2011 Annual Report

Founded on July 1, 2003, FieldHaven Feline Rescue remains focused on the rescue of cats and kittens and providing shelter, adoptions, community education, and feral cat spay/neuter assistance to our community.

FieldHaven’s shelter facility is located on a privately owned horse ranch in rural Lincoln, California. What once was an old mobile home is now a state of the art shelter designed specifically for shelter cats with the assistance of UC Davis Shelter Koret Medicine Program.

Cause for Celebration

In its eighth year of operation, FieldHaven has many reasons to be thankful. Among some of the numerous accomplishments are receiving the Best of the Best Lincoln’s Non-Profit for the fourth year in a row, the ribbon cutting ceremony for our new shelter, and hosting the 3^rd annual Classics, Cats & Cabernet fundraiser.

We also established new providers for our Spay/Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP) and supplied community education programs. Four-hundred-and-ninety-five (495) cats were spayed and/or neutered with our SNAP funding. Trap, Neuter, Return (TNR) helped caregivers of several feral colonies, totally at one-thirty-one (131) cats. Fifteen Rescue Rebates were submitted to Placer SPCA by FieldHaven adopters. Most proudly, the new shelter was paid for in full by the end of 2011.

When FieldHaven hosted its first Ribbon Cutting Ceremony in September 2003, we had no idea that in just eight years later, we would be hosting a second celebration. On April 7, 2011, FieldHaven and the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce performed an official Ribbon Cutting Ceremony to open the new shelter for business. Volunteers and supporters alike toured the new facility and enjoyed refreshments.

Making the News

Shelter Medicine Times: The ASV Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters note that poor cat housing is one of the greatest shortcomings observed in shelters. To remedy this, FieldHaven asked the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program to help design a facility optimized for the comfort of the animals being housed there. They were excited to get to work, eagerly drafting a design meeting all of the guidelines for care and then some.

Two years later, the dream has turned into a reality, complete with group and individual housing, a medical treatment suite, quarantine rooms, an adoption center, an office, a central gathering space, and even laundry and restroom facilities. The total price tag for the building came to around $195,000 for a turn-key facility.

To learn more about the “cutest little cat shelter in the west” or for design consultation services, contact [email protected]

Propane Fire in Lincoln: FieldHaven Feline Rescue was called in on August 24, 2011 to assist in caring for pets displaced by the mandatory evacuations following the propane fire in the city of Lincoln. Noah’s Wish, a disaster relief organization dedicated to setup up shelter facilities to house the pets of people displaced by disaster, contacted FieldHaven for assistance.

FieldHaven provided shelter to a number of pets during the evacuation order. We are happy to announce all of our temporary residents have made it back home safe and sound after the evacuation was lifted.

Sacramento Press: FieldHaven’s “Ursula” is Pet of the Month in Sacramento Magazine Online in June 2011.

With the cats snugly tucked into their suites and the ribbon official cut, the 3^rd Annual Classics, Cats & Cabernet fundraising event held on June 18 featured the grand opening of the shelter.

John Schafer, proprietor of the Mark Twain Saloon in Virginia City, was the Master of Ceremonies and helped set the tone for the fun festivities, which included a classic car and boat show, live and silent auctions, live entertainment, food, drinks, and a FieldHaven wine glass to keep as a memento.

The event sponsors, our generous donors, and all who attended helped FieldHaven raise $35,000. The proceeds went towards the final shelter payments. All together, the capital campaign shelter fund raised $195,000 and the final payment was made by the end of 2011.

A special “thank you” was sent to all of our sponsors, partners, photographers, and the volunteers who work so hard to pull off such a spectacular event. We had record attendance. Everyone had a great time.

FieldHaven hosted a community education event sponsored by Merial Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Tori Idart, Merial technical services veterinarian, did a presentation on vaccines and discussed recombinant technology, as well as the AAFP feline vaccine guidelines for shelter and pet cats.

Is Your Cat Receiving Adjuvanted Vaccines?

Vaccines with adjuvants (substances containing aluminum, added to vaccines to increase the body’s immune response) have been implicated in the development of vaccine-associated sarcomas (VAS) in cats.

FieldHaven has been using non-adjuvanted vaccines for years, but there are many veterinarians who still use them. The World Health Organization classified veterinary vaccine adjuvants as a class 3 carcinogen. Class 4 is the highest risk. Next time you visit your veterinarian, ask about non-adjuvanted vaccines.

