Transcripts
Welcome to Animal Posse, the podcast dedicated to the
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people and rescues making a
difference in the lives of animals.
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Today's guest is Jonathan
with Rescue Alliance.
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hi Jonathan.
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How are you
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Jonathan: doing Good, Ms.
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Dixie, how are you doing?
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Dixie: I'm good.
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Thanks for coming on the show.
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I appreciate it.
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Jonathan: It's no problem.
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Dixie: So tell me a
little bit about yourself.
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Jonathan: I'm the director
of Rescue Alliance.
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We started the rescue back in 2019
after realizing that there's very few
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cat Rescue in the state of Louisiana.
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Dixie: And what is your background?
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What drew you to animal welfare and
specifically cat rescue to begin with?
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Jonathan: I was actually working for
Walmart and I witnessed firsthand
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somebody throwing a kitten out of a
moving vehicle in the parking lot.
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At that point I started volunteering
at the animal shelters and then decided
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to actually start a rescue from there
after seeing, how full the shelters were.
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And there just wasn't enough
space or help for the cats.
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Dixie: And did you have
cats as pets before this?
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Jonathan: Yes, I did.
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I.
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And, I saw just how wonderful cats are.
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They're lovable.
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And they deserve the best life and have
an opportunity to find their forever home.
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Dixie: I love your social media.
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I think you have some really good
posts that you put out on social media.
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So that's actually how I found you.
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I do cat rescue as well, and you're
right, there are few people that speak
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up for the cat, so I'm definitely
glad to see that you're around.
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Speaking up for the cats.
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So what kind of programs do
you offer with Rescue Alliance?
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Jonathan: With Rescue Alliance We
we have the Louisiana Pet Food Bank,
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we do disaster animal response and
we've got a Cats for Vets program,
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which helps veterans find a companion
to help 'em through a lot of the
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ones that we placed and everything.
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We've got veterans who are suffer from
PTSD and that companion animal just,
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it makes their life a lot more amazing.
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Dixie: So you said too that you started
this in 2019 and were all these programs
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something that you started with or
how did they come into fruition?
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Jonathan: We started off in 2020 doing the
disaster animal response team at the same
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time as when we started the pet Food bank.
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The Cats Vets Program is a
program we started last year.
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Through the pandemic we realized
that, there was a need for pet food
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and supplies and that the pandemic
is actually what brought the start
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to the Louisiana Pet Food Bank.
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Dixie: That's awesome.
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So tell me about the pet food bank.
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Jonathan: Our pet food bank.
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We provide cat food, dog food, and
other supplies that are donated.
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Our whole purpose is to give people
an option to where, if they're having
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to consider, to surrender their
companion animal, if we can provide
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them with pet food or supplies
to keep their pet at home, then.
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It's a win, not only for the pet
overpopulation problem, but it
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keeps that pet out of a shelter.
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Dixie: Yeah, I totally agree with that.
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So how do you secure your donations
for the pet food and the supplies?
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Jonathan: We actually, we
do Facebook fundraisers.
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We actually accept donations from anyone,
they're able to drop off donations at
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the Pet Smart Gonzales or the PetSmart
on South Mall Drive in Baton Rouge.
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And from there, when people submit
an application we've got one of our
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board members that actually reviews
applications and then from there they
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schedule the appointment for the person
to meet, to get the pet food and supplies.
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We also get a lot of calls from the
Council on Aging with a lot of their
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senior citizens that are actually.
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Just in desperate need and a lot of
the, through the Council of Aging,
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the Council of Aging will actually
do the applications on their behalf.
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Dixie: And do you normally have a good
stock of food for your pet food bank?
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Jonathan: This year has been very low.
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This year, donations altogether are very
low, so we make do with what we can.
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We get torn bags from Walmart.
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And, we try to do as best we can.
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We're not able to help everybody that
we'd like to, we do the best that we can.
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Dixie: So you also mentioned that
you do the disaster response.
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So how is it that you got started
in the disaster response and
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what disasters have you worked?
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Jonathan: We start, we started with
Hurricane Harvey when Hurricane
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Harvey hit we went to the hurricane.
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We had the hurricane that hit
Texas where we actually were right
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in the middle of that hurricane.
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We've had.
