| advoCATS
News
Good
"Mews" for Hawaii's Cats
Winter 2010
In this Issue:
Find
a Guardian for Your Furry Friends
Sushi’s Story
Advantages
of Adopting an Older Kitty
Foster Kitties For
Adoption
Treasurer’s
Report for 2009
advoCATS Receives
5 Grant$
Comics
In Our Mailbox
advoCATS Receives a
Gift of 100 Cat Traps
Mahalos & Dedications
Fundrai$ing New$
Madonna and the
Summer of Love
Find
a Guardian for Your Furry Friends |
As advoCATS, we receive
so many pleas from people desperately trying to find a home
for cats they can no longer care for. If you haven’t
already thought of what would happen to your animals if you
were suddenly gone, please think about it now. We never know
when our situation may change, no matter how old we are and
there may be little time to prepare or find a home for your
companion animals. Friends or family members may not be able
to adopt them, no matter how much they know you love them.
So please make it your New Year's resolution: find a guardian
you trust, so your furry friends will be cared for if you
no longer can. |
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Sushi’s
Story...One day we
got a call from two advoCATS volunteers who were helping a
woman place her mother’s declawed cat named Sushi. Here
at Starfire we have adopted many advoCATS. We’re more
than full up and have been for a number of years, so we said
as much and suggested as many alternatives as we could think
of in placing the cat.
The mother had lived on the Big Island for many years, but
had to go into retirement living. Mom had adopted a dog and
a stray kitty who showed up on her doorstep in 2000. Mom brought
the cat in as an indoor cat and had her declawed. After her
mother went into the care home, the daughter stayed on to
tend to the home and care for the dog and cat for awhile,
but then had to go back to the mainland. She could take the
dog with her, but she just wasn’t set up for an indoor
cat. She told us she was happy to provide funds for Sushi’s
food and medical care. How could we say no?
When we brought her home we discovered she
wasn’t keen on being with other cats, although she was
fine with the dogs. So our plans to keep her with the other
cats flew out the window. |
| We decided
to let her make our office her home and she took over the
daybed, office chair and windowsill. She gained weight and
started coming around to be petted, twizzling ankles and letting
us know when her food bowl was empty. She discovered an empty
shelf in one of the bookcases and appropriated it for afternoon
naps. Next thing, she started making herself known, walking
all over the computer keyboard, laying on the paperwork we
need to work with and sitting in front of the monitor.
Our hats are off to her previous guardian and the advoCATS
volunteers who worked so diligently to find her a forever
home. Our sincere appreciation to her previous guardian who
sends a check every month to cover her food and medical costs.
Sushi is a sweetie and she is enriching our home and lives.
She’s only nine, so we look forward to many more years
of her company.
So why are we sharing Sushi’s story? We’d like
everyone who reads this story to think about whether they
have made plans for their companion animals in times of personal
and family change. Should age, ill health, family crisis or
financial crisis arise, are there alternatives available for
your faithful companions? Have arrangements been made for
them? With whom, for how long? How will their care be funded?
It’s important to make arrangements before a crisis
arises. Things to consider; animals age, health, medications,
temperament, socialization, stress level in new situations,
ability to live in harmony with same and other species. Other
considerations: live release rate from local animal control
or humane societies (in some areas only 20% or fewer animals
that are turned in find a new home), willingness of friends
or family to commit to offering your companions either temporary
or permanent homes, costs of taking animals with you to a
new geographical location.
Our companion animals are always there for us. It’s
only right that we be there for them in good and not-so-good
times. Please plan ahead for them; as in all other things,
they can’t do it for themselves. Mahalo. ~ Torun
Almer, Starfire Companion Animal Sanctuary & advoCATS
Volunteer |
Advantages
of Adopting an Older Kitty |
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Kittens
are certainly irresistible, but any animal lover who has been
a guardian to an older cat knows that teenage or adult cats
are just as much fun.
Many times people are taken in by the adorable look of a kitten,
but older animals have a defined personality, making it easier
to find the perfect match in a furry companion. For the person
who has limited time, a cat past their rambunctious kitten
stage might be best.
Adopting an older pet means that you are willing to give them
another chance to have a home and to be a part of a family.
