ANNEX CAT RESCUE 201 7 ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS COVER PHOTO BY SARA SLATER
TABLE OF CONTENTS
02 Letter from the Chair
03 History
04 Timeline
05 Vision, Mission & Values
06 Our Programs
10 By the Numbers
11 Spotlight on our Feral Colonies
27 Spotlight on our Foster Program
30 In Memoriam
32 Events
34 Community of Volunteers
36 Donors and Supporters
38 Vet Partners
39 Financial Summary Esteemed ACR Supporters, Yet hurdles remain. These include (but are not limited to): Can I please just go ahead and say it? Annex Cat Rescue Urban growth and densification. Downtown construction is awesome. projects are having an enormous impact on homeless cats What started as a small neighbourhood initiative 20 years in Toronto and we will have to be innovative in finding ago has grown into one of the city’s (planet’s?) most vital solutions for displaced colonies and cats being dumped and responsive cat-saving organizations, boasting some as people are forced to relocate. BOARD OF 300 volunteers and a track record of excellence that can Lack of alternate resources. ACR is increasingly called upon DIRECTORS be measured in the countless feline lives that have been via our Feral/Stray email line and on social media channels transformed by our work. I could not be prouder to be a to assist members of the public with independent colonies Kim Hughes member of this group. and injured cats. For example, in 2017 we were asked to assist with a colony in the St. Clair and Runnymede area CHAIR True, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows (or tinfoil balls and Temptations, in deference to our charges). And as any where some 30 cats needed to be captured, TNR’d and, in outreach organization can attest, anniversaries are bitter- some cases, homed, a weeks-long, multi-person undertaking. Marianne Premuzic sweet. Sometimes it seems that for every victory, there is And “kitten season” just never abates. VICE CHAIR a corresponding setback. Lack of in-house resources. Assessment homes for cats To wit: our Richmond Street colony—threatened by ongoing coming off the street continue to be in critically short supply. Our trappers (an intrepid bunch if ever there was one) are Sarah McIntosh and encroaching construction—successfully closed last year with both resident cats, Fuzzy and Mr. Fuzz, brought inside stretched beyond thin, and our foster department continues TREASURER and eventually adopted. Other colonies closed for sadder to perform feats of magic on behalf of cats getting the second reasons: sweet Mr., the sole cat at ACR’s smallest colony chance they richly deserve. Laura Moriarity (Bloor and Ossington) was found curled up in a box in the Lack of funds. Caring for vulnerable community cats costs yard of a neighbour who had been feeding him extra meals. huge money. Luckily, for the third consecutive year, ACR SECRETARY Every single day, ACR’s amazingly selfless and dedicated received a matching donation up to $25,000 for our fund- volunteers suffer enough heartbreak to employ an army of raising at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, Sky Lamothe therapists. Yet what gets us through is the unmitigated joy courtesy a hugely generous donor. MEMBER AT LARGE of a cat or kitten saved; an elderly colony cat getting dental A note on the term “community cats.” ACR has been rethinking and being freed from chronic pain, a timid foster cat finding and transitioning our language to better reflect our values the ideal forever home where his personality can soar. regarding abandoned, stray, and homeless cats in our orbit. Jennifer Moore We could not do what we do without our trappers, colony We know the term “feral” often has negative connotations— MEMBER AT LARGE feeders, assessment and socialization homes, foster parents, and often isn’t applicable to once-homed cats that end up on fundraisers, donors, vet partners, social media monitors, the street through no fault of their own. Following the example of rescue groups in the U.S., ACR will continue caring for Robin Sarafinchan copywriters, drivers, foster, finance, and events personnel, and everybody else who collectively keeps ACR’s engine community cats who deserve humane stewardship at all MEMBER AT LARGE running 365 days a year, year after year, despite no govern- points of contact. Their community is our community, their ment funding and against what sometimes feels like a problem is our problem. tsunami of challenges. We are truly thankful for the incredible generosity of our Overall, our colonies are shrinking in numbers as caretakers volunteers, donors, and business supporters. Your continued have TNR’d about 95 percent of the residents (with one faith in ACR’s work and your unwavering commitment allow notable exception being the infamous Batmom at South us to help myriad cats in need. Riverdale). As a result, we welcomed the Dixon, Leaside, Thank you, Ashdale, and Carlaw and Gerrard colonies into the ACR family in 2017. Kim Hughes Chair, Volunteer Board of Directors Annex Cat Rescue
2017 ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS ANNEX CAT RESCUE 02 HISTORY
Annex Cat Rescue was founded in 1997 when several Over the past 20 years, ACR has provided com- residents of “The Annex” neighbourhood, located in passionate cat rescue work in Toronto forging downtown Toronto, joined together to care for a local partnerships to help the most vulnerable cats in feral cat colony. Over the years, ACR’s service area, our city. Our strength comes from our network of both for cats and volunteers, has grown to span the volunteers and our work is only possible due to city. We now have 20 managed colonies stretching the generosity of our donors and supporters who from Dixon Rd in the west to Scarborough in the east. work tirelessly to improve the lives of community In 1999, the Canada Revenue Agency granted ACR cats in our city. charity status (charity registration #871653945 RR 0001). An inaugural Board of Directors was elected and a governing philosophy was formalized through our constitution, by-laws and guidelines.