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A couple of hurricanes that
hit Louisiana and we've been to
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Florida every year since 2020.
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Dixie: And how is it that
you got involved doing that?
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Jonathan: I actually got involved
with that because, I partner with a
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bunch of organizations in, one of the
organizations that we had partnered
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with actually got us started was the
Animal Disaster Relief Coalition.
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They'd come down here to Louisiana and
we partner with them, and then we'd
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go and we'd meet up with them to, and
going into the disaster areas along
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with a couple of other organizations.
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Is how we got involved in going
and doing disaster relief.
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Helping not only just rescue, but
also bring pet food and supplies
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to disaster stricken areas.
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Dixie: And does that require that you
have any kind of certifications to work
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with them or train specific training?
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I guess
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Jonathan: we've actually, we have
gone through the FEMA training.
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We've also gone through a training
that's available through the
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A-S-P-C-A along with Code three.
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So through all the different organizations
we've taken in to where we even have
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volunteers that are certified in
Swift Water Rescue, along with animal
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cruelty and, so we even partnered
with the Cajun Navys to where whenever
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there's a need, we're there to help.
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Dixie: How many volunteers do you
have that do the disaster response?
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Jonathan: On average we have
anywhere between 10 and 40.
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Dixie: Oh, wow.
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That's wonderful.
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Jonathan: So it's all about
partnership for the pets.
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Is the more that we can come together,
the more help we can provide.
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Dixie: Absolutely.
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Yeah.
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And I saw on your Facebook that you
just did a collection of supplies
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to go to Kerrville, correct?
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Jonathan: Yes.
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We had partnered with Kerrville Pets Alive
and because of Brucey Animal Rescue to do
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a donation drive to get more supplies out
to Kerrville pets live after the flood.
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To where we even had Sunbelt rentals,
actually volunteered their services
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to transport supplies for us.
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Dixie: Do you also take any
animals from the affected area?
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Jonathan: A lot of times we do for
Kerrville we did not, for this recent
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flooding in Kerrville, we did not they
actually had a lot of resources set up
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to handle and so they transported out at
the same time as they, they transported
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out all the animals they had in house.
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That way they could actually
take in strays and animals found.
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Dixie: And how did you make
all these connections with all
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these other animal rescues?
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Jonathan: Honestly, a lot of
it was done through Facebook.
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Whenever there was a
disaster, we would reach out.
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We're actually currently,
are Florida sarc.
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Responders.
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So whenever Florida actually needs a
response, they actually send us emails
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along with, we get emails from the
A-S-P-C-A and along with a lot of the
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other big organizations they send us
requests for volunteers and for services.
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Dixie: If anyone is interested in
getting involved with this, can
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they contact you and you can help
walk 'em through the whole process?
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Jonathan: Yes, they can.
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They actually, can even sign up by going
to our website, animal recovery.org.
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And clicking on the volunteer tab
or they can message us through
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Facebook or reach out to us directly.
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But we're always looking for volunteers.
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We're always looking for
people to do donation drives.
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We've actually got one teenage child
right now who's her summer mission is, to
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collect as much pet food and supplies to
help pets across the state of Louisiana.
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Dixie: Oh, that's wonderful.
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Jonathan: It is, anytime we can get
the youth involved in helping with
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animals, it's a big accomplishment.
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Dixie: So for volunteers,
what is your biggest need for
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volunteers in which program?
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Jonathan: Right now our biggest need
for volunteers, because currently we're
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not working in active disaster, is
we're looking for volunteers in our cat
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care centers, which is gonna be at the
PetSmart in Gonzales and the PetSmart
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on South Mall Drive in Baton Rouge.
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To where they come in, they clean,
give the cats food and water,
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and they socialize with the cats.
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The other thing that we are also
looking for currently right now is
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adoption of volunteers to come and
help with doing adoption events.
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Dixie: So how many volunteers
do you currently have that help
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with that, with the cleaning
and also your adoption events?
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Jonathan: Right now our volunteers
are low, so right now we've got
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about five volunteers for that.
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And we do need many more.
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Dixie: Yeah.
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I see with a lot of rescues, that seems
to be the hardest thing is finding
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the people to go do the cleaning
and to actually go do the adoptions.
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People like going to play with
the animals, but they don't like
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necessarily doing the cleaning.
