The Art of Cats by Ann Stubbendeck ADOPTION FACILITY Learning Should Be Fun, and Who Knows Each
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VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT Jodi Heiser PAGE 2 FEATURED CATS Splash, Fuzzy Kimberly by © Essence in a Flash McCarty and Sassy PAGE 5 THE CAT HOUSE JERRY’S GEMS Opinionated Jerry shares his wisdom. PAGE 8 VOLUMEScoop NO. 12 | ISSUE NO. 2 | FALL 2012 The art of cats By Ann Stubbendeck ADOPTION FACILITY Learning should be fun, and who knows each. Participants got a coloring book with 1935 Q Street that better than art teacher Jodi Heiser, who educational cat facts, art to take home and, Lincoln, NE teaches art for Ralston Public Schools and perhaps the most fun of all, time spent with Tuesdays & Thursdays 6–8 pm also volunteers at The Cat House. As a nine- actual cats. Sundays 1:30–4 pm year art teaching veteran for kids in grades K-6, Jodi is an expert at making PO Box 23145 art both educational and fun. Jodi came Lincoln, NE 68542 up with the idea for the Cats and Crafts Hotline: 402-441-9593 [email protected] program after doing an art class with www.thecathouse.org a Girl Scout troop in which the girls facebook.com/thecathouse created posters that gave advice on cat care. These posters, which hang proudly BOARD MEMBERS upon the walls of the TCH shelter, say Faye Stevens President things like, “Take your cat to the vet,” Stephanie Kielian Treasurer and, “Every cat needs a home! Every Suzie Meierdierks Recording Secretary cat is the best!” Julie Dahlke Director In doing this project, Jodi realized she’d The summer sessions of Cats and Crafts Lori Dittrich Director discovered a way for kids to have fun and be were so successful that Jodi has plans for Alma Vlasak Director creative, while teaching them about TCH and many more crafting events. On Oct. 20 she Sonna Wellington Director Belinda Gillam Director promoting education that will lead to happier, is having a Cats and Crafts Costume party Dr. Rebecca Arnold, DVM healthier cats in our community. Cats and for kids. For a $20 donation to TCH, kids in Consulting Veterinarian Crafts was born. first grade through middle school can come The Cats and Crafts program began over dressed in a costume of their choosing and The Cat House is a 501(c)(3) the summer, with five Saturday night sessions get their faces painted like cats. The idea is non-profit, all-volunteer being held at TCH. The sessions involved a that everyone will end up dressed like a cat in organization, funded entirely by $20 donation to TCH and lasted for 2½ hours a costume. continued on page 2 donations and adoption fees. Volunteer The art of volunteering Opportunities Featured volunteer: Jodi Heiser The Cat House has a very hard-working and dedicated crew of volunteers com- By Ann Stubbendeck mitted to improving the lives of cats in Volunteers use their ended up keeping Lincoln and the surrounding area. time and talents to two of the six!). Most benefit and strengthen recently, Jodi began If you are interested in helping, you can an organization or doing interviews of fill out a volunteer application online at cause. This definition people wishing to adopt www.thecathouse.org, come in during can certainly be applied a cat from TCH. open hours to fill out an application, or to Cat House volunteer Jodi states that she is e-mail at [email protected]. Jodi Heiser. She began pretty attached to TCH You’re in for a rewarding experience! volunteering at TCH and hopes to do as much Opportunities to help include: in June 2009. An as she possibly can to elementary school art help out. And help out • Care, feeding, exercising, and teacher, she had just she has. On top of her socializing of cats finished her master’s regular volunteer duties, • Laundry degree in curriculum Jodi has put that master’s • Facility maintenance design and found herself with a summer degree to work in formulating the Cats and • Newsletter articles, photography, and full of free time. She knew she wanted to Crafts program for TCH. The program production fill some of that spare time with volunteer serves as a proactive tool through which • Assisting with communication to work. Her love of animals led her to TCH. TCH can further its community outreach volunteers and/or the public In the three years that Jodi has been while teaching kids how to be responsible • Adoption counselor volunteering at TCH, she has taken on pet owners. • Post-adoption follow-up calls ever increasing amounts of work and Asked about her experience • Volunteer training program assistance responsibility. She is a team leader for the volunteering at TCH, Jodi said, “I am in • Volunteer scheduling assistance Monday night cleaning crew, works three love with the place. It is an amazing place • Filing or four times each month giving tours to to be a part of and I am