APRIL SPAY & NEUTER CLINIC

The Clinic on April 22 and 23 was a tremendous success. We successfully spayed 30 females, six of whom were pregnant, and neutered 30 males. Over 30 volunteers from ages 12 – 80 donated their time, services and food for the event. The cats came from Kailua Kona and Keauhou and from far away as Waikoloa, Ocean View and Pahoa. We had volunteers from Hawaii Island Humane Society, as well as West Hawaii Humane Society. Mahalo Nui Loa to Kona Veterinary Services for hosting the clinic and to our veterinarians Drs Bob Jordan, Jenny Chartier, Bob Magnus and Jim Gressard for donating their time and making this clinic possible.

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KOHALA RESORTS AND WAL- MART KITTIES SEE SOME RELIEF

Through the hard work and effort of advoCATS volunteers, as well as cat friendly people in the community, the resort cats of the Kohala Coast are finally starting to feel the effects of the TNR (trap-neuter-return program).

Late last summer the Hualalai Resorts began TNR with the feral cats on the resort property. With help from the community and support from the resort staff and management the program has been a great success. Feeding stations were built and resort employees took over the task of taking care of the feral felines. As of today the cats are doing great and management, staff and resort guests are happy the project has been such a success. Further up the coast at Mauna Lani Resort and The Orchid, advoCATS TNR has also been successful. A concerned group of homeowners with the consent of the management took on the challenge of trapping and sterilizing the feral cats on the resorts properties and set up small colonies around the resorts. There is still more work to be done; the Hilton Waikoloa has been asked to participate in the TNR program and of this moment things have been held up in their voluntary committee. We're hopeful that the official word will be out soon so that advoCATS can begin to help these resort kitties also.

Peter and Pica Mertvago had been feeding cats at Borders for awhile when they met a woman named Debbie who was feeding several colonies around Kailua Kona. She told them she was having trouble at Wal-Mart and asked them to take over. Peter and advoCATS president Karen Klein arranged a meeting with Wal-Mart Manager John McBride who was very cooperative. They presented Mr. McBride with literature about advoCATS and TNR which he was very open minded about. He was very interested in advoCATS approach and expressed that he wanted a solution to the over population of feral cats around the store. He accompanied Peter and Karen to the parking lot to asses the situation and to set up the feeding station. Before they could proceed any further he needed top management approval, which came soon after. Then he sent a memo to Wal-Mart employees to allow advoCATS volunteers to feed and trap undisturbed. A wonderful achievement for the Wal-Mart cats.

As you can see, things are finally getting better for some of our felines and hopefully with the support of our volunteers, local community, resort and shopping center management, advoCATS will have TNR programs at all the resorts and shopping centers in the future.

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MAHALO NUI LOA!

In honor of Leanne Roberts, advoCATS received a $5,000. donation from Eric Roberts who was visiting from San Francisco.

A $500. donation was sent in honor of advoCATS member Frannie Pueo for her tireless efforts working with the legislature on behalf of animal rights.

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advoCATS elects new Board of Directors

In January this year advoCATS members elected a new Board of Directors which are:

President - Karen Klein

Treasurer – Roberta Agre

Secretary – Margie Gillman-Wolfe

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VISIT OUR WEB SITE: www.advocatshawaii.org

We have lots of new and exciting features such as Lost, Found and Adoptable Kitties, interesting cat Rescue Stories from our volunteers and information on Feral Cat and Kitten Care as well as T NR as well as our latest advoCATS news. We are also featuring Kit-EBay Classifieds; an online fundraiser. This is a FREE listing of donated new or used items for sale where all the proceeds go to advoCATS, Inc. and qualifies as a tax deduction. Our advoCATS member and photographer Thalia Naidu gave us the use of her Beautiful Cat Photography, which is now displayed on the web site.

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FUNDRAISING EFFORTS

AdvoCATS set up a booth at the Kailua-Kona Lions Club Flea Market/Rummage Sale Swing Zone on October 22, 2005. Our Swing Zone helpers were Miriam Wallwin, Ruth Savakinas, Katherine Florer, Nancy Hitzemann, Margie Wolfe, Debbie Shearin, and Judy Kocon. We raised approximately $150.00 at this event and made some good contacts for advoCATS. Mahalo Nui Loa to Ruth and her kitchen contractor for fee donation and booth arrangements, Lori Paddock for tables and set up, and to all the folks who helped throughout the day.