2017 ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS ANNEX CAT RESCUE 03 TIMELINE
150 volunteers, Bathurst & College and 19 FOUNDING OF ACR 20 97 09 South Riverdale colonies added Website redesign launched; Toronto Feral Cat 19 Chinatown and Christie colonies added 20 98 10 Coalition formed; vet bills total $64,956 19 Charitable status, first board of directors, 20 Mass Trap Project, which resulted in over 50 cats 99 50 volunteers 11 being trapped and vetted 20 Website “live”, Kensington colony added, 240 volunteers; Assessment & Socialization homes 00 vet bills total $13,430 20 identified as a special need; Distillery District colony closed; 12 Atkinson Co-op Spay/Neuter Campaign started 20 First catnip sausages and Purrpads, 03 first partnership with PetFinder.com Atkinson Co-op Spay/Neuter Campaign ends with 90 cats spayed/neutered; to make room for those who need foster 46 cats in foster care (only 15 foster homes!). Special grant 20 care the most, ACR starts sending kittens and young cats the 20 from PetSmart Charities doubles the number of cats we 13 04 Toronto Humane Society; Richmond colony added; Purrfect were able to TNR—110 cats. 4 vet partners Gifts program introduced
20 Chester colony added, vet bills total $49,899. 20 Ossington & Harbord, Greenwood & Gerrard West, Greenwood 05 Development of Adoption agreement, first email newsletter 14 & Gerrard East and Cherry Street colonies added 60 volunteers, no individual colony coordinators—second Steamwhistle colony added; ACR participates in the volunteer added to help manage feeders. Two new colonies 20 20 Scotiabank Charity Challenge for the first time;vet bills 06 added: The Boxcar Colony (Cherry St) and the Eastern 15 Colony, new ACR logo developed, joined Canada Helps total $123,277
Boxcar colony closed due to redevelopment of 20 Greenwood & Gerrard E colony closed and cats relocated 20 location, first survey of supporters and volunteers; 16 to Cedar Garden; Dunn, Springdale and Chatham colonies 07 launch of the Feral/Stray email line added; vet bills total $191,000 300 volunteers; Bloor & Ossington and Kensington colonies 20 24 foster homes, first “record kitten season” noted 20 08 17 close; Ashdale, Carlaw, Dixon and Leaside colonies added VISION A city where all cats—whether they are feral, stray or owned—are loved and cared for.
OUR MISSION Annex Cat Rescue is dedicated to eliminating cat homelessness in Toronto. Until that time, we care for cats and kittens in a variety of ways including (but not limited to) daily feeding and colony management, medical/dental care, socializing, fostering, adopting or, in the case of feral cats, spaying/neutering and returning (TNR). Now in its 20th year, ACR remains 100% volunteer-run with 83% of monies raised helping cats in partnership with veterinarians who provide services at reduced rates.
VALUES Compassion Cooperation Respect Dedication Integrity
COVFEFE
2017 ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS ANNEX CAT RESCUE 05 TOMTOM
OUR PROGRAMS
PEACH
2017 ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS ANNEX CAT RESCUE 06 FERAL “Feral” cats are the free-roaming, wild offspring of COLONY domestic cats that have been abandoned or lost. CARE Feral cats may have been wild for several generations and they tend to live in colonies throughout the city in back alleys, parks, garages or wherever they can find shelter and food. ACR believes that all cats deserve humane and compassionate care. Our feral colony care teams, including feeders and trappers, provide care to ACR’s 21 colonies—feeding them 365 days a year in all kinds of weather, providing them with warm winter shelters and watching for any new arrivals (who are often strays who find their way to the colony and who may be able to be placed in our foster home program). These volunteers also monitor the cats’ health and arrange veterinary care for any injured or ill cats. ACR has a strict no-kill policy and only euthanizes cats on purely compassionate grounds.
FOSTER Annex Cat Rescue does not operate a shelter. Instead, HOMES all our cats are provided homes within our network of volunteer foster homes. This process prevents the behavioural problems that develop when cats are caged for long periods of time. Our foster home strategy also prevents the spread of infectious diseases. While in the foster home environment, cats’ temperaments are analyzed to ensure that cats are adopted into the most suitable forever homes. Through home visits, prospective adopters can interact directly with our cats in a setting similar to their own homes. This foster care strategy is how ACR is truly “cat adoption with a difference.” In the 20 years since our founding, ACR has placed over 3,454 cats and kittens in screened, permanent, loving homes!