It also makes a difference in reducing pet overpopulation
and can make a major difference in the community and the life
of an older cat who doesn’t have as much opportunity
to be adopted as a kitten.
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Foster
Kitties For Adoption |
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Bailey, on the left, came
from a family who moved and couldn't take him with them.
He's neutered, of course. He's on the shy side but will
come around when he gets to know his new family and bond
with them. Bucky, on the right, is more
outgoing and a real cook's helper, sometimes putting his
nose right in the batter to make sure you haven't forgotten
any ingredients. He too, is neutered. Bailey was born in
March of 2009 and Bucky in May of 2009.
Contact Jan in Waikoloa about Bailey or Bucky:
phone: 883-3783 or Email: jabbott676@aol.com
To see more of Jan's Kittens go to her web site:
http://bigislandkittens.com
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Oriana
(Orange Ana) was an abandoned kitty who was totally alone
in the big wide world. She was found and put into foster care
immediately. She adjusted quickly to home life and soon wanted
to be on someone’s lap. She has a beautiful orange tabby
coat, is about 6 moths old and is spayed and vaccinated. She
is well mannered and has immaculate habits.
Contact Nancy in Kailua about the 5 kittens above.
Phone: 329-4337 or Email: nhitz@hawaii.rr.com
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Trip
is an adult brown tabby who would prefer to be
an "only child" or be around other kitties she can
boss around. She loves a good scratching, but prefers to be
on her own 4 feet when getting loved. Trip was left with foster
mom Jennifer when her mommy moved to the mainland, and misses
the one on one attention of a loving guardian. She tested
negative for feline leukemia and FIV, and has been vaccinated.
Her previous guardian thought she wasn't spayed, but even
with exposure to other cats, she's never produced kittens.
(Actually, her previous guardian thought she was a tom!)
To see Trip contact Jennifer in Ocean View: Phone:
929-9606 or Email: catlady2004ster@gmail.com
See more of Jennifer's Kittens on her web site: http://home.roadrunner.com/~bigislandkitties/
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See More Cats & Kittens
For Adoption on: www.advocatshawaii.org/Animals-For-Adoption.html
Treasurer’s
Report for 2009 |
| Income:
Donations - $55,210
Grants - $13,500
County of Hawaii - $4,000
Garage sales, Craigslist, eBay - $12,770
Recycling - $1,711
Other fundraising - $3,384
Interest & dividends - $85
Total Income: $90,660 |
Expenses:
Veterinarians - Spay/Neuter - $53,196
Spay/Neuter clinics - $3,979
Veterinarians - other services - $1,555
Sanctuaries - $2,342
Cat traps - $8,468
Microchips and scanner - $1,414
Food Bank - $78
Newsletter - $637
Printing & postage - $276
Telephone - $350
Advertising - $451
Memberships & other fees - $606
Fundraising expenses - $201
Other misc expenses - $373
Taxes - $347
Total Expenses, $74,273
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Over
95% of the money we spend goes directly to help the cats;
Less than 5% goes to "administrative" expenses. |
advoCATS Receives
5 Grant$ For
Spay/Neuter Program
We received $10,000 from PetSmart
Charities®. PetSmart Charities, Inc. is an
independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that creates
and supports programs that save the lives of homeless pets,
raise awareness of companion animal welfare issues, and
promote healthy relationships between people and pets. Since
1994, PetSmart Charities has funded more than $88 million
in grants and programs benefiting animal welfare organizations
and, through its in-store pet adoption program, has helped
to save the lives of more than 3.8 million pets. To learn
more about how PetSmart Charities is working to help find
a lifelong, loving home for every pet,
visit www.petsmartcharities.org
or call 1-800-423-PETS.
Another $500 came from Young Brothers/Hawaiian
Tug & Barge.
These are the folks who ship goods via barge between Honolulu
and the neighbor islands.
Then we received two $1,000 grants from
the J. Orin and Charlene Edson Fund
of the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Another $1,000 came from the Terri
and Gray Levy Charitable Fund at the Community
Foundation of Western Nevada.
Finally, a $1,540 came from a donor-advised
fund that wishes to remain anonymous.