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Jonathan: Oh, yeah.
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Cleaning is the part that it is
the hardest to find volunteers for.
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The great thing about when people do the
volunteers to do the adoption events.
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Is, adoption events are only from 10
o'clock in the morning till two, three
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o'clock in the afternoon on Saturdays.
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And if we got the volunteers to do
it, it would be on Sundays also.
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But it just very rewarding because
you not only get to go there and love
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on the cats the whole time, but you
also get the accomplishment of knowing
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that you helped find this cat at home.
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Dixie: So can you walk us through
the process of you actually
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intaking cats and then getting them
into the petmarts for adoption?
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Jonathan: From the point of the
intake, all of our cats before
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they even go to PetSmart, they're
gonna be spayed or neutered.
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They're gonna be age appropriate
vaccinated and microchip.
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They're completely they
are completely vetted.
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And, in order for 'em to go
with PetSmart it is required
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that they are completely vetted.
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They undergo, all the testing and
that's needed to make sure that
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they're healthy and thriving to where
when they get in the home, it's a lot
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easier for them to become comfortable.
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Dixie: I saw on your website that
Rescue Alliance, you champion
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feline welfare through rescue
adoption and support programs giving
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every cat the chance to thrive.
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Can you elaborate on what
that truly means for a cat?
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Jonathan: Thriving is, we work with
the adopters not only up until the
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time of adoption, but we remain a
resource to where if the adopter has
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questions or concerns, they're able
to call us and we'll do whatever
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we can to answer their questions.
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And provide the best resource to
help, the cat adapt to being happy
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and healthy in their new home.
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So even at the time of adoption,
we even provide a week's worth
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of food to every adopter.
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That way they're able to be weaned
onto a different type of food,
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whether if the adopter doesn't
wanna keep 'em on hill signs diet.
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Dixie: Do you find that all of
the post adoptive support that
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you do helps from, say, having a
cat returned to your organization?
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Jonathan: We do still have.
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Every now and then we do still have, an
adoption that, the adopter has to return.
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We had one just last week to where
the person was actually gonna be
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moving outside of the United States
for work and was told that they
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couldn't take their pet with them.
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So we did accept the cat back into our
care to help find the cat a new home.
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So it's not a true science, but
any way that we can to help.
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We do.
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Dixie: And where do you get
your cats and kittens from?
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Jonathan: We actually we pull from
across the entire state of Louisiana.
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We get cats from as far as away
as Shreveport and Bastrop up in
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north Louisiana, we get cats from
down in Morgan City, Patterson.
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We get cats from
Companion Animal Alliance.
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We even get cats from
Crowley in Lake Charles.
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Dixie: How many come into
your program in a given year?
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Jonathan: On average we bring in
anywhere between five and 700 a year.
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Dixie: Wow.
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All spayed and neutered.
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So imagine how many that number would be
if they weren't spayed or neutered, right?
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Jonathan: Oh, yes.
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When you sit back and you think about
it on average for each litter, that they
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have, it can be anywhere between four on
average, between four and nine kittens.
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And with that being said, we actually
had one mom that we took in who actually
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came with her three litters of kittens
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So in all actuality that
one mom had 26 babies.
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Wow.
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Who came with her
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Dixie: three litters.
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Wow.
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And what were the ages of 'em?
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Jonathan: They were all the way
from 1-year-old down to newborn.
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Dixie: Of course I'm in cat rescue,
so I know how fast they reproduce
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and how young they are when they
reproduce, but that's amazing.
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That many from one mom.
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I've never seen that before.
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Jonathan: It gets worse when
you sit back and think about.
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Those 26, what would happen if those
26 had already started to reproduce it?
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They wouldn't come to us when they did.
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Those 26 would've turned into hundreds,
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Dixie: right exactly.
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Yeah.
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And they can do it as
young as four months.
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Jonathan: Yes.
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And we've taken in a few cats this
month, this year that are like four or
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five months old and already pregnant.
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Dixie: And at that point do
you do the pregnant spays?
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Jonathan: It depends on
how far along they are.
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A lot of times if they're four months
old, , we're not gonna risk it.
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So unfortunately we do.
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But a lot of it all goes down
to how far along they are.
