, with the proceeds benefitting Friends of Cats. As part of the group package, a message acknowledging the Shelter was to be flashed on the scoreboard during the game. The Padres played against rival team the Los Angeles Dodgers, beating them by a score of 2-1. All 125 tickets that Friends of Cats blocked off for this event were sold, with a little over $1000 going directly to our Shelter. And the message “Padres Welcome Friends of Cats Shelter” was shown on the scoreboard a few times throughout the game. If you have any unique fundraising ideas that would benefit the Shelter, please contact Shelter Manager Janet Bianchini.

A Friends of Cats Birthday Party! Devin, a frequent visitor to FOC, requested that his 8th birthday party be held at the Shelter on July 5th. The shelter staff set up tables and chairs for the occasion, while Devin’s family provided the food and decorations. Our inflatable events cat—as well as our cat-suited mascot (worn by staff member Lacey) added to the birthday fun and served as a memorable photo op. Guests and staff alike had a great time, and it’s certain to be a birthday that Devin won’t soon forget. We are grateful for the family’s generous donation to the Shelter for use of the grounds and facilities for Devin’s special day.

Birthday boy Devin, in sunglasses, with pals at Friends of Cats.

Summer 2015 C a t T a l e s 5 Thank You!

Monetary Donations David Adams; John Adoc; Shauna Aiken; Kenneth Allen; Nancy Anderson; A. Bower; Terry Carpenter; Barbara Cefalu; Robert Clay; Kathleen Coe; Carol Curtis Awbrey; Pat Bannister; Linda Barnett; Patricia Berry; Anthony Bianchini; Culkin; Chris Degurse; Martha Evans; Richard & Melinda Fisher; Stephen Fore- Judith Bird; Sally Ruth Black; Janet Bock; M.L. Boyce; Stan Boyer; Elaine Burden; man; Rita Forshey; Catherine Frazier; Cindy Gilbert; Kylie Goode; Sarah Grider; Mary Carter; Maria Charles-Casarrubias; Jan Charvat; Elizabeth Childress; Alan Carole Harrison; Sue Heim; Helene Hoffman; Christine Hogan; Edward & Gayle Ciani III; Elizabeth Comer; Ruth Contino; Steven & Lily Cowen; Diane Cullinan; Kane; Lynette Kaplan; Johnny & Rose Keene; Mary Kern; Jean Landis; Jeannette Shirley Dawson; Elaine De La Vega; Joanne Derr; Suzanne & Johnny Dollar; Landis; Katherine Lazzaro; Dave & Sally Loucks; Bob Martin; Dolores McPherson; Ellen Donley; Merina Dorr; George Drain; Diana Drake; Mollie Drake; Elizabeth Virginia Miller; Laurie Orange; Eileen & Joe Quarles; Patricia Ray; Sam Shepherd; Drees; Laura Dwyer; Norma Eaton; Janette Elliott; Ann Ellis; Phyllis Enfield; Charlotte Spahn; Jan Turner; Rene Valencia; Julie & Jeff Walker; Darlene Whorley Diane Erk; Martha Evans; Barbara Evje; Lili Feingold; Susan Finger; Terry & Gerry Fraenzl; Marilyn Fulton; Patrica Gano; Nell Garrett; Carole Gase; Merrily Goff; In-Kind Donations Harriet Goldstein; Lori Gowie; Rebecca Graul; Heather & Christopher Griffiths; Alive & Well Animal Products; Marilyn Alvarado; Lori Amundson; Melanie Jimmy & Kathleen Grigsby; Alice Gruber; Jacqueline Hart; George Henderson; Arledge; Eileen Bark; Stephen Brunk; Natalie Bullock; Mara Bush; Amy Campbell; Audra Henson; Mr. & Mrs. Robert Hoffman; Rose Hoffman; O.Denise Hunts- Douglas Cargille; Loren Castleman; Richard & Tina Cerasoli; Robert David Clay; man; Juanita Jacobson; Jeffrey Jaeger; Paul Jarosz; Amanda Jenison; Marie Janna Clemons; Joellen Collins; Diane Cullinan; Kari Degurse; Tammy Dickerson; Jennings; Cora Jensen; Marjorie Johnson; Terry Johnson; Bea Jones; Joel Kamin- Suzanne & Johnny Dollar; Richard Dorworth; Kayt Dowling; Phyllis Enfeld; Terry sky; Karen; Glendella Karl; Yvonne Kenniston; William King; Jocelyn Kircher; & Gerry Fraenzl; Melinda Gruber; Deborah Hadden; Jeff Hanson; Steve Harris; Bernice Klohr; Katherine Klohr; Gisela Koestner; Mark Kristoff; Kroger Stores; Mary Hurley; Kathy Kennedy; Sue Lisowsky; Sally Loucks; Georganna Markham; Jeff Kronen; Rebecca LaMar; Sheila Laurenson; Dorothy Lee; Birgit Luehrsen; Sara Marsh-Rebelo; Lyn Milner; Yvonne Nelson; Sheri Painter; Phyllis Parsley; Fred Dawn & Donna Mancuso; Elaine Manning; Betty Matkovich; Joseph Mc- Pupologie; Heidi Rauscher-Troutman; Jacuynn Reifman; Alicia Ryden; Chris- Clure; Joan McCormick; Nicole McCoy; Susan McDowell; Carol McGriff; Chris- tine Sickler; Julie Tirpak; Joanna Trautmann; Trevor Volin; Bobbi Ann Weaver; topher Miller; Lyn Miller; Betty & Roger Montanus; Micheal Moore; Eleanor Kimberly Weimer Mosca; Wilfred & Pamela Nagel; Mary Neff; Jennifer Nickles; Laurie Norton; Vanessa Pazos; Leslie Pembroke; Frances Peregoy; Robert & Cecilia Petty; Patri- Donations in Honor of the Following People: cia Plovanich; Corey Plummer; Patricia Potter; Maxine Quinn; Donald Ridgway; Cathie Robbins; Emily Roberts; Janice Rogers; Michael & Diane Roll; Edward George Wolf—Karen Snarr-Gibson Rose Jr.; Rochelle Rubinstein; Edward Rusboldt; Eva Sandvik; Robert Schwab; Donations in Honor of the Following Cats: Joyce Settle; Gerald Shepherd; Sam Shepherd; Elaine Skelly; Al Smithson; Donna & Robert Spencer; Christopher Stein; Charles Sweeney; Laura & Victor LK’s 18th birthday—Deavon Badami • Mrs. Kitty—LuAnn Benton • Mrs. Telles; Carol Jean Thompson; Julie Tirpak; Barbara VanHorne; Nancy Varah; Kitty—Liz Drees • Apollo & Daphne—Lucille Hodges • Missy—Janet Keller • Jack & Cammie Wagner; Dorothy Ward; Barbara Weimer; Kimberly Weimer; Domingo Jack—Sally Loucks • Mrs. Kitty—Deborah Stevenson • Toody Lou— John Westervelt; Melissa Whittemore; Marc & Kelly Wing; Malka Winograd; Christina Thomas Elaine Wolf; Nathan Workman; Toni Yturralde; Harriet Zale; Jenifer Zech