Mahalo Nui Loa to each of these foundations for choosing
advoCATS as a recipient of their grant programs!
advoCATS had another
record year in 2009: 1,524 Spay & Neuters!
And we couldn't have
done it without YOU!
Have You
Seen Us On TV?
Recently advoCATS president Cathy
Swedelius and board member/foster mom Nancy Hitzemann
filmed a segment of “Big Island Speaks Out”
which aired on public access television Channel 54.
During the segment, which lasted approximately 15
minutes, Cathy and Nancy discussed our TNR and foster
program, as well as showcasing several kittens available
for adoption.
Cathy also appeared in a 15-second ad that was donated
by and ran on KLEI TV Channel 6. Mahalo to KLEI TV
and to Shannon Lee for arranging the donation.
Frank
and Ernest by Bob Thaves |
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Dear advoCATS,
My husband, daughter and I got a cat, "Lucy,"
from your foster mom Cathy Swedelius. Lucy warmed up to us
nicely and is doing great! Our daughter, Hanna loves her very
much. Hanna was going through a lot at the time, because of
our recent move. We even considered taking her to counseling.
We believe that she found a new joy with Lucy and got through
it. Now she enjoys her life and school. Thank you so much
for all your help. Taeko Wagler
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Aloha,
My wife and I just returned home from a week's stay at the
Hilton in Waikoloa and we wanted to say thank you for the
care and concern that you provide for the cats there. We were
missing our cats and it was a pleasure to see these well cared
for and friendly cats. The cats will be the reason that we
go back there.
There was one small orange male that befriended us and will
be in our memories for quite some time. I am attaching a picture
of the little orange cat my wife called Mahalo. He was just
the sweetest little guy and he added immensely to our stay
at the Hilton.
Please keep up this great work, and let us know where we send
a Christmas donation to.
Mahalo, Pat and Lou La Salle |
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Aloha advoCATS,
Sometimes new friends, or should I say new “fur-iends,”
magically appear. While vacationing at Wyndham’s Kona
Hawaiian Resort recently, my husband and I came “home”
from the beach the first day to find a friendly gray &
white tuxedo kitty sitting on the steps awaiting our arrival.
Being cat lovers and missing our own two furry ones terribly,
we were delighted at such a welcome and quickly rummaged through
our refrigerator to find a thank-you treat! With every bite,
our little welcoming committee member looked over her shoulder
as if waiting for someone else, a littermate we guessed. And
right we were! It wasn’t long before her twin, a gorgeous
black & white tuxedo cat, joined her—and that was
just the beginning. |
For nine
days in a row our new feline “fur-iend,” Mr. Tux
as we named him, was waiting for us when we returned from
our day’s activities. And, after his evening dinner
each night, he loyally slept on the mat in front of our door
all night long. We know because we got up several times each
night, tiptoed across our lanai, and peeked around the corner
to see if he was still at the door! And sure enough! Accordingly,
he got to eat breakfast with us each morning as well. (Somehow
we kept finding cat food in our grocery bags!) His gray &
white tuxedo twin never returned; however, it seems she had
done her job by introducing us to Mr. Tux.
Since we were married in Kona in 2000 and have vacationed
in Hawaii every year since, we had learned a lot about the
numerous abandoned & homeless cats in the Hawaiian Islands.
We knew that advoCATS volunteers work closely w/ local vets
to feed, trap, spay/neuter, & return kitties to keep populations
healthy and under control on the Big Island. What we didn’t
know is that Wyndham staff members also help by providing
cat food at various feeding stations located on the perimeter
of this beautiful resort. As a result, a few furry ones like
Mr. Tux are able to befriend cat-loving guests like us, while
more timid felines don’t bother visitors who aren’t
so fond of cats. Because of Mr. Tux’s loyalty, my husband
and I have a new kitty “fur-iend” and several
new kitty-loving human friends as well. Since we also have
a small business creating greeting cards for cat lovers: www.kacykards.com,
many of which we donate for fund-raising events, we are now
creating Mr. Tux cards to help our new-found friends in Hawaii
even more. Therefore, we extend a heart-felt thanks to advoCATS
and to Wyndham staff for befriending the furry ones at the
Kona Hawaiian Resort; and a “purr-sonal” thank
you to Mr. Tux for his “fur-iendship” with us.