Rebates for Rescues

FieldHaven and Placer SPCA teamed up to offer a great deal on adoptions of adult cats. The Rebates for Rescues program refunded the adoption fee for eligible cats up to $89. It was a limited-time offer on adult cats only. In 2011, fifteen cats and their new families participated in the program.

Feline Frenzy

In an effort to find even more forever homes for adult cats, FieldHaven ran its own cat adoption campaign: Feline Frenzy. FieldHaven ran the promotion from August through the end of December, where the adoption fee for all cats was $50. Adoptions took place at the new shelter or one of our partner adoption outreach venues, such as PetSmart Lincoln, PetSmart Roseville, or Petco Rocklin.

All FieldHaven Adoption Fees Include:

• Spaying/neutering
• Vaccines
• Flea treatment
• Worming
• Microchip
• Veterinary visit
• Two-week supply of food
• Special pet insurance rates

The Gift That Keeps On Giving

The custom commemorative bricks sitting proudly in FieldHaven’s beautiful courtyard under a majestic oak tree are a fundraising item available for purchase. These bricks, which won’t wear out or go out of style, are used to memorialize special people or pets, recognize someone special, or serve as a “thank you” and make great birthday gifts or “just because” presents. Proceeds from each brick help pave the way to a better life for all homeless cats and kittens at FieldHaven.

Purrfectly Pink Campaign

One of FieldHaven’s star adoptable cats, Pink, lent her paw in the fight to end breast cancer. In October (Breast Cancer Awareness month), a campaign was launched to raise funds for breast cancer research. Pink became the FieldHaven spokescat, asking the community to donate to FieldHaven. For donations received during the month of October, 10% was donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Donor support raised $2,350 for FieldHaven and $235 was presented to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

Workplace Giving

Many companies have a matching gift program and will match employee donations made to nonprofit organizations of the employee’s choice. Each year, FieldHaven receives operating funds through workplace giving.

Donors are encouraged to motivate management to establish a matching gift program if one is not already in existence.

Adoption Challenged Program

Cats who, for one or more reasons, are not considered “highly” adoptable are deemed “adoption challenged.” Some examples include cats with missing limbs, have tested FIV positive, are a bit too shy or playful, or are seniors.

Once a cat is designated as adoption challenged, FieldHaven’s efforts go into marketing him or her into an appropriate home. We utilize social media to reach out to potential adopters. Special incentives may be offered, such as limited follow-up care or reduced adoption fees.

Barn Cat Program

Barn cats are one of FieldHaven’s specialties and a true life-saving endeavor. We work with Placer County Animal Services (PCAS) and very often pull feral cats scheduled for euthanasia to become a Rodent Raider, providing them with a second chance at a good life.

All cats are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and given a general health exam. The adopting caregiver is educated on proper imprinting to assume the success of the cat’s acclimation to its new environment.

Rodents are controlled in a safe and natural way to rid of pests, free of pesticides and/or traps. Some of the cats available for our barn homes come from our Trap, Neuter, Return (TNR) team’s efforts. Not all “barn homes” are actual barns: often, these cats find homes at local wineries, equestrian centers, nurseries, and orchards.

The reduction in barn cat placement this year (25 placed in 2011 vs. 48 placed in 2010) is a reflection of the success of both the Spay/Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP) and Trap, Neuter, Return efforts made throughout the community of Lincoln.

Our Barn Cat Program motto is “Go Green with a Green-Eyed Rodent Raider!”

Community/Cat Assistance Team (CAT)

FieldHaven offers a comprehensive approach to the dozens of calls and emails we receive each day. Our Community/Cat Assistance Team (CAT) volunteers answer every inquiry from our community, whether by phone, email, or in-person. In short, we give our human friends the info they need to deal with every conceivable cat issue.

The Community/Cat Assistance Team will also direct individuals to the resource library on our website, which contains a plethora of articles allowing people to help find answers for themselves and their cats.

Like many rescue groups or shelters, FieldHaven does have a maximum capacity of cats it can adequately care for at any given time. The capacity formula is based on a management system including the number of paid staff, medical needs and protocols, cat sociability, and operating funds.

At the end of 2011, FieldHaven’s capacity is sixty-five (65) at the shelter and in foster homes. It is the number enabling us to best care for every one of our cats. With such a small number to work with at any given time, CAT can offer creative and useful solutions vital to our community.

Foster Care Program

Fostering means taking kittens or cats into your home and caring for them until they are ready for adoption. Our foster care program is vital to saving lives. Taking cats or kittens into foster care gives them an opportunity to be socialized. Beyond socializing, FieldHaven’s foster families were instrumental in the building of the new shelter.