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And how we make that decision on,
because we try not to, but at the
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same time, if they're four months old,
their coping mechanism to become a
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productive parent is limited because
they're still babies themselves.
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Dixie: That's absolutely true.
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And a lot of people don't realize
that when they'll get a cat.
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Throw it out on the street.
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They don't think it can get
pregnant until it's six months old.
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Or some people even think maybe
a year and they don't realize
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that it's babies, having babies.
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And a lot of the times
they don't know what to do.
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Jonathan: We actually, get a lot
of cats that come to us that are
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having a baby right at a year old.
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And even at a year old, we see
a lot of times , they still even
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struggle understanding I'm not
supposed to lay on top of my babies
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or, it's very traumatic work.
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Dixie: You have the issue too, where
a lot of people will contact you
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that they just found newborn kittens?
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And want you to take all the
kittens to be bottle raised.
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Jonathan: We get, probably, on average,
between five and 10 calls a day.
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Dixie: So what is the
advice that you give them?
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Do you normally tell 'em to
put the kittens back outside
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first to see if the mom returns?
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Jonathan: We do.
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We always do recommend setting up a box
with a blanket in an area which that's
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covered in shade with food and water.
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To where it would give the mom an
opportunity to come back and see
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that there's food and water there.
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That way they don't
have to go off hunting.
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And at least give about 24 hours
to see if the mom even comes
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back before pulling them inside.
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Because a lot of times when the mom
leaves the babies in a spot, it's
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because she's going to look for food.
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Dixie: Exactly.
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Yeah, there's this misconception
that the moms stay with them 24
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hours a day, which isn't the case.
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'cause the moms have to eat too.
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Jonathan: Exactly.
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And that's one of the reasons why in a
lot of our cat colonies, we've actually
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we buy houses that have feeding systems.
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To where we'll go and we can actually
pull, pour in about a quarter of a bag
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of food and it's in a little chute and
then it's got the water hooked up to it.
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We find that a lot of times when
we show up to go check on our
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colonies, that a mama cat's moved
into these houses just because
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everything is provided right there.
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Dixie: Yeah.
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I'd love to see your setup for that.
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00:18:50,125 --> 00:18:52,315
Jonathan: I can get you
some pictures for that.
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And one of the other things
that we also do is we actually
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also have an ultrasound machine.
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We're one of . The small rescues that
we've got access to a portable not
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x-ray machine, a portable ultrasound
machine to where we can actually go
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and look at the moms to and check on
the babies even while in the field.
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Dixie: Oh, that's pretty cool.
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Jonathan: It's been a lot of work.
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We have two ICU units that also have,
that we would have the oxygen and
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everything for, to where it really
helps with, helping them get over
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having upper respiratory infections.
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Dixie: Yeah.
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And I can see where that
definitely would help.
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00:19:32,415 --> 00:19:36,165
I'm actually working on that myself
'cause I do a lot of bottle feeding.
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00:19:36,870 --> 00:19:40,980
And it's hard to find bottle feeders
that's over here anyway, that's for sure.
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00:19:42,660 --> 00:19:43,020
Jonathan: Oh, yeah.
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00:19:43,070 --> 00:19:46,700
That's actually one of the things that
I actually do a lot of personally is,
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I've got my one little bottle feeder,
now he's just a brown little brat.
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And his name's Hashbrown, but he
was dropped off and had no mom.
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00:19:57,400 --> 00:20:03,660
And, we took him in and, we
syringe fed him and now he's just
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a hyper little ball of energy.
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Dixie: Yeah.
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It's rewarding to feed him.
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It's a little bit of a pain
sometimes, but it is very rewarding.
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Jonathan: Oh yeah.
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And we use the foster care.
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We use a little bit more expensive milk,
but to us it's a better quality milk.
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Dixie: With all the kittens
that you intake, how do you keep
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all of their records and stuff
like that straight before they
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go into PetSmart for adoptions.
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Jonathan: We use a software
called PET Established.
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And with PET established, we can record
all their records and we we even do
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their adoptions through PET established.
335
00:20:49,830 --> 00:20:55,090
So even after adoption, all their
digital records are emailed and
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00:20:55,090 --> 00:20:56,500
controlled through their microchip.