Although these relationships have unusual origins “purr-haps,”
they are just some of many, many reasons we enjoy being Club
Wyndham members and vacationing in Hawaii. Sincerely,
Vi Towne |
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Elaine Anderson, Anne Barasch, Vincent & Carole Barone,
Christi Jean Bell, Kathryn Bowes, Kathryn Buoncristiani,
Larry & Alysse
Catron, G. Terry Causey, Eugene & LaDonna Clarke, Cozy
LLC/ Denise Stagner & Lorraine Domini, Elizabeth Crooke,
Therese Dudek, Foodland, Janice Fortune, Johanna Gil, Charlotte
Gilman, Robert Gratchner, Frans-Willem & Elizabeth Hendriks,
Alan & Anita Herrmann, Kerry & Marnie Humble, Oliver
& Anne Hutaff, J. Orin & Charlene Edson Fund of
the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole, Rick & Adrienne
Jensen, Sarah Juniper, Piikoi Kawananakoa, William &
Kay Kaye, Kelly's Tree Service/Brian Kelly, James &
Diane Klieforth, Gregory & Judith Koller, Ken &
Lynn Krieger, Carol Krieser, Spencer & Kainoa Lavea,
Susan Levy, Helene Liotta, Coral Mack & Robert Bowman,
Nancy Matthews, Faith May, Lawrence & Janelle McCaffery,
Linda McCollum, Christine Meyer, Lucy Moore & Robert
Gallegos, Lewis & Joan Nichols, Allen Oliphant, Charlys
Randall, Sylvia Reynolds, Cindy Thurston, Irene Tschappat,
Richard & Cindy Von Hagen, Waikoloa Fairways Condominium
Association, Neil Watts & Monica Hiatt, Robert &
Alice Widmann, Clifford & Joan Winston, Herbert Young,
Young Brothers/Hawaiian Tug & Barge.
A special Mahalo to Carolyn and
Bruce Witcher at Witcher Engineering,
for printing our newsletter.
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advoCATS
Receives a Gift of 100 Cat Traps |
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When the
Kawananakoa family in Ocean View heard about our need for
a set of traps for our spay/neuter clinics, they generously
came through for us and for their neighborhood. Ocean View
is an isolated community on the southern tip of the island
with little or no low cost veterinary care and the cat population
has been out of control there for many years. With the help
of the Neuter Scooter and their spay/neuter clinics, we held
3 clinics in 2009 and sterilized over 350 cats from the area.
Previously our volunteers had to collect all the traps from
various locations and haul them to and from Kau to Kona for
the clinics. This was a momentous task in addition to holding
the clinic itself. We needed a set of traps to keep in each
area and the Kawananakoa family gave us a wonderful gift.
What else would a bunch of crazy cat lovers want for Christmas?
100 brand new cat traps arrived just in time for Christmas
and our clinic at the end of January! This also enables us
to take advantage of the Neuter Scooter schedule and hold
clinics in Kau as well as Kona only days apart without having
to leave time to move the traps back and forth. This was a
tremendous benefit to the community of Ocean View, to advoCATS
and especially our island cats.