ANNEX CAT RESCUE 07 TNR Since a female cat can have two or three litters of Feral Cat Coalition are a network of free feral spay/ kittens each year, she can exponentially produce neuter and vaccination clinics, the Toronto Feral thousands of offspring in a short time. This is except- Cat Recovery Centre, and the Trap-Neuter-Return ionally hard for the mother, and many of the kittens Workshop, which teaches members of the public will perish through starvation, freezing, and attacks how to care for feral cats, and gives them access to by humans and predators. the free spay/neuter clinics, recovery space, traps, ACR intervenes in this tragic cycle of suffering and and cat food donations. Many ACR volunteers have reduces the number of cats living on Toronto's taken and highly recommend the workshop, which streets through our Trap-Neuter/(Spay)-Return (TNR) is taught by Community Cats Toronto volunteers. program. While the cat populations at most of our The Toronto Humane Society's free feral spay/neuter colonies are now stable after many years of care, and vaccination clinic has also been incredibly our dedicated colony and trapping volunteers work valuable to ACR. It is easily accessible by our hard to TNR new feral cats that find our colonies each trapping volunteers, and its flexibility recognizes year. Our volunteers also help support concerned and supports the inherent unpredictability of members of the public with the process of TNR'ing feral cat trapping efforts. Almost all of the feral feral cats in their communities, primarily through cats that ACR has spayed/neutered this year have our Feral/Stray Info-Line. gone through the Toronto Humane Society's clinic, ACR is also an active member of the Toronto Feral improving the efficiency of our trapping process, Cat Coalition, where we work with Toronto Animal and saving valuable funds that we have then been Services, the Toronto Humane Society, Community able to use to help other cats in need. From all of Cats Toronto, Toronto Street Cats, Toronto Cat us at ACR, thank you to the Toronto Humane Society Rescue, and other rescue groups to compassionately for your much appreciated support. address feral cat overpopulation in our city. Three of the resources introduced through the Toronto
2017 ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS ANNEX CAT RESCUE 08 FERAL/STRAY ACR's community help line (accessible by emailing INFO LINE [email protected]) is an invaluable service that indirectly or directly helped an estimated 300 cats in 2017. ACR is contacted every day by members of the public looking for assistance with feral or stray cats in their neighbourhood. Our dedicated volunteers take the time to learn about their situations, educate them about the difference between feral cats and stray and/or abandoned cats and the resources available to them, and coach them through the process. In special situations, ACR's volunteers lend community members traps, or step in to provide hands-on assistance. In 2017, there were approximately 379 individual requests for help. Several situations we helped with include: Trapping volunteers worked tirelessly over the course of several weeks to more than halve a colony of 35 unaltered cats and kittens in the St Clair and Runny- mede area. ACR was also assisted by Toronto Animal Services setting up a special TNR clinic for us. A woman contacted us about three cats living in a horribly unsafe underground garage in Cabbagetown. Volunteers spent many hours down there and so far have captured two males and six kittens. Their mom remains at large. An ACR trapper rescued a cat who had a glass jar stuck on his head for several days. His neck had pus oozing from it. With vet care, Oreo recovered nicely and has since been adopted.
2017 ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS ANNEX CAT RESCUE 09 LULU & FINN
BY THE NUMBERS
TOTAL NUMBER OF COLONY CATS : 105 CHINATOWN 2 CHERRY STREET 8 KENSINGTON CLOSED STEAMWHISTLE 3 RICHMOND CLOSED PAPE & GERRARD 2 BATHURST COLLEGE CLOSED DUNN AVE 3 CHRISTIE BLOOR 4 SPRINGDALE BLVD 13 BLOOR & OSSINGTON CLOSED CHATHAM AVE 7 OSSINGTON & HARBORD 2 ASHDALE 9 CHESTER & DANFORTH 4 CARLAW & GERRARD 10 GREENWOOD & GERRARD 13 LEASIDE 9 CEDAR GARDEN 5 DIXON & 401 8 SOUTH RIVERDALE 3
2017 ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS ANNEX CAT RESCUE 10 TOBY & SOPHIE
SPOTLIGHT ON OUR FERAL COLONIES
NEW BEST CUSTOMER
2017 ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS ANNEX CAT RESCUE 11 CHRISTIE- This is one of ACR’s oldest and most mature colonies, when local residents see possibly lost or abandoned BLOOR with no kittens reported since 2012 and only the cats and have helped to TNR in the surrounding area occasional (and usually adoptable) newcomer or pet in order to prevent new colonies from forming. cat who comes to check out the feeding spots. We Thank you to all of the volunteers who have helped have four cats remaining at our main feeding spot: to care for the cats in this colony and the neighbours Beauty, Stella, Bibsy, and Twin who, at approximately who support us! Together we have made our community 8-plus years old are all doing well. We also feed safer and healthier. Jack, a male black cat who has proven extremely difficult to trap because of his wide-ranging territory and extreme wariness. Neighbours work with us to care for the cats at two other feeding spots, and we have supplied shelters for several backyards in the area. We will also help
TWIN, BIBSY & STELLA
BEAUTY
2017 ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS ANNEX CAT RESCUE 12 BATHURST- After more than 10 years of caring for the cats at the Ferals are known to sometimes disappear for weeks COLLEGE Bathurst College colony, this winter saw the natural or even months and then return, so we were hopeful. end to the group. Over the years, the colony had Sadly, no one had spotted them, and so we closed about 11 regulars, and various strays who joined off at the end of March (2018). along the way (but those were able to enter the foster system). And so, we say a loving farewell to the girls, and all the other lovely cats and kittens who passed through Our last two girls, Tabby and Lilybell, were each about the colony at Bathurst College over the years. Names nine years old. They had made it through some tough I recall include Black Fluffy, Grey Fluffy, Sweetie, and weather over the years, but this past winter’s cold Duchess (who was mother to two kittens). I would snap in December appeared to have been too much like to thank the whole volunteer team for their for them. We continued our feeding routine each tireless efforts, as well as the kind neighbour who night for three months, each of our team hoping let us use their yard and kept a look out for the cats. that when the weather changed, they would return.
TABBY BLACK FLUFFY
LILLYBELL
2017 ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS ANNEX CAT RESCUE 13 MR. BLOOR- We are sad to report the passing of the Bloor OSSINGTON Ossington colony’s long-time member, Mr. He was found curled up in a box in the yard of a neighbour who we discovered had been feeding him extra meals. She said during that last summer he would come into her living room for Temptations but could not bear to be closed in so slept under the tree next door. There were a couple of other occasional cats around for a bit but they seem to have disappeared (hopefully not courtesy of the neighbourhood hawks.)
