by Jackie Dale
Jackie is a part of Cat House On The Kings in Parlier and does a monthly column on the Cat House here at KRL.
In just over a month it will be time for our Spring Open House. We are still in need of donations, big or small, we need it all. Don’t assume your donation might be too small. Seriously, even small items can be paired up with other items to make a gift basket. You can even “re-gift” a present you received but don’t need or want. We won’t tell. The kitties are great at being discreet. The bottom line is that the silent auction is a big fundraiser for us. We are counting on you for those donations. I am sending out a special challenge to all you crafty people out there. In my opinion, many hand-crafters seriously underestimate their talents. Donate something and not only do you get a tax deduction, but you get a little free publicity too. It’s a win-win for everyone!
Don’t forget about the quilt raffle! A chance to win a one-of-a-kind, handmade quilt is only $1 per ticket. 559-638-0030
The Newsletter is Out!
Our spring newsletter is out and I hope you take a moment to read it. It was a bit late coming out despite the fact that I started on it earlier than usual. Sometimes stuff happens that you can’t control. Sometimes mistakes are made, and they need to be rectified. One couple was the subject of a series of ‘oopsies.’ Newlyweds from San Diego, Ron and Barbara Bartleet, recently came to The Cat House on the Kings for their honeymoon. We used their picture in the newsletter, but put the wrong names underneath it. As soon as we were notified, we scrambled to correct the mistake. Fortunately the hard copy had not yet gone to print, and the web version could be corrected. So we did. Except the email I received from the bride still listed her maiden name. Well, that was another faux pas. I should have waited for the reply to my confirmation email. We sincerely apologize for these errors and any confusion it may have caused.
I would also like to take a moment to thank our Webmaster, Ivor Durham, for volunteering his time and expertise to proofread the newsletters; and for putting up with temperamental writers.
Speaking of volunteers, we still need volunteers for the Open House too. You can choose the morning or the afternoon shift. Of course, if you want to volunteer for both shifts, we won’t stop you! Please contact Tammy Barker at tammy@cathouseonthekings[dot]com if you have a donation or wish to volunteer.
S.H.A.R.E.S.
Beginning Friday, April 1, you will no longer be able to use your S.H.A.R.E.S card. We will still have the program, but they are streamlining the process and using eScrip to mange the program. The sign up process is simple. You start by going to www.savemart.com/shares. The registration is quick and easy. During the registration you will be asked to select a benefit organization. Of course you will choose The Cat House on the Kings. Be sure to put in “The” before Cat House on the Kings because if you don’t, it won’t find us. You have the option to link the account to your store rewards card or to use your phone number. You can also choose to link the S.H.A.R.E.S. to the debit or credit card you usually use to purchase groceries. Whatever method you decide to use, we will still get the donation every time you shop at SaveMart, Smart Foods, Food Maxx, or Lucky grocery stores. Everybody has to buy food, right? Now you don’t have to remember to use your S.H.A.R.E.S. card and one less card in your wallet. Yay!
Mannie says, Sign up for the new & improved S.H.A.R.E.S program!
Shelter Challenge & Miscellaneous News
The Animal Rescue Site has launched its 2016 Shelter Challenge, “Put A Spring In Your Step.” Vote once daily until Sunday, April 10, to help us win grant money to feed all these hungry kitties. It literally only takes a minute. You always come through for us, and I’m certain this time will be no different. Thank You!!! www.shelterchallenge.com
Lynea continues to be inundated with media requests for interviews and filming. She has professed to not liking being “famous,” but realizes that it goes along with the territory. Publicity means donations, and the bottom line is that in order to keep The Cat House on the Kings up and running, we need donations. The Associated Press and YouTube have both been out to The Cat House this month. The AP is about as big as it gets, and we are excited to see their completed piece on The Cat House. Remember you can always catch up on the latest media coverage by going to The Cat House website and clicking on the news link.
You may have noticed that we now have over 1 million followers on Facebook. To be exact, at last count the number was 1,116,869. That is A LOT of people, and we are extremely grateful to have so many people following us. Many thanks go to our Facebook administrator who tirelessly works many hours behind the scenes to keep the page running smoothly.
TNR Updates
It has been a slow month for TNR due to a combination of rainy weather and the vet being on vacation. My Selma colony is in jeopardy as construction on the vacant lot begins. I was horrified to arrive to feed only to see the bushes the cats call home being ripped out. I spoke to the owner who was sympathetic, but we both knew there wasn’t much that could be done. I knew this day would come eventually. So a portion of their home will remain for about two months. During that time I have already begun the process of moving them. I will try to accomplish this by providing an additional feeding station at the closest safe spot. I will continue this process slowly moving the station farther and farther until it is near the back of the Walmart which is very large. There is an adjacent field, some shelter, and relatively little traffic. Once the rest of their home is removed, they will have no choice but to find other accommodations.
Selma cats
We recently received the kind of call that TNR people wish every call were like. The post office in a nearby town has requested a TNR project be done on a small colony of 5-6 cats. Several other nearby businesses have agreed to split the cost out of their own pockets. So refreshing to gets this kind of call.
Another post office I dealt with is not so on board, ordering the feeder to stop feeding the one cat there. We actually trapped this cat and relocated it about a mile away. We were shocked to see that it had made its way back to the post office. We try to explain that the cats aren’t there because they are being fed; they are being fed because someone noticed they were there. Halting a supplemental food supply isn’t going to make them disappear.
Fowler siblings have been placed in homes!
Wrapping It Up
In my next column I hope to write about the flood of donations that have come in for the silent auction. Please remember to vote in the Shelter Challenge, and also consider purchasing some raffle tickets for the quilt! So many kitties are depending on us; let’s not let them down. One last thing before I go. We had a cat come in that was chipped, but the phone was disconnected. If you move, and you love your pet, please, please, please, remember to update the information on your pet’s microchip!
Check out more animal rescue & pet related articles, including more Cat House columns, in our Pet Perspective section and remember that if you buy an ad in KRL you can designate 10% of the ad price to go to the Cat House.
Bless you Jackie, and thank you.
Hi Jackie, Thank you for your article! We are fairly certain that Mannie is our cat, Luke, who we surrendered to the Cat House this past February 2016 from the SF bay area. We miss him a lot, and are thrilled to see Luke (Mannie) in your column. He looks very content. By chance, do you know anything about Mannie while he has been at the Cat House? We plan to visit him one of these days. Kathi and Dane