Meet the Rescues
The Urban Cat Project
Anne Feingold, founder of The Urban Cat Project, does not want to be in the rescue business. She does it because she feels compelled to help the cats that have fallen through the cracks of the local shelter systems.
“The San Francisco SPCA and Animal Care and Control (the city pound) have ultimate responsibility for dealing with this problem of excess and unwanted animals,” she says. If the systems were working, Anne would much rather spend her time on more global animal welfare pursuits, such as ending the use of animals in medical research. But, because the cats need her, she runs a kitty rescue operation and helps as many cats as she can. Photos of former rescued and now adopted cats line two walls of the cat quarters in her back yard.
As you might expect of someone working in animal welfare, each of her own cats has a colorful background. Checkers traveled with her from Israel to San Francisco, a 30-hour journey including 20 hours in the baggage compartment because he was too big to fit in the cramped area under an airline seat. Ginger, a beautiful redhead, was labeled as "vicious and dangerous" by ACC, but purred contentedly while I petted her. Anne actually had to sign an indemnification form on her, so that ACC would be absolved of any lawsuit. Ginger is Anne's "Little Perfect Girl," loves to be held and sleeps on top of Anne at night. Herbie was up for adoption at the Berkeley Animal Services, despite the fact that he was surrendered by his former owner for biting and spraying.
This brings up a point Anne feels very strongly about. Why do the SF SPCA and ACC make the decision as to which cats are adoptable instead of letting the public decide, as the Berkeley shelter does? Other than the very, very vicious and the very, very sick, the majority of cats should be available so the public can decide.
In fact, animals are screened for behavioral issues by the SF SPCA and ACC and those deemed "un-adoptable" are those very cats that Anne and others rescue. The vast majority of those "un-adoptable" cats find good homes through rescue efforts and are subsequently praised by their grateful new owners as being wonderful cats. Would more animals’ lives be saved if the public were able to make the decision as to who is and is not adoptable?
The Urban Cat Project is a registered non-profit organization. Anne holds two fund raising efforts each year, one at the UCSF Holiday Craft fair and the other at Pet Pride Day. She welcomes donations and volunteers on weekends and evenings to help care for and socialize her rescued cats. Please contact Anne via her The Urban Cat Project website if you are interested in helping out.
One at a Time Rescue
One at a Time Rescue began in 2001 by Jen Richardson, a former San Francisco Animal Care and Control Officer. After Seizing animals from horrific abuse and neglect situations, it did not seem fair to her that many of these animals would then be declined to be put up for adoption by Animal Care and Control as well as the SF SPCA and were instead, put to sleep. The legal holding period for most animals in shelters is just five days. After that, if they can't pass a difficult behavior and medical exam, they won't go up for adoption. Jen realized that for some of these animals, five days was not nearly enough and they deserved a second chance. Eventually, she resigned her position with the city to take on the non-profit full force. One At A Time Rescue has rescued and adopted out hundreds of animals, primarily dogs, who otherwise would not have lived. Jen's motto is, "We cannot save them all, but 'one at a time' we are making a difference." Please visit their website for more information:
Give Me Shelter
San Francisco's largest cat rescue organization's Mission is:
Every day in the Bay Area adult and senior cats with treatable medical and behavior conditions are euthanized. GIVE ME SHELTER's goal is to rescue these cats from certain death and place them into loving permanent homes.
GMS, a registered 510(c)3 organization, is dedicated to helping stop the overpopulation of unwanted and abandoned cats. They are a small group of dedicated volunteers who are committed to bettering the life of adult cats who no longer have a home to call their own. They open up their homes and hearts to rescued felines, providing them with unconditional love and a second chance at a happy and long life.
Give Me Shelter works very closely with many shelters here in the Bay Area as well as working to help stop the overpopulation of feral cats. The organization is completely run on the generosity and commitment of volunteers.
Every time you adopt from Give Me Shelter, you allow them to save another cat that would have otherwise died. New cats are received into their system almost every week. The website is constantly updated, so please check back often!
Check the web site at:
http://www.givemesheltersf.org