Memberships: New—Angela Asuncion; Kathleen Brown; Nancy Denton; Arthur & Judy Fink; In Memoriam Kerry Kennedy; Nicolette Liebermann; Khloe Navarrete; Nancy Nieboer; Patricia Donations in Memory of the Following People: Piercey; Pat Potter; Cheryl Quick; Walter Reisfeld; Tracy Shaw; Bill & Sue Soto; Mr. & Mrs. Donald Sully George Wolf—Lori Butcher; Fred & Diana Hucke • Kathleen Carey—Phyllis Renewing—Mary Anderson; Deavon & Rich Badami; Linda Barnett; Paula Carey • Barbara Snyder—Engel & Reiman PC; Dorothy Kalicki ; Phyllis Becker; Lois Beyer; Jill Black; Frank Boschan; George Brown; Lillian Burt; Slade; Michael Thornton; Barbara VanHorne • Wallace Pehrsson—Mary Richard & Tina Cerasoli; Charles Clelland; Livia Coming-Peterson; Carol A Culkin; Golden; Marcia Pehrsson; Christina Pfeifer • Louis Nozsak—Nancy Jenson Diane Cullinan; Lydia D’moch; Robert & Eleanor Darron; Ellen Donley; Dick & • Amelia Brett—Betty Matkovich • Jonathan West—Robbie Taylor Sherrilyn Dorworth; Elizabeth Drees; June Dustin; Deborah Dyar; Norma Eaton; Donations in Memory of the Following Cats: Loretta Eicher; Diane Erk; Martha Evans; Cindy Firkins; Ana Garcia; Karen Han- sen; Janet Harris; George Henderson; Audra Henson; Mrs. Sterling Hutcheson; Baby Cat, Biscuit, Bolero, Buster, Cabuse, Charlotte, Chubbers, Cleo, Catherine Jaffe; Marjorie Johnson; Geraldine Kalencik; Candis Kolb; Lisa Light- Cleopatra, Creepy, Critter, Dandelion, Dish, Dolly, Fatty, Gigi, Girl, Grace, foot; Betty Matkovich; Robert McClellan; Vivian McRae; Janice Mittelmark; Greenie, Jake, Lacie, Lovey, Lucy, Luna, Marty, Mary, Max, Mewcifur, Marilyn Mittelmark; Laurie Norton; Milton Olson; Tevis Pappas; Janet Potter; Midge, Miss Jig, Morris, Neko, Nikita, Oliver, Oso, Pekka, Pharoh, Rosie, Sylvia Shaffer; Stacy Sieger; Shari Sitko; Elaine Skelly; Lucinda Smith; Gina Stevens; Sam-Wise, Sapphire, Scrappy, Shelby, Simon, Sissy, Spokes, Stella, Stewart, Marty Stultz; Freddie & Jacquelyn Talbert; Mary Waseman; Darlene Whorley; Stormy, Stumpy, Susie, Tabitha, Tippy, Tivoli, Tommy, Venus—Cheshire Cynthia Windsor; Susan Woolard; Toni Yturralde; Harriet Zale Cat Feline Center • Corby—Robin Dishon • Kellie—Cindy Firkins • Jaclyn, Kiki, Lady, Terrance, Zack—Dr. Anya Valdes, Kensington Vet • Belle, Clyde, Monthly Pledges Comet, Loretta, Mimi, Molly, Tigger—Dr. Michelle Mason, Kensington Vet Pledge Club Members are a very strong and important part of our donation • Anastasia, Gonzo, Kendall, Lucy, Raine, Zoey—Dr. Patricia Ungar, Kensington program. We are very much aware of all that you do. FOC staff, Board of Vet • Mr. Tabby—Mary Kern • Mimi—Jeanette A. Landis • Billy—Suzi Mashee- Directors, volunteers, and, of course, our kitties all extend sincere thanks for your co • Igby—Jeanine McLeod • Mystic—Mary Mlekowski • Jerry—Vicki Nenner • generosity: Rob Abrom; Elaine Barrett; Cecilia Berg; Barbara Blanchard; David Mitzi—Jane Potter • GraceAnn—Amber Torbett • Duke & Derek—Jack Wagner