MR.
OSSINGTON- Established in 2010, Ossington now has only two HARBORD cats, a black male cat named Buddy and a brown tabby named Stella. They are well-cared-for by a group of dedicated volunteers. Trooper was a colony cat that was brought in a year ago and has adjusted to the good life with his foster family. It has been discovered that he has cancer on his nose and he will be getting surgery to remove the cancer. He is a strong and healthy cat otherwise and his prognosis to living a healthy longer life is bright.
STELLA BUDDY
2017 ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS ANNEX CAT RESCUE 14 FLUFFY SPOT KENSINGTON The past year saw the closure of the Kensington Route. Following 2016, when all but four cats were taken into foster homes, only four cats remained at the home of volunteer Stephen G. Stephen generously opened his house to the four cats, but his health deteriorated and he was unable to provide the needed care for the multiple cats. Unfortunately, in August 2017, First to Come, also known as New Best Customer, became ill and passed away. In December 2017 both Rocko and Stripey were transferred to assessment homes. Fluffy Spot remains at Stephen’s care and is being monitored by Annex Cat Rescue. One other cat, Angelo, lives with a family in the FIRST TO COME Atkinson Housing Co-op. (AKA NEW BEST CUSTOMER) CHINATOWN The colony currently has two regular cats, Jet and Ivor. Stripe has been adopted out by a long-time caregiver of his earlier this winter. Ivor is regularly seen by our volunteers at his usual location. We caretakers have tried several times to trap him over the course of the summer and fall without success. He is too smart for our traps. He is still matted although he seems to be healthy otherwise. We had three feeding locations earlier in the year and opened up Glen Bailie St. location where we found a litter of kittens who we successfully trapped, fostered and adopted out. Hurray! We have four feeding locations open now with the possible intent to open our fifth temporary one after hearing about cat(s) roaming on that street.
JET IVOR
2017 ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS ANNEX CAT RESCUE 15 FUZZY
The Richmond St colony had some problems in 2017 RICHMOND ST with an escalated construction schedule. The two remaining cats, Mr. Fuzz and Fuzzy, were contending with construction traffic and people on a daily basis in addition to unsanitary food and water (their bowls would collect construction dirt). They also had to contend with racoons and pigeons eating their food. Their physical health seemed to decline by the end of the winter as Fuzzy appeared underweight and both cats seemed to have severe tooth problems. They were finally rescued during the summer of 2017 through netting. They were brought to the vet and subsequently placed in a foster home. They have since been adopted.
CEDAR For the most part, 2017 was a good year for Myles, GARDEN Scout, Gordon, Lily and Mayo, the five cats living within the safety of the enclosed Cedar Garden. In the fall, however, we noticed leftover food in Myles and Scout's garden, which was unusual. There were also very subtle changes in Myles’ behaviour, which suggested physical discomfort. Myles was trapped, vetted and found to have Triaditis—inflammation of the liver, bowel and pancreas. Although the symptoms had appeared to be subtle, Myles had a very close call and had to be hospitalized for treatment. Since his release back into the garden with his best friend Scout, he has been doing very well. We have been working on a diet change with a novel protein, as well as a daily dose of prednisolone, to help Myles maintain his health.
MAYO SCOUT
2017 ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS ANNEX CAT RESCUE 16 ROOSTER & FRIENDS
LEASIDE This colony consists of about nine cats now. Last year the volunteers got together to clean up and repair the shelters. The cats are precious to all who feed and have warmed up to treats before they eat their daily meal.
STEAMWHISTLE The Steamwhistle colony has a daily resident that October 2017 so we could have a heated shelter appears to meet our feeders: Maude. She is beautiful outside for him. We do believe that all the cats and and somewhat plump tortoiseshell. Maurice and perhaps wildlife enjoyed some of the warmth during Rocky are our two resident male tabbies. Maurice is our February 2018 deep freeze. an older orange tabby that has been in the colony Rocky is a slightly longer-haired orange male that we for about seven years now. He was confirmed as believe was part of a litter from 2012. The colony neutered when trapped in 2013 so more than likely feeders also enjoy seeing many different animals was displaced when a colony a few blocks away was at the colony—our groundhog family and several relocated as new construction was being completed. racoons have started to emerge with the slightly He has not been spotted recently but we have left warmer weather. out our hunting camera set in the hopes that he appears soon. We installed an all-weather plug in
MAURICE & MAUDE
2017 ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS ANNEX CAT RESCUE 17 SWEETIE PHOTOGRAPHY BY SARA SLATER CHESTER- Though a physically tricky colony to feed at, Chester DANFORTH remained stable throughout 2017, its four long-time residents—Baby, Bandit, Shy, and Sweetie—typically present and accounted for each afternoon when one of seven dedicated feeders visited. First to the fence hole is docile, black Baby and tactile Bandit (a.k.a. Sir Swats-a-Lot), who enjoy head-pats as they await dinner.
BABY, BANDIT, SWEETIE & SHY
SHY & BANDIT
2017 ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS ANNEX CAT RESCUE 18 GREENWOOD- Greenwood and Gerrard colony is currently home to GERRARD approximately 13 cats (it’s hard to tell with half the colony being very similar-looking black cats!)This year we had to move our feeding spot and shelters to the backyard of a resident who already housed most of the cat shelters. One of our feeders also made an amazing feeding station, now that we have a more stable place for feeding the cats. It’s worked out very well so far. Our cats have been all heathy this year, and we’re looking to get one of our cats, Boula, in for some dental work, and one other tame stray will be re-homed soon.