We can’t thank you enough: Pi`ikoi, Tanya, Kahea and
Jeremiah. |
100 brand new
traps in use at our
January 23, 2010 Ocean View clinic |
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........................In Honor
Of |
"Harley" & "Tasha" from Clifford
& Joan Winston
"Melvin" from Helene Liotta
"Mittens" from Larry Honma
Bev White from The Newtowne Morris Men of Cambridge,
Massachusetts & Bruce Balan
Laverna Holenstein from Ella Mae Cromer, Richard &
Diane Cromer, Richard & Marlene Head, Judy Kocon,
Lawrence & Janelle McCaffery, Dr. Edward &
Jodi Peretti/Amherst Animal Hospital, and Herbert Young
"Ranger" & "Tinker" - Ocean View
colony cats
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"Grandie Jaxson",
"Jeddie Sweet Boy" & "Amazing Grace"
from Johanna Gil
"Kee" from Kathryn Bowes
"Kitsie" from Eugene & LaDonna Clarke
"Mortimer" Burchard from Shirley Poitras
"Speedy" from Linda Holland
The cats at the Hilton Waikoloa Village from Christine Meyer
Angelika, Axel & Astrid Barth from Charlys Randall
Bill May & Susan Landess from Faith May
Doane Triggs from Vincent & Carole Barone
Dr. Gary Ota from Gretchen Watson-Kabei
Evelyn Hurr's birthday from Lewis & Joan Nichols
Gen Griffin from Kevin Ginoza, Kevin Munden & Bonnie Fiebke/Makalei
Golf Club
Jan Abbott from Spencer & Kainoa Lavea
Karen Klein from Roberta Agre
Katie, Sophie & Emily from Robert Gratchner
Margie Wolfe from Linda McCollum
Summyr Widmann from Robert & Alice Widmann |
advoCATS
Fundrai$ing New$ |
Mauna
Lani Festival of Trees
Our advoCATS kitty theme Christmas tree (right) at the Mauna
Lani Bay Hotel’s 16th annual Charity Tree event won
third place and added $500.00 to our spay/neuter
program. Congratulations to the first place winner: North
Kohala Hospital Auxiliary, and the 2nd place winner: Children's
Justice Fund.
Mahalo to Ferol Kolons for organizing this fundraiser and
Jan, Sue, Thalia and Doane for helping and a BIG MAHALO to
all our wonderful supporters who voted for our tree. |
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Ford
Ironman World Championship
This was the fourth year that advoCATS collected HI-5 recycle
containers at the Ironman Awards Banquet. On October 11, 2009,
we exceeded all previous years by collecting $410.
Mahalo to Rosalind Butterfield, Ironman Recycle Coordinator
and to the Ironman organization for allowing us this opportunity,
and also to the hard-working, efficient crew of volunteers:
Linda, Don, Debbie and Bill, Benita, Stephanie, Nancy, Jim,
Maite, Vikki and Hugh, Peter, John and Tim, Forrest and Jayne,
Robert, Margie, and Judy. |
Give Aloha At Foodland
The final results for the Give Aloha program at Foodland
have been released. We received $724
in donations and an additional $185
from Foodland and Western Union.
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Garage Sales and More Garage Sales
AdvoCATS held a "Boutique" sale
on October 24th at the Pines in Kailua with some of our
higher quality donated items which brought in $829.
Thanks to those who organized it and helped out: Judy, Margie,
Linda, Nancy, Cindy, Christy, Ferol, Danny and Solomon.
A BIG MAHALO to Jim and Diane Merriam for the use of their
home for the sale.
Another terrific fundraising event happened in November
when an elderly gentleman who we called George, contacted
us and asked if we would be willing to do a garage sale
at his home, liquidating his furniture and household goods
and split the proceeds. We had previously helped him spay
and neuter his colony of cats and he was very appreciative.
Members went in every day for a week under coordinator Margie
Gilman’s slave driving whip. We sorted, organized,
cleaned and work with George on which things he wanted to
sell. He had a colorful life as a chef in Japan, an art
store owner in San Francisco, a real estate agent, etc.
He loved to talk story and it was hard to get work done.
Finally the weekend of the 7th and 8th arrived and the yard
sale was in motion. People arrived but not in the numbers
we usually get. It was a lucrative weekend but there was
still a lot of work to do. So another garage sale was held
the next weekend on the 14th. Volunteers dropped by when
they could to help with the preparation, setting up and
helping at the sale and break down. In the end we made $2,596.
On November 28 and 29 we held our regular garage sale at
the location off Lako Street and made $2,259.
Mahalo to helpers: Cathy, Christy, Cindy, Linda, Lisa, Margie,
Mike, Peter, Pika, Solomon and Tony.
And a BIG MAHALO to Kathy Vilander for the use of her home
for the sale once again.
Volunteer Judy Kocon also sold a number of donated items
on Craigslist totaling $795.
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Gift
Wrapping at Borders
On December 18 and 19 we wrapped Christmas
presents in the lobby of Borders Books in Kona, with customers
making a donation for the service. Borders even provided the
wrapping paper!