6 Cat Tales Summer 2015 Cat Tales welcomes letters and photos from readers. Because of limited space, we can publish only a representative selection, some Letters to Friends of which may be edited or condensed.

I just wanted to send a quick email update about Dexter (Simi). He is the most wonderful cat in the world! We love him so much and could not ask for anything more. He is so playful but also so cuddly. We love having him in our lives. He is now living in New York City with us, and seems to really like it. Again thank you for everything! We got so lucky. Attached are some pictures for you! —Samantha Blank I

We went to Friends of Cats expecting to adopt a 2 Just an updated photo to let you know they are doing well and yr old [tortoisehell] cat, and ran into Bob Marley! we love the heck out of them. Trinity is in the upper berth & Serenity We fell in love with him! He instantly snuggled in the lower. with my 7-year old, and sat on my mothers lap! We —Dennis & Frances Doremus knew he was for us. They said that cats pick you, and I can honestly say Bob picked us—and we are blessed to have him! —Brandi Auble I Summer 2015 C a t T a l e s 7 A Word About Membership Coupon Friends of Cats Name______

Friends of Cats is a private, non-profit Street Address______organization dedicated to providing shelter City______State______Zip______and medical care for homeless cats. Once their health is assured, we find homes for E-mail address ______as many of them as we can. The cats in our care are never euthanized except as a matter Telephone ______of compassion if they are terminally ill. We Membership Status: depend primarily on membership fees, do- ❑ Youth: $5 ❑ Supporting: $100 nations and bequests to continue our work. ❑ Senior: $10 ❑ Supporting +: $500 Inquiries are welcome and we are always ❑ Regular: $25 ❑ Life: $1,000 eager for new members. If you would like ❑ Sustaining: $50 ❑ Life +: $10,000 to join us or to make a tax-deductible con- Contribution (non-membership): $______tribution, please use the coupon at right. Pledge Club: $______per month for a minimum of one year. When you become a member of Friends Mail to: Friends of Cats, P.O. Box 1613, Lakeside, CA 92040 of Cats, you will receive each issue of our Membership does not guarantee acceptance of a cat by our shelter. Please call for details: 619-561-0361 newsletter Cat Tales.

Shelter Location Hours Mailing Address 15587 Olde Highway 80 Tues–Sun 10am–4pm P.O.Box 1613 El Cajon, CA 92021 Closed Monday Lakeside, CA 92040 619-561-0361 E-mail: [email protected] www.friendsofcats.org

Editor/Designer: Lydia D’moch

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