BUDDY
PAPE- Pape and Gerrard is a stable colony of two cats. Mimi GERRARD and Summer live on Pape Avenue north of Gerrard and are known to the residents in the block they call home. One of the homeowners is kind enough to permit us to feed the cats on his porch and place shelters underneath where the cats hangout during the cold months. Mimi and Summer are fed twice a day, morning and evening, and these fortunate ferals have 10 feeders who share in the feeding duties. The two cats are good friends and are now about eight years of age.
MIMI & SUMMER MIMI
2017 ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS ANNEX CAT RESCUE 19 PAPPY, BETSY & BATMOM SOUTH The South Riverdale colony consists of three cats: RIVERDALE Pappy, Betsy, and the legendarily untrappable Batmom, who continues to produce litters of kittens. Thankfully all have been rescued and adopted out to loving homes. Unfortunately, residents where the cats are fed are hostile and it makes trapping very difficult but the cats are still fed every day and shelters hidden for the cats’ use.
BATMOM
DUNN AVE There are three regulars at the Dunn Ave colony. There are often visitors that are passing through or other cats living in the area. Mommy has had several litters prior to being spayed and is looking healthy. She is a regular at the feeding station and is scared of people but is getting somewhat more relaxed around her regular feeder. Willy and Woody, the “Woodpile Cats”—they used to live down the street in a backyard woodpile—have been living in the shelters in our backyard and have been around for quite a few years. They are also regulars at the feeding shelter. The boys are quite timid but have also come a long way in trusting and coming closer. It was a very hard winter for the cats, and luckily they have all survived.
MOMMY WOODY
2017 ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS ANNEX CAT RESCUE 20 SPRINGDALE The Springdale colony numbered 13 at the end of Thanks to ACR our old alpha male, Atlas, received 2017—eight males and five females. All have been major dental surgery in the early fall of 2016. We spayed/neutered and live primarily in residential were optimistic that he would fully recover and have backyards. They have been provided with cat shelters a few more good years. Sadly, that was not to be. He in the winter. No new cats joined the colony in 2017. A continued to go downhill and was recaptured in May total of five cats in two groups of three and two have 2017. On the advice of our ACR vet, we had to let partitioned themselves off from the main colony— him go. We mourn all the cats we have lost. Although with dominant males. These five cats are fed daily I cannot pet or cuddle them, we love them just the by two other neighbours. The colony is fairly stable same. A BIG thank you ACR for all your support. but our primary issue now is that all the cats are aging; they range from eight- to 10-years-old.
GUTSY COOPER
TIGER
2017 ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS ANNEX CAT RESCUE 21 CHATHAM AVE All in the colony are well. Blackness answers to his Alice is still feeding at my neighbour’s backlot. She name being called. He will let me pet him while he knows that I come by in the morning and in the after- is eating, concentrating so much on the food, he can’t noon. Angie is still very shy. I have to leave the food be bothered with me! At no other time will he let for her at a distance and leave or she won’t come me pet him. Grumpy has been in and out. He comes by. She is at least staying in the backyard now. for a feed in the morning sometimes, and at other Thanks to ACR for all you do. times in the evening. He likes to roam (thank heavens he is fixed!) Catch and Tabs are very close; they groom each other, hang out together, lie side by side during the day. Very sweet. Mom hangs out on the front porch. When it gets too warm she goes to the back. She lets me pet her occasionally.
ANGIE MOM, TABS & CATCH
MOM
2017 ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS ANNEX CAT RESCUE 22 CHERRY STREET The Cherry Street colony remains extremely grateful He is doing well and getting along famously with for ACR’s support. It’s a testament to the care they the other cats in the household. receive that we have so many senior cats! The colony At the end of 2017, the colony consisted of eight cats, is stable; there are no new cats and all the residents which live in two separate groups (at our highest are TNRed, so the main issue at this point is our point we had 20+ cats!). One group of four lives aging population, and eventual development of the amongst the dumpsters and boats but our other site. 2017 was a rare year in that none of our cats quartet has access to an insulated trailer, lucky cats. passed away. Two cats, Stubby and Lily, had some It is a very industrial area. dental work, helping to improve their quality and length of life. We even had one adoption. Floppy had One of our cats, Morris, has moved down the road joined the colony a few years ago and kept getting to another location and is fed by staff there. He never friendlier and friendlier. In the spring we brought him did get along with the others. Near the Cherry Street inside and a wonderful ACR volunteer adopted him, colony, we also feed four other ferals that we have giving this older FIV+ street cat a fantastic new life. TNRed and provided feeding stations and shelters for.
MC FLOPPY & LITTLE JERRY
STUBBY
2017 ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS ANNEX CAT RESCUE 23 ASHDALE In 2017, the Ashdale colony consisted of nine cats by herself but luckily a supportive cat person has from over 20 when trapping first started over nine allowed a heated cat shelter in his yard, so she years ago, all of which have been sterilized. There can stay warm and they feed her daily. Sookie is have not been any new members for two years, having skin issues, increased kidney values and knock on wood. There are two locations where the being treated for a urinary tract infection, though cats live, both locations have multiple shelters for her treatment is ongoing. She has been brought their protection during inclement weather. We sadly inside to live with the coordinator of the colony lost a female cat member and she has left her sister and she has acclimatized well to living indoors.