On November 26 and 27, 2005, we had a garage sale at Kathy Bunt’s house and raised $2,185.00. Mahalo Nui Loa to Laurel Gregory, Debbie Shearin, Miriam Wallwin, Aurora King, Lorann Bergstedt, Kathy and Ron Bunt, Nancy and Jim Hitzemann, Margie Wolfe, Katherine Florer and Judy Kocon for all their hard work in making this sale possible. Thanks to everyone who brought tables, and also many thanks to Kathy and Ron for the use of their house.

UpCountry Pet Center’s owner, Donna Russo, invited advoCATS to join them on December 3, 2005, for their puppy swap meet at Mango Court in Kainaliu. Nancy Hitzemann and Judy Kocon set up a small stand in front of the pet store with advoCATS’ literature and small items for sale. It was a great chance to make new contacts and in addition made $125.00 for advoCATS.

On December 10, 2005, advoCATS was at Borders from approximately 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. doing complimentary gift wrapping. It was there that we got to meet our new feeders, Peter and Pica Mertvago, who have been feeding, spaying and neutering the kitties in back of Borders. Welcome Peter and Pica. Mahalo to our gift wrappers – Margie Wolfe, Nancy Hitzemann, Kathy Bunt, Jan Benlein, and Judy Kocon who got $66.00 in donations for advoCATS.

On January 28 and February 4, 2006, garage sales were held at Kathy Vilander’s house where we gathered in $1,300.00. Thank you to Nancy Hitzemann, Margie Wolfe, and Judy Kocon for all the work on behalf of the kitties. Many thanks to Kathy for making her house available to us.

Finally, on April 1, 2006, we held another garage sale at Kathy Vilander’s house (Mahalo Kathy) and made a grand total of $1,600.00. The kitties thank Nancy and Jim Hitzemann, Margie and Greg Wolfe, Roberta Agre, Darcy May and Judy Kocon for helping. Also thanks to Lori Paddock for bringing the tables.

In addition to thanking the advoCATS members for all the time and effort they shared to make these events successful, the sales would not be possible if it were not for all of our wonderful DONORS. MAHALO, MAHALO, MAHALO to all of you who donated the fantastic items to sell.

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Mauna Lani Charity Tree

Every year non profit organizations on the Big Island are invited to the Mauna Lani Resort to put up a tree. Our advoCATS organization has put up a tree for the last 4 years and members have donated their beautiful handmade ornaments to decorate it. This year we featured a miniature Kitty Café which looked like the ones we are setting up at the resorts on the Big Island. Visitors to the resort may vote on their tree of choice by making monetary donations. Our advoCATS tree won 2nd place earning $2000. for our spay and neuter program. Mauna Lani donates the prize money for 1st 2nd and 3rd place trees and the money collected from the donations is divided between the organizations. Our advoCATS member Thalia Naidu has organized the project for 4 years and had help putting up and taking down the tree by members Ferol Kolons and Karen Klein.

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YOU CAN HELP KONA’S CATS

I would like to donate my time and love, please call me: _________________________________

I would like to adopt a feeder, please call me: ________________________________________

____ $130. donation: the cost to spay 2 female cats.

_____ $90. donation: the cost to neuter 2 male cats.

____ $65. donation: the cost to spay 1 female cat.

____$45. donation: the cost to neuter 1 male cat.

_____ Other amount $_____________

Please make checks payable to: advoCATS, Inc.
Mail to: advoCATS, Inc.
P.O. Box 4415
Kailua Kona Hawaii 96745
(808) 327-3724

advoCATS, Inc. is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization. Donations are tax deductible.

Download our printable donation form.

As of April 2006 we have spayed or neutered

3,346

Mahalo to all our
Veterinarians and their staff!

Read our newsletter archives:

Spring 2010 / Winter 2010

Autumn 2009 / Summer 2009 / Spring 2009 / Winter 2009

Autumn 2008 / Summer 2008 / Spring 2008 / Winter 2008

Autumn-2007 / Summer-2007  /  Spring 2007  / Winter 2007

Autumn 2006 /  Summer 2006 / Spring 2006