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00:20:57,500 --> 00:21:01,490
Dixie: And do you let your fosters be
involved in recording their records
338
00:21:01,490 --> 00:21:04,700
or is that something that you have
a specific person set up to do?
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00:21:05,810 --> 00:21:10,140
Jonathan: We actually do let all
of our fosters, are given access
340
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to go input medical records.
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They can go in there and we allow our
fosters to go and even write their
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00:21:18,335 --> 00:21:24,925
biography because who's better to
say, to tell us more about a cat than
343
00:21:24,925 --> 00:21:27,745
the foster who was taking care of it?
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00:21:28,615 --> 00:21:32,485
Dixie: The Fosters always know
the personality, the behavior.
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So they're also the ones that are, best
to say when their animals would do well,
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say with another cat or dog or small
children or anything like that too.
347
00:21:43,005 --> 00:21:43,725
Jonathan: Yes.
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00:21:44,625 --> 00:21:47,865
And we do have a lot of
fosters that do also have dogs.
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So it, with operating over the fosters.
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It allows us to put cats in homes
with dogs to where if somebody wants
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00:21:56,370 --> 00:22:02,340
to adopt a cat and they have a dog,
then we can speak more towards that.
352
00:22:02,460 --> 00:22:08,460
This cat was fostered with dogs and was
okay with it, or if they were not okay
353
00:22:08,460 --> 00:22:10,260
with it, we can even speak towards that.
354
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Dixie: Can you explain a little
bit about your Cats for Vets
355
00:22:14,770 --> 00:22:16,300
program and how that works?
356
00:22:18,070 --> 00:22:22,670
Jonathan: The Cats for Vets Program
basically what that program is it's a
357
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free program to veterans who served.
358
00:22:25,830 --> 00:22:28,820
They come to us and they're
like, I'm interested in a cat.
359
00:22:29,270 --> 00:22:31,580
And what we do is we
waive the adoption fee.
360
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There is no adoption fee for a veteran.
361
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Because a lot of times,
they're coming to us.
362
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They're on disability or, they need
that extra love and we just wanna
363
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be able to help our veterans by
providing them, a companion animal.
364
00:22:48,705 --> 00:22:54,795
We help 'em with pet food and supplies
just to give them the opportunity to.
365
00:22:55,260 --> 00:23:01,065
I had a fully thriving companion to help
them through a lot of time, was one of
366
00:23:01,065 --> 00:23:08,505
our clients suffers from PTSD and the cat
that we helped him find was a love magnet.
367
00:23:08,505 --> 00:23:16,395
So the cat required a lot of attention,
so it went to him, and because of
368
00:23:16,395 --> 00:23:22,565
that they perfectly bonded, which his
in intern helped him with his PTSD.
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Dixie: Are they requesting more adult cats
or kittens or is it just depend a lot?
370
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Jonathan: A lot of times with
our cats vets program, it's
371
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been more of the adult cats.
372
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'Cause they're not looking
for too much hyperactivity.
373
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They want a well established cat.
374
00:23:42,045 --> 00:23:49,095
One who you know is okay with using
the litter box we have one who actually
375
00:23:49,265 --> 00:23:55,165
got one of our special needs cats who
actually only had one eye and they
376
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bonded and they're best friends now.
377
00:24:00,595 --> 00:24:05,025
Dixie: When they select a cat, do they
tend to select like a single cat or do
378
00:24:05,025 --> 00:24:07,980
they ever do 'em in pairs or to put with
an existing cat that they might have?
379
00:24:09,745 --> 00:24:13,555
Jonathan: We do have a few that
have already had one cat and
380
00:24:13,555 --> 00:24:16,105
they're just looking for more love.
381
00:24:16,745 --> 00:24:20,645
We actually did have a veteran
couple who actually ended up
382
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getting three cats at one time.
383
00:24:24,500 --> 00:24:26,240
And they're just the happiest.
384
00:24:26,240 --> 00:24:27,020
We checked with them.
385
00:24:27,020 --> 00:24:31,990
We make sure that that they don't struggle
with pet food or, we help 'em out their
386
00:24:31,990 --> 00:24:37,640
vaccinations, just to make sure that
you know that everything the cat needs,
387
00:24:37,820 --> 00:24:39,680
they have the opportunity to have.