TIGER LILLY
GREY GUY
2017 ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS ANNEX CAT RESCUE 24 CARLAW- This colony is a recent addition to the ACR family. A Sadly, we have lost a few kitties. The torti cat dis- GERRARD trapper first became involved in 2013 when informed appeared, our beloved Tilda died young from heart about a woman feeding several homeless cats in disease in 2016 and, more recently, one of our lovely her yard. In that year, all the adults were TNR’d—19 grey tabbies, Jill, was hit by a car and died in 2017. in total—and over 20 kittens rescued. Ten cats in the colony remain, all fixed, and all fed Soon afterward, another volunteer joined and helped every day by a group of eight volunteers. to rescue one of the friendly tomcats, named Lionel, who was subsequently adopted. Two years later the adopter had to sell her house and the cats remaining in the colony moved into the laneway. But the feeding continued with the recruitment of other volunteers.
TEDDY
FRANKIE
2017 ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS ANNEX CAT RESCUE 25 TRISTAN DIXON-401 This colony is located off of Dixon and the 401 and has about eight cats and kittens since one cat has not been trappable. Last year one of the five kittens, Lucas, was trapped leaving four to taunt the trapper. Trapping continues. This colony has a small number of volunteers.
GEORGIE & BABY
LOLA & ELOUISE
2017 ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS ANNEX CAT RESCUE 26 ARNOLD
SPOTLIGHT ON OUR FOSTER PROGRAM
2017 FOSTER NUMBERS: 2017 ADOPTION NUMBERS: Number of cats/kittens that were NUMBER OF ADOPTIONS: 217 325* in ACR foster homes in 2017: kittens (up to 1 year): 127 Number of foster homes: 175 adults (1-7 years): 70 Cats/kittens adopted by their fosters seniors (8+ years): (a.k.a. “Failed Fosters”): 35 20
*Included in the total number are cats still in foster care from previous years, not just new intakes.
For the ACR Foster Program, 2017 will definitely go partner vet clinics to our donors—we were able to down as an amazing year that showcased how dramatically change the lives of over 300 cats in transformative the power of love and care is, and it 2017, from the tiniest kittens being bottle-fed every was our privilege to help change the lives of so many few hours through the night to the senior cats that wonderful cats and kittens. required extensive medical care. Thanks to our amazing team of volunteers—from We would like to share a few of our favourite trappers to assessment homes to foster homes to stories from 2017.
2017 ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS ANNEX CAT RESCUE 27 One of our most wonderful transformations in 2017 was our champion, Stanley! If there is one thing you can say about him, he is a fighter. No matter how many health obstacles were thrown at him, he over- came them all. Stanley was rescued in July 2017 after being found living on the street, and he desperately required urgent medical care. After having his painful and matted fur shaved off and taking some time to recover, it was discovered that he had a terrible hernia (likely from being hit by a car) and immediately required a difficult surgery to repair that injury. He made it, thanks to the care of the wonderful vets who worked so hard to save his life and his amazing foster mom, who showed him the true meaning of unconditional love and care. Although it was touch and go while he recovered, he came out of the experience stronger than ever! He has since had a dental surgery and an enucleation surgery, with a few other medical issues on the side. Through everything, Stanley never lost his sweetness and his strength, and he is an inspiration for us all! Stanley is now living the BEFORE AFTER dream in his forever home with a very lucky adopter.
Another of our incredible transformations in 2017 was Wilson, a sweet FIV+ white and tabby cat that was brought to ACR’s attention in March 2017, as he was in extremely rough shape. His fur was completely matted, his eyes were crusted over from a severe respiratory infection, and he needed dental surgery (among other injuries and maladies). Thanks to the wonderful cat-loving community that helped fundraise for his care, the ACR rescuer that trapped him, and his incredible foster homes that helped him to feel safe indoors and nursed him lovingly back to health, Wilson transformed into the happiest and most loving boy, and he is now in his forever home!
2017 ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS ANNEX CAT RESCUE 28 Proving that it isn’t just medical care that can transform their lives, one of our favourite bonded pairs, The Fuzzies, had their lives changed dramatically for the better in 2017. You may remember seeing their sweet faces in the 2016 ACR Annual Highlights, as they had spent their lives in an ACR Colony. When staying at the colony was no longer an option, these boys were brought inside to an ACR foster home, and the beginning of their new journey began. While unsure and frightened of indoor life at first, these boys were grateful to have each other. The patience and love they experienced in their socialization and foster homes allowed them to feel comfortable, and now they can’t get enough of petting and playtime with their amazing adopters. These boys touched many lives on their journey, and their transformation to happy and cuddly boys wouldn’t have been possible without our volunteers, starting with their colony feeders and coordinators that took such wonderful care of them for so many years. These are just a few of the hundreds of happy endings that ACR was able to create in 2017. We can’t state enough how grateful we are to those to everyone who contributes to ACR with their time or money— MR. FUZZ FUZZY without you, saving the lives of these cats wouldn’t be possible!
ARCHIE
2017 ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS ANNEX CAT RESCUE 29 IN MEMORIAM
CARAMEL GUS
NICKY PANTHER GIDI
SALLY NICKEL LENA
2017 ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS ANNEX CAT RESCUE 30 IN MEMORIAM
TABBY ATLAS PHOTOGRAPHY BY RONDI ADAMSON
JILL MR.