so thankful for • Grant writing potential adopters at TCH’s open hours everyone I’ve met and all we do there.” The • Fundraising and fostered her first litter of kittens (she feeling is certainly mutual. • Feral/TNR program The art of cats continued continued from page 1 Activities will include a black cat craft Happy project, treat bags, cat education and more visits with cats. Jodi noticed that the adults who Tails Stats accompanied kids to the summer sessions Here are the number of cats also were having a lot of fun participating adopted in recent months. in the crafts. As a result, she is planning April 20 a Dec. 8 Cats and Crafts Card-Making May 25 session for adults only. There will also June 11 be a Dec. 15 holiday-themed Cats and Crafts session for kids. With continued July 23 support and success, Jodi hopes to make August 29 these craft sessions regular events at TCH September 24 so that art and education can become tied together and lead to smarter, better—and more fun—cat ownership. PAGE 2 | FALL 2012 Donations in memory & honor of... In memory of In honor or celebration of The 24th anniversary of Barbara DiBernard & Myoki from Marcia & Cy Leise Addie Hesterman from Shawnadee, Mark, & Judith Gibson Maddox from Angela Mittan, Jenny DeBuhr, Mystic Morris The marriage of Allison Koch & Kevin Evan, & Karlie Punky from Elinor & Lynne Nevin Workman from Vivian Brittenham Tony Vrchota from Virginia Wright Peanut from Leslie Acree Special thanks to Joe, Boots, & Casey from Nancy Shelley Black Kitty from M D Turner Dr. Shelley Knudsen All Feline Hospital Dusty from Joan Marr-Nichols Vicki Kopp from Jennifer Gee Oak Creek Pet Care Lazee from Shawnadee, Mark, & Mystic Mick, Bethany, Klaus, & Oskar Vondra Veterinary Clinic Morris Norma Patzloff, for her work & dedication, Pitts Veterinary Hospital Lucky Norris from Wanda Norris, who still from Jacquelyn Eden BK Pet Necessities misses his presence & the way he use to Jim Volkmer, for all of his volunteer work & Cause For Paws snuggle at night, especially if she had a bad his birthday, from Stacy, Zuleika, Nina, & Ms Nature’s Variety day Kitty Petco Eva from Christopher Greene Pitts Veterinary Hospital, for bringing her cat PetSmart Ron from Janene Preston George back to health, from Denise Wiemer Phebe Waterman from her sister Mollie Dr. Rebecca Arnold & staff at All Feline Baldwin Hospital from Merc, Elsa, Giselle, Hobbes, & ThankCumulus You! A “Small” miracle By Martha Stoddard Among all the special cats at The Cat TCH Special Unit the leukemia House, one fluffy red-and-white tabby have added years virus. It’s rare, she stands out. In fact, he could be considered to the lives of said. She’s only somewhat of a miracle. Named Small, several leukemia- seen it happen despite being normal size, he was infected positive cats. in three cats. She with the feline leukemia virus as a young Then it turned said they may have kitten. Normally, that would have cut his out Small had had particularly life short. another surprise strong immune The feline leukemia virus compromises in him. Earlier systems. But they cats’ immune systems and puts them at this year, he had a dispute with another cat also had to have a low stress life and good risk of developing other illnesses. The in the Special Unit and wound up with a care to survive until their immune system veterinary manuals say most infected cats bite. Fearing he might have gotten infected could throw the virus. die of a related illness within two to three with the feline immunodeficiency virus “He’s immune for life,” she said. “He has years of exposure. Kittens typically don’t from the bite, he was retested for both a natural vaccination now.” So don’t look make it that long. viruses. The result? The test showed he for Small among the Special Unit residents But Small beat the odds. He not only was not infected with either FIV or feline anymore. He’s got a new home now with survived kittenhood, he made it through leukemia! A second, more sophisticated the general cat population of TCH, the young adulthood, middle age and is well test confirmed that he had eliminated the ones without leukemia. into his senior years. He was four when leukemia virus from his body. he arrived at TCH after the death of his Dr. Shelley Knudsen, a veterinarian with former caretaker. He turned 10 at the end All Feline Hospital, said Small appears to of September. That was miracle enough, be among a small number of leukemia- according to the manuals, although loving positive cats that live long enough for their care and good veterinary medicine in the immune systems to eventually overcome FALL 2012 | PAGE 3 Calendar of Get your cat fix By Ann Stubbendeck Events No, we didn’t say get and Oskar The Blind Please join us in participating or your cat fixed (although Cat amassing Facebook celebrating the following events.