Cats housed in the old shelter needed to be moved to allow for the old building to come down to make way for the construction of the new one. FieldHaven needed to continue business as usual, and most of the cats went into foster homes for the nearly nine months of construction.

One of the great benefits of foster care is the one-on-one attention the cats receive. Through our internet-based shelter management system, each cat’s health and individual personality traits are recorded, thus allowing FieldHaven to better match the cats with their best “forever” home.

These are some of the ways you can help FieldHaven:

• Animal health care assistant
• Adoption counselor
• Adoption follow-up calls
• Cat care
• Cat socializer
• Education outreach
• Event support
• Fostering
• Fundraising
• Marketing support and media relations
• Phone support
• Promoting mature or adoption challenged cats
• Spay/neuter and/or medical transportation
• Trap, Neuter, Return (TNR) team

Outreach and Education

Every program provided by FieldHaven is a piece in the puzzle of fulfilling our mission statement. There is no program more dedicated to our mission than our Outreach and Education activities.

While in appearance, our booth may look as if we’re simply asking for donations and handing out pieces of paper, it is much more involved. Every program offered by FieldHaven is represented. The events are usually staffed by members of the Community/Cat Assistance Team (CAT), who are able to answer on-the-spot questions, concerns, and provide practical advice.

At each event, dozens of Spay/Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP) and volunteer brochures are handed out to individuals interested in the programs. Often, a FieldHaven adoptable cat will accompany the outreach volunteers and proudly represent the many lives saved. There is usually a donation jar present to accept community donations and support.

Spay/Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP)

FieldHaven’s Spay/Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP) is instrumental in supporting our mission to educate our community on responsible pet ownership. Grant funding, donor support, and a network of veterinarian partners make it possible to provide spay/neuter surgeries to low-income families, caretakers of feral colonies, and members of the community independently rescuing stray and/or abandoned cats.

In 2011, FieldHaven was fortunate to expand the Spay/Neuter Assistance Program to involve more of our community’s veterinarians and vet clinics. The program serves the Placer County area and other locations, as funds are available. Funding covers spay or neuter surgery, FVRCP and rabies vaccines, and ear tipping.

The reduction in SNAP cats in 2011 is a reflection of the success of the Spay/Neuter Assistance Program, Trap, Neuter, Return (TNR) efforts, and education provided to the community throughout FieldHaven’s years in Lincoln.

We recognize and thank the following Spay/Neuter Assistance Program partners:

• Auburn Spay & Neuter Clinic
• Douglas Blvd. Veterinary Clinic
• Petco Foundation
• Placer County Animal Trust Fund
• West Roseville Veterinary Hospital
• VCA Loomis Basin Veterinary Clinic

Sponsor Me Program

The Sponsor Me Program was created to focus on the support of all cats, including special needs cats. The program focuses on several designated “sponsor” cats, but funds are used to support all felines at FieldHaven.

This program was started in 2008, with Hot Rod as the first sponsor cat. Sponsor cats are kitties with a health issue requiring additional resources for medicine and care and thus, have a lowered chance of being adopted.

Because FieldHaven will care for them for the rest of their lives if they are not adopted, we turn to donors who will help support their care with monthly donations. Sponsors donate a minimum of ten dollars a month to support a cat with special needs.

Trap, Neuter, Return (TNR) Program

Feral cats are members of the domestic cat species, but are not socialized to humans and are therefore considered unadoptable. Traditionally, an animal control agency’s approach to feral cats is to catch and kill. Once the cats are removed from a territory, new unaltered cats move in to take the spot of the newly removed cat resources and breed, thus creating an endless, costly cycle.

Trap, Neuter, Return (TNR) is an effective and humane way to stabilize feral cat populations. FieldHaven’s TNR teams assist the community with feral colonies by educating feral colony caregivers, assisting in large TNR projects, and providing the necessary spay/neuter and vaccination opportunities through our Spay/Neuter Assistance Program to keep feral colonies healthy.

Kittens and socialized cats (cats who are friendly to humans) are placed in loving homes or become excellent “Rodent Raiders” under our Barn Cat program.

Benefits of a TNR program include:

1. Stabilization of the colony population by stopping litters of unwanted kittens from being born each year.
2. Reduction of unwanted behaviors associated with mating, such as yowling, fighting, spraying, and roaming.

Volunteer Program

Volunteers help us expand our resources and enable FieldHaven to accomplish more in our rescue and adoption services. No amount of time is too little and no job is too small. Every cat coming or going from FieldHaven is affected by each and every volunteer in one way or another. Volunteers provide nearly every physical need to the cats in our care, from basic food, water, shelter, and medical care to socialization, grooming, transportation, fundraising, and shelter care.