LILLYBELL FIRST TO COME PHOTOGRAPHY BY RONDI ADAMSON EMMA (AKA NEW BEST CUSTOMER)
2017 ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS ANNEX CAT RESCUE 31 EVENTS
Events provide opportunities to educate the public In 2017, we participated in a range of events, including about community cats and Trap-Neuter-Return, raise annual favourites the Annex Family Festival, Taste funds, engage potential adopters, meet other ACR of Little Italy Festival, CNE Cat Show and the Tranzac volunteers and supporters (and recruit new ones) Holiday Gift Fair. Our Craft Coordinator, Catnip Toy and network with other animal welfare organizations. Coordinator and their teams of crafty volunteers Our Events Team offers various roles for volunteers, were kept busy creating handmade catnip toys, beds, such as staffing our event tables, setting up behind T-shirts and many other unusual and attractive items the scenes, providing transport for supplies or cats, to help raise funds. The Events Team also helped and making crafts for fundraising. to organize ACR’s Annual General Meeting and Volunteer Social.
2017 ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS ANNEX CAT RESCUE 32 ACR hosted its inaugural Kitten Cuddle-a-Thon Also new in 2017, ACR partnered with handcrafted and Bake Sale at Pet Uno in October. The premise goods shop Arts Market to decorate a front window was simple but unbeatable: out front on College of their College St. location with outsize posters of St., passersby could purchase delectable home- our cats, again to fundraise and boost our profile. made treats (many vegan) for a modest sum. In And we marvelled as our intrepid trappers nimbly the rear of the shop, cat-lovers could cuddle with (and often very amusingly) demonstrated their hard- playful kittens, using the experience to introduce won techniques for capturing wily felines in need children to small animals or simply to enjoy the of vet appointments, TNR-ing and other health- soothing touch of a purring furball. The event was related issues during a well-attended spring event a big success, raising funds (and spirits) as well as organized by the trappers themselves. our profile in the community. We thank Pet Uno for their ongoing assistance.
BANANA
SCOTIABANK 2017 was ACR’s third year participating in the marathoner. Our gorgeous ACR team t-shirts were TORONTO Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon (STWM) designed and printed by our Craft Coordinator, WATERFRONT Charity Challenge. This allows runners/walkers Dawn H. We had great prizes to award for fundraising, to raise money for one of the registered charities generously donated by Mindful Movement Centre, MARATHON accepted by the STWM. We were extremely fortunate Satori Health & Wellness, La Femme Strong, Fresh CHARITY in 2017 to have a super-dedicated repeat donor, Restaurants, Blu Ristorante, Menagerie Pet Shop, BMV CHALLENGE James L., again match donations to ACR’s team dollar Books (Annex) and Global Pet Foods (Davisville). for dollar, even increasing his matching pledge when Thanks to everyone who contributed to making this we exceeded our original fundraising goal of $40,000. event—indeed, all of the events we staged in 2017— Thanks to James and approximately 500 other such an incredible success! We’ll be participating in donors, the ACR team raised over $60,500! Those the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon Charity funds made a huge difference in a challenging year. Challenge once again in October 2018. Please Most of our team ran or walked in the 5K race, consider joining or supporting our team. with five doing the half-marathon and one brave
2017 ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS ANNEX CAT RESCUE 33 FRANCESCA
COMMUNITY OF VOLUNTEERS
JEAN-CLAUDE
2017 ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS ANNEX CAT RESCUE 34 The ACR Board of Directors would like to extend sincere gratitude to our many amazing volunteers. ACR volunteers are dedicated, generous and hard-working, and we are lucky to have you! As ACR continues to expand, new volunteers are always needed, especially in the following areas:
COLONY CARETAKERS SOCIALIZATION AND MEDICAL FOSTER HOMES ACR often needs help to feed the cats in one of our We always need foster parents with experience 21 managed colonies throughout the city. You would building trust again in shy, traumatized cats or work as part of a colony team. working with cats with special behavioural or (Time commitment: 1 hour every 1-2 weeks) medical needs. A separate space is needed. (Time commitment: 1-2 hours a day) TRAPPING VOLUNTEERS We are currently looking for trapping volunteers to TRANSPORTATION VOLUNTEERS help in our Trap-Neuter/ Spay-Return (TNR) program. If you have a car, help transport supplies to special Volunteers set traps, transport cats (in traps) to and events, collect and distribute donated food, pick from vets, and back to their colonies. up and drop off cats at the vets. (Time commitment: busier in spring and summer) (Time commitment: A few hours a month) ASSESSMENT HOMES COINBOX PROGRAM Every cat over 12 weeks of age must go through a 2-4 A network of ACR volunteers monitor coin boxes and week assessment where we get to know the cat and catnip toy donation baskets in stores and vet offices see if he/she is socializable. This position is ideal for around the city which bring nearly $14,000 a year. people who don’t want to commit to longer-term (Time commitment: 30 minutes every 2 weeks) fostering. (Time commitment: A few hours a day)
To learn more about volunteering with ACR, please visit our website: http://annexcatrescue.ca/volunteer/ Did you know that many companies will donate money for their employees’ volunteer hours? BOULA & FLUFFY MASK Check with your HR department to see if they have an Employee Matching Program!
2017 ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS ANNEX CAT RESCUE 35 DONORS AND SUPPORTERS
Annex Cat Rescue doesn't receive any government donors and partners to Toronto’s community cats funding; we rely entirely on donor support. The means we can continue to help when help is needed generosity of our donors and partners allow us to most. Because we're 100% volunteer run, we can continue doing meaningful and life saving work. allocate nearly 90% of our funds directly to helping Reliable funds are particularly important so we can cats. While we don't have the space to name everyone continue to help with special cases, such as emergency individually, we hope you know how much we surgery or dental care. From foster cats to ferals, value your contribution to the life of every cat and those in palliative care, the commitment of our helped by ACR.
