advoCATS News

Good "Mews" For Hawaii's Cats

Summer 2007

County of Hawaii Helps advoCATS Spay/Neuter Program

Now that advoCATS has the support of Big Island Mayor Harry Kim, County Council member Brenda Ford contacted our treasurer Roberta Agre about helping with our spay and neuter program. Council person Ford was given our statistics, advoCATS literature and DVD’s on the benefits of TNR (Trap/Neuter/Release) and how it can help to solve the multitude of feral cat problems on the Big Island. With more funds, advoCATS can spay and neuter more cats, thus stopping the unnecessary litters of kittens being born here on a daily basis. Statistics show that TNR is actually less expensive than euthanasia when you factor in trapping and disposing of the animal. Mayor Kim stated in his February 2007 proclamation that advoCATS non-lethal T/N/R accompanied by ongoing cat colony management is the most humane, effective and cost-effective way to reduce homeless cat population in Hawaii. A big Mahalo to Brenda Ford for her dedication to our cause and procuring these funds for us. We will put every penny to good use for the benefit of the cats on the Big Island.

“Cat” Food Drive - July 7 at Keauhou Shopping Center & July 20 at Kona Wal-Mart

The July 7 food drive at the Keauhou Shopping Center brought in 650 lbs of dry cat food! The food will be distributed to feeders of feral cat colonies who need help buying cat food.

Many of you may not be aware that there are people who go out every day to take care of the thousands of abandoned cats in Hawaii. They not only volunteer their time, but they buy all of the food out of their own pockets. They also carry gallons of water, which is as essential to the cat's welfare as is the food. Some of these people spend hours every day of the week doing this and feed 20 to 30 pounds of dry cat food every day! Their unselfish giving saves these cats from starvation and dehydration, and provides a healthy diet. Feeding the cats at the same location every day also makes it easier to trap them for spay and neuter.

If you didn’t make it to our food drives here's what you can do: you may send a check to advoCATS and specify it is for cat food, or see our website for our “Adopt A Feeder Program”. We hope you will consider this and extend your generosity beyond your donations to advoCATS for spaying and neutering.

Another New Kitty Café; Keauhou Shopping Center

A BIG MAHALO to Dianne Toledo; Keauhou Shopping Center Real Estate Manager, for making it possible for advoCATS to put 4 Kitty Cafés on the premises and to allow advoCATS to have a Cat Food drive at KTA. Mahalo also to Aurora King who feeds these homeless kitties nightly. They know her car and come running! And Mahalo to Kelli, a manager at Rocky’s Pizza and Linda a waitperson at Drysdales, for helping us to get the notices on their tables about T/N/R and our feeding program. Our notices ask customers to refrain from feeding the cats at their tables and around the restaurant. The cafés at the shopping center are simple, secluded and allow the cats easy access, while protecting the food from the elements.

More Kitty Cafés On The Way!

Thanks to 5th, 7th, and 8th grade class teacher Roy Sveiven Jr. at the Hualalai Academy, Big Island kitties will be eating in style because of his “Adventure Friday Class” or "Tool Time Too". Mr. Sveiven had his classes design kitty cafés for advoCATS which were used at the International Market Place and at Wal-Mart. It became an "extra" problem solving lesson when the kids discovered that they couldn't get the cafés out the door; too big! He said they had to figure how to take the roof back off and maneuver it out!! The maintenance crew at the International Market Place remarked at what a good and sturdy job the students did!

AdvoCATS Helping Kids!

Some kids just need a little positive encouragement and what could be better than volunteering to help homeless cats on the Big Island! Last summer teenager Tamir Smith volunteered on the construction of our sanctuary. When he moved to the mainland his prospective employer “Googled” his name and was impressed that he volunteered on this project. Tamir thinks this is why he got the job! If you know of a school that could use a project and would like to volunteer, give us a call: (808) 327-3724 or email us advocatshawaii@aol.com

Mahalo, Mahalo, Mahalo!

Brenda Ford from Hawaii County Council for supporting advoCATS spay/neuter program.

Noelani Cashman-Aiu, Director of Operations at the Sheraton Keauhou Resort and Spa for her continuous help on the Kitty Café.

Bromley Charitable Trust, Petco, Wal-Mart and Betty Everett for supporting our spay/neuter program.

And a special Mahalo to Carolyn Witcher at Witcher Engineering, for printing our brochures and newsletters.

An Email to advoCATS: This morning I found my daughter typing away furiously at my computer, working very hard on the following email.  She knows not to email strangers, but I let her finish when I saw how much she was enjoying herself. (Daddy’s a sucker for his little girl). She already has 2 cats, 20 fish, and 6 hermit crabs and NOW she wants another cat!  Needless to say, I told her no, but you can’t blame a girl for trying.  Eric Anzalone

I would be interestsead with one of your cats named Sherbet! The point is, Is it a boy or girl? If it’s a boy, It would be great!! If it was a girl, not so great! I You see, I want a boy cat. But the thing is, It looks like a little girl cat.I think it’s a great cat in all, but I think 2 cays is good enough for me. Yeah I know. My dad is in the village People and I’m using his E mail Address. You see it’s his daughter speaking. My name is Samantha, call me Sam. Your Cat is great! Only I have 2 cats already! And my dad can’t take care of it ! or my mom or my grandparents! Beaucuse my mom lives with my grandparents, and my dad has his own house. And he’s already thinking of getting a rabbit! And that sure won’t work out. Cat rabbit, NO. I am truly sorry, but I can’t get the cat. My dad goes away to much! And if my grandparents and mom get it my grandma might have to jump out of the window! That litter box Is going to SMELL!!!!! SMELL!!!! SMELL!!!!! But it is a cutie little thing that cat! But I can’t have it. Not even if I beg All day for it!!! The answer is NO. But mabey E mail me in a year! Mabey I will get a bigger and better house in the year! Ok. So see you later Sherbet!!!!!! Sincerely, Eric Anzalone’s daughter herself, Samantha Reyne Anzalone