We made $113.
Mahalo to our wrappers: Cindy, Ferol and Margie. |
Crafty Fundrai$ing New$ at Christmas
Craft Fairs |
Christmas
Treasures Craft Fair
With all the fun and unique merchandise donated to our craft
fairs this year, it was no wonder we made $1,228.
for our efforts. The Nov. 27 & 28 in Kailua, made $860.
Mahalo to all our artists and crafters who donated their work:
Delores "Toots" Anderson, Kandice Crusat, Linda
Martz, Rachael Sarasin, Judi Wholman, Mimi Wood and Joann
Young. Mahalo to all our helpers: Brad, Cathy, Jenny, Joann,
Judi and Kandice and a special mahalo to JoAnn Williams who
provided us with the booth. |
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Our
Crafty Table at the Fur Ball
On December 4 we had a table at the Christmas Market section
of the Fur Ball Fundraiser for Rainbow Friends Animal Sanctuary
in Kurtistown. With many interesting items to sell, we made
$140. for our spay/neuter program. Mahalo to Rachael
Sarasin for her beautiful hand painted gourd ornaments which
we sold at both fairs. Mahalo to helpers Ferol, Linda and
Margie. Mahalo to Rainbow Friends who provided us with the
booth at the fair. |
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Ocean
View Craft Fair
Our Dec 12th craft fair table at the Christmas in Ocean View
fair made $228. Mahalo to our artists and
crafter's who donated their work: Delores "Toots"
Anderson, Kandice Crusat, Linda Martz, Rachael Sarasin, Judi
Wholman, Mimi Wood and Joann Young. Mahalo to our helpers:
Joann, Kandice and Rodney. |
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Madonna
and the Summer of Love
Before we know it, we’re going to be into kitten season
and in spite of doing our best to get as many cats spayed
and neutered as possible, kittens come our way.
Last year I had a most unique experience that I still think
about often. A family nearby was feeding feral cats in their
yard and three females became pregnant about the same time,
delivering within days of one another. One cat was more dominant
than the others and she began stealing kittens from the other
moms. When she was trapped and brought to me, she had nine
tiny babies with her that she was caring for. The kittens
had to eat in shifts, as there weren’t enough “faucets”
for them to eat all at once. As the kittens grew in size,
even fewer at a time could squeeze in there because there
wasn’t enough physical space for them.
Having a nursing cat often ensures the survival of other
very young orphans and “Madonna” was more than
willing to take them on, too. She fed and bathed them all.
I started early on supplementing the feedings with Kitten
Replacement Milk, as one cat can’t provide enough nutrition
for that many kittens. At nap times and at night Madonna would
gather all her little charges close to her, keeping them warm
and loved. Every one of them survived and found a home of
their own.
Eventually Madonna called it quits after raising 13 kittens.
She was spayed and returned to her yard where she lives today,
perhaps recalling the “summer of love.” ~ Jan
Abbott, foster mom for advoCATS |
YOU CAN HELP HAWAII’S CATS
advoCATS, Inc. P.O. Box 4415 Kailua Kona Hawaii
96745
advoCATS, Inc. is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization. Donations
are tax deductible.
Print up our donation form and
mail it in. Click
here: Donate
to advoCATS, Give a charitable gift
advoCATS Also Accepts
Donation$ Through Pay Pal
Click
Here: 
It’s easy to make donations to advoCATS
using Pay Pal. You can go to our home page and click on our
Pay Pal donation link, or the click on the link above, or log
on to www.paypal.com and click on “Send Money,”
then enter our email address: advocatshawaii@aol.com. It’s
that easy! You can use your bank account, credit card, or PayPal
balance to make a donation. And what 's really great; you can
use your credit card that enables you to acquire frequent flyer
mileage points. Take a trip and help the kitties! What a way
to go! If you don’t already have a Pay Pal account it
only takes a few minutes to get one. It’s a free and safe
way to make purchases or send donations.
Please email this
newsletter on to a friend
As of January 15, 2010
7802
Cats Have Been Spayed or Neutered Since 1999
Mahalo To All Our Veterinarians and Staff!
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