STORAGE SPACE As ACR has no office or shelter, we are looking for a retail partner who is willing to act as a donation drop-off point within the downtown area (boundaries: Ossington to Parliament, Dupont to the lake). Required: storage (minimum footprint 2' x 2', floor-to-ceiling space, but the more the better!) and no extreme temperatures (to prevent cat food spoilage). If you think you can help, please email [email protected] or call (416) 410-3835
2017 ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS ANNEX CAT RESCUE 36 INDIVIDUAL In 2017, over 500 individuals made generous financial We'd also like to thank those who donated food, DONORS donations to Annex Cat Rescue, including over 350 supplies, collected Air Miles or donated through via Canada Helps. We were fortunate to receive our catnip toy baskets or coin boxes throughout the these a number of ways: city. And a huge thank you to our feral colony feeders • Single donations (491 individuals donated during and foster homes. These invaluable volunteers not the Scotiabank Charity Challenge alone!). only give their time and hearts to ACR cats, they also purchase items on behalf of Annex Cat Rescue • Monthly donations, which help us plan for and (as gift-in-kind donations), such as cat food, litter, toys maintain our ongoing programs. and other special supplies for the cats in their care. • Planned giving—donors who have generously We couldn't do what we do without your generosity! named Annex Cat Rescue in their wills or named Annex Cat Rescue as a beneficiary of insurance policies or investment funds. PANDA
Arts Market (College Street) Global Pet Foods (Annex) Pet Mama PET STORE Banks Animal Hospital Global Pet Foods (High Park) Orchid Graphics AND BUSINESS Bark and Meow Pet Supplies Global Pet Foods (Eglinton) Queen West Animal Hospital SUPPORTERS Bathurst-Dupont Animal Hospital Global Pet Foods (Davisville) Salesforce Foundation Bay Cat Hospital Helmutt's Pet Supply Sesler & Company Inc. Bayview Village Animal Hospital Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema Rosedale Animal Hospital Chosen Vintage Karma Co-op Wiener Home Hardware Design Nook Kato Animal Hospital Yonge-Davenport Pet Hospital Distinct Hair Design LCBO Dundas West Animal Hospital Leslieville Veterinary Hospital El Pipil Menagerie Pet Shop Front Street Animal Hospital Pet Uno
SOPHIE
2017 ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS ANNEX CAT RESCUE 37 VET PARTNERS
Without the ongoing assistance of our esteemed As our colonies age and our TNR numbers drop, we veterinary partners, ACR simply could not do what increasingly look to our vet partners for more complex it does and untold numbers of homeless cats and and costly care such as dental (full mouth extractions kittens across the GTA would go without crucial and are depressingly common). Our vet partners assist often life-saving medical and dental care. Through us with expert advice and offer palpable kindness generous discounts on services and boarding, our when awful decisions need to be made about vet partners represent our single biggest donors. seriously injured or profoundly ill cats requiring They’re the ones we rely on at 9 pm on a Tuesday compassionate euthanasia. when, after weeks of effort, a sick but savvy feral is ACR is deeply indebted and wholly grateful to our finally lured into a trap. veterinary partners.
THANK YOU… Annex Animal Hospital Dundas Euclid Animal Hospital Banks Animal Hospital Roncesvalles Animal Hospital Beaches Animal Hospital Roncy Village Veterinary Clinic Bloorcourt Veterinary Clinic Veterinary Emergency Clinic Dundas Dovercourt Veterinary Hospital Yonge-Davenport Pet Hospital
2017 ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS ANNEX CAT RESCUE 38 YEAR ENDED YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, DECEMBER 31, 2017 2016 REVENUES Adoption Fees ...... 30,150...... 38,035. . . . Donations ...... 184,522 ...... 153,035. . . . 2017 FINANCIAL Donations - bequests . . . . . 45,848...... 0 . SUMMARY Fundraising...... 11,104...... 10,090. . . Interest ...... 1,411...... 590. . . . Membership Dues...... 550 ...... 320. . Coin Boxes ...... 13,930 ...... 11,950. . . Other Income...... 0...... 0. REVENUE TOTAL . . . . . 287,515...... 214,020 . . . . OPERATING EXPENSES Accounting Expense...... 112...... 112 . Advertising Expense ...... 366...... 153 . . . Bank Charges ...... 38 ...... 22. . . Charitable Transfer...... 0 ...... 100. . . . Fundraising Expense ...... 4,297 ...... 5,420...... Miscellaneous ...... 3,158...... 3,760 . . . . . Outreach Expense ...... 227...... 903. . . . Supplies...... 31,018...... 35,955. . . . Administration...... 1,398...... 1,017 . . . . Transportation Expense . . . . . 866...... 701. . YEAR ENDED YEAR ENDED Veterinary Services...... 207,523 ...... 191,001. . . . DECEMBER 31, DECEMBER 31, 2017 2016 EXPENSE TOTAL...... 249,003 ...... 239,144 ......
SURPLUS (DEFICIT) FOR THE PERIOD ...... 38,512 ...... (25,124) . . .
OPENING SURPLUS (DEFICIT)...... 150,743...... 175,867 . . .
ENDING SURPLUS (DEFICIT) ...... 189,255 ...... 150,743. . .
2017 ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS ANNEX CAT RESCUE 39