A Tribute: Patricia Duefrene 1949 - 2006

AdvoCATS morns the passing of a generous supporter; Pat Duefrene, who loved cats, especially a big black male named Wolfman. Wolfman was part of an unexpected litter from a feral cat who strayed into Patricia’s house to have kittens.

Patricia helped many cats and kittens on the Big Island and adopted several through the years, but Wolfman survived them all and lived to be 22 years old.

In Patricia’s memory a fund was set up and friends of hers sent donations to advoCATS in her honor.

Mahalo to W. & A. Brye, Sara Peck, Jane Culp, Keith Krueger, John & Jacqueline Earle, Lee Allen Thomas, John R Lewis and Sharon Sakai for their generous donations. Your support allows us to carry on for Patricia and help the Big Island’s cats even though she cannot.

Note: It’s possible Wolfman has decided to live his next life at our advoCATS sanctuary. A beautiful black cat arrived uninvited on his own 4 months ago. We still have to trap him and get him neutered, he’s a huge cat looks exactly like Wolfman! We think Pat would be pleased that he found such a nice home.

FUNDRAI$ING NEW$

A May 5 “clean up the garage” sale was held, and we added $1,200.00 to our spay and neuter program. Many mahalos to those who helped: Joy Banks, Mary Green, Nancy Hitzemann, Lei Kihoi, Peneku Kihoi, Judy Kocon, Diane and Jim Merriam, Debbie Pershing, Jim Weise, Linda Welker and Margie Wolfe. Appreciation to Linda Welker for the ice and drinks and Kathy Vilander for the food. Thanks to the kitty donors for without you it would not be possible. This sale was hosted by Jim and Diane Merriam; the kitties thank them from the bottoms of their heart. We truly appreciate all they do for advoCATS.

I’m Adorable, Take Me Home

It’s kitten season and our advoCATS foster Moms have lots of beautiful kittens that need to find good loving homes. Cats are happy when they have a pal to play with so think about adopting not just one but two! Our foster moms work hard to socialize these kittens and handle them as much as possible so that they make good companion animals. Believe it or not some of our foster moms can have as many as 30 kittens this time of year! Call us at: 327-3724 or check our web site to see pictures of the kitties and information: www.enchantedfantasies.com/acats.html

Jennifer's Nursing Kennels Kept Busy

It's only been 8 months since the first kennel was put up, and 2 months since the second was finished, but I have already had several pregnant and nursing cats and their babies come through my doors. To date, I've had 4 cats come to me though advoCATS, 2 pregnant and 2 with babies already in tow.  The Humane Society has given me 2 pregnant cats, 2 with babies already nursing. I've had the privilege of being present at the births of 11 babies in the kennels. At one point, I had 5 mothers and 26 babies in the kennels. All of the mothers have been spayed, and all babies born before April have been spayed/neutered and adopted. There is currently one mother, 13 babies and one pregnant female cat in the kennels. If anyone is interested in adopting the mother or kittens, call Jennifer at 929-9606. 

East Hawaii Forms an advoCATS Group

Hui Pono Holoholona (HPH), which means Doing what is morally right for animals, is a new non-profit organization formed to address the issues of animal overpopulation and abuse on the Big Island. Like advoCATS they will assist feral cat colony feeders with TNR, provide no or low cost spay and neuter assistance to those who cannot afford it on their own or pay for the Humane Society coupons. They also want to help with humane treatment education in the schools. HPH also hopes to facilitate frequent spay/neuter clinics for cats and dogs. They also want to have a fund to provide monetary assistance for animal veterinary care for those who cannot afford it. 

The first meeting was met with enthusiasm by the 14 who attended. Thanks go to Karen Klein, Roberta Agre and Ferol Kolon from advoCATS for their support, and for all the advice and assistance received from the advoCATS community!

  Their email address is: sandi@hphhawaii.org. The website, which is still under construction, will be at www.hphhawaii.org. You can contact either Frannie Pueo at 968-8279 or Sandi Alstrand at 965-1866 for more information.

In Remembrance Of

             Skeeta; Joan D. Lamont                   

                             Robin; Linda West                                    

                               Cleo; Corinne Burchett                                       

                                Handsome Mr. Sylvester Clarke; Madeline Jose                                       

                             Handsome Mr Sylvester Clarke; Eugene and LaDonna Clarke                                     

Susan Bright; Hood and Carol Hampton    

                      Genevieve Powell and Wayne Gregory; Shirley and Alex Toth                             

Steven Stearns; Hui O. Puuloa

YOU CAN HELP HAWAII’S CATS

$120. donation: the cost to spay 2 female cats.

$80. donation: the cost to neuter 2 male cats.

$60. donation: the cost to spay 1 female cat.

$40. donation: the cost to neuter 1 male cat.

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. Click here for our donation form.

As of April 2007 we have spayed or neutered

4364

Since 1999

Mahalo To All Our Veterinarians and 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