It is a full-time, 24/7 operation, going on every day of the year. Volunteers freely give their time, talents, and love. In return, we make every effort to acknowledge and celebrate our volunteers through our Volunteer of the Month and Volunteer of the Year recognitions.

While most volunteers come to FieldHaven with eager anticipation of making a difference in the lives of others, there are a select few that come to the “Haven” in the hopes FieldHaven can make a difference in their lives.

For instance, our partners Aim Higher Adult Disability Services and Southside Art Center, mentally challenged and handicapped individuals come to FieldHaven each week with a mentor to help us care for cats.

FieldHaven Volunteer Honored

FieldHaven volunteer Lorraine Davis (right) and her friend Rosalind Goldenberg (left) were presented with the 2011 Lily Hero Award by the Placer SPCA on April 29, 2011 for the work they do in helping manage a local community feral colony. The care and maintenance of this colony is a wonderful example of how Trap, Neuter, Return (TNR) programs can assist communities by controlling cat populations, improving the quality of life for ferals while providing “green” rodent control, and returning healthier, vaccinated cats that can safely co-exist with the local community.

*This is a partial, unaudited presentation of the financial statements of FieldHaven Feline Rescue. The entire financial statements are available upon request.

“I could go on and on about the loving relationship Jacquo-Baire, AKA Homer, and I have developed, but what I really want to share is not just the relationship and bond we have formed, but the love that was found in a place where it may not have been expected.”

A generous donor provided the seed money for FieldHaven to start a fund to help cats with special needs in late 2010. The Tenth Life Club (TLC) Fund provides life-saving veterinary care for cats who would otherwise likely be euthanized.

In 2011, we provided care to several cats using Tenth Life Club funds. The following is a story of one extraordinary situation which FieldHaven volunteers, using these generous donations and partner veterinarians, provided a Tenth Life to a very special cat.

Saving Special Needs Cats, One at a Time

It was a normal day at Cindy Hagman’s country home, or so she thought, when she heard a commotion outside. She found Oscar, an emaciated cat with a mangled hind leg, starving and desperately fighting her household cats for their food. He looked so awful that she and her husband initially thought it would be best to “put him out of his misery.” However, they saw something that made them think twice: the cat came up on their porch to eat from their cats’ bowl.

Starving, his need for food overcame his fear of her other cats. He valiantly dragged himself up to their food bowl. As soon as Cindy approached him, he rolled over for a tummy rub and began to purr in spite of his condition.

Suzy and Dreifuss (formerly Oscar)

She knew she couldn’t take in another pet, but she remembered FieldHaven Feline Rescue in Lincoln from when they assisted her with the spay of her kitten through the Spay/Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP). Knowing FieldHaven is a shelter with a dedicated staff and a team of volunteers who devote their time to caring for felines who have been abandoned or abused, she felt FieldHaven would give him a chance for the happy life he fought for.

Oscar went directly from FieldHaven to one of our partner vets, Banfield at PetSmart Lincoln, where he spent the next several weeks. The fractured leg became the most easily remedied problem. With a high amount of nerve damage and the fracture being so old, amputation was the best solution. Surgery was a success, but Oscar’s overall general condition was so debilitated, it complicated his recovery. His skin was so frail from a chronic case of flea anemia that the sutures would not hold.

Once Banfield had his general health stabilized, he was transferred to FieldHaven’s state-of-the-art shelter to receive postoperative medical care, plenty of food, and most of all, love. Oscar became the first official resident of the new shelter, moving in before completion. The new shelter’s corridor was perfect for Oscar to practice walking on three legs and building up his muscles and strength. Volunteers eagerly took a crash course in kitty physical therapy and monitored his daily exercise.

Oscar has such an incredible personality, it was easy to fall in love with him (which everyone did), with one person falling more in love than everyone else. Suzy Miller fell head-over-heels. A few weeks later, she brought Oscar to his forever home with her family rescued animals. Despite his long and often painful journey, Suzy reports that Oscar’s favorite thing to do is, just like the first day Cindy found him, purr.

Thanks to all of the compassionate homes like Suzy’s who are willing to take in a special needs kitties others may overlook, adopters and FieldHave are making a difference every day, one cat at a time.

Thank you to Banfield in Lincoln for your generosity in helping Oscar.

This story is just the beginning of what the Tenth Life Club Fund will accomplish. Your donation guarantees many more miracles in 2012. Join us in giving a tenth life to a deserving cat.