388
00:24:40,680 --> 00:24:41,460
Dixie: That's great.
389
00:24:41,460 --> 00:24:42,930
And three cats in one home.
390
00:24:42,980 --> 00:24:46,430
That's amazing too, to have them
all adopted at the same time.
391
00:24:47,570 --> 00:24:49,460
Jonathan: And it's a lot of fun to have.
392
00:24:50,160 --> 00:24:51,480
We make the joke and everything.
393
00:24:51,480 --> 00:24:54,330
We can't even call you a cat
lover and everything, so you
394
00:24:54,330 --> 00:24:55,890
got five cats and everything.
395
00:24:56,490 --> 00:25:02,610
But it's all about one, knowing what
you can handle, but for two, knowing
396
00:25:02,610 --> 00:25:04,680
that by providing a cat a home.
397
00:25:05,460 --> 00:25:07,050
You're taking on a best friend.
398
00:25:07,770 --> 00:25:11,760
Dixie: Absolutely, and I always say
to add in pairs, I try to promote
399
00:25:11,760 --> 00:25:17,010
that because honestly I find that
it's no more work to have a pair.
400
00:25:17,330 --> 00:25:20,690
If you add in even numbers, it
doesn't seem to make a difference.
401
00:25:22,410 --> 00:25:26,310
Jonathan: We've noticed is it's
actually a lot easier to take care of
402
00:25:26,310 --> 00:25:31,650
the cats when you take them in pairs,
because whereas the average person
403
00:25:31,650 --> 00:25:37,860
goes to work eight to 12 hours a day,
and what happens when you're at work?
404
00:25:38,520 --> 00:25:39,900
The cats can get lonely.
405
00:25:39,900 --> 00:25:40,980
The cats can get bored.
406
00:25:40,980 --> 00:25:43,290
When they get bored,
they become mischievous.
407
00:25:43,830 --> 00:25:48,805
So if you adopt 'em out to where your
cat's got more than one cat in the house.
408
00:25:49,990 --> 00:25:54,280
You're in turn giving them somebody
to have fun and play with Chase
409
00:25:54,280 --> 00:25:57,310
around and keep them company.
410
00:25:58,180 --> 00:25:59,290
Dixie: Yeah, absolutely.
411
00:26:00,290 --> 00:26:05,330
Do you support any kind of educational
initiatives as well to promote responsible
412
00:26:05,330 --> 00:26:07,760
pet ownership and feline wellbeing?
413
00:26:09,365 --> 00:26:11,885
Jonathan: We actually, do have
what's called the CAT Club.
414
00:26:12,405 --> 00:26:17,225
And the cat club, it's a classroom
course that we actually have that is
415
00:26:17,225 --> 00:26:22,265
the first Tuesday of every month at the
Haven of Ascension here in Gonzales.
416
00:26:22,715 --> 00:26:24,275
And it's about an hour and a half.
417
00:26:24,665 --> 00:26:30,450
But, we teach everything from
bottle feeding to, the proper
418
00:26:30,450 --> 00:26:32,320
care and grooming of cats.
419
00:26:33,380 --> 00:26:37,250
We actually have one of our, board
members actually leads that the CAT club.
420
00:26:39,620 --> 00:26:39,740
Dixie: Yeah.
421
00:26:39,740 --> 00:26:45,020
I just started teaching a bottle feeding
class and it was, I was very happy to
422
00:26:45,020 --> 00:26:49,100
see the amount of people that showed
up and the engagement in the class.
423
00:26:50,795 --> 00:26:51,215
Jonathan: Oh yeah.
424
00:26:51,215 --> 00:26:56,685
When we had our bottle of feeding class,
we had three teenage girls come, and
425
00:26:56,925 --> 00:27:02,535
that's, this is when we had just taken
in hash Brown and Hash Brown was still
426
00:27:02,535 --> 00:27:04,635
on the bottle, could fit in your hand.
427
00:27:05,565 --> 00:27:09,145
And so we got to teach these
girls that were between the
428
00:27:09,145 --> 00:27:11,395
age of, what was it, 11 and 14.
429
00:27:12,175 --> 00:27:14,515
On how to properly bottle feed a baby.
430
00:27:15,865 --> 00:27:20,995
And they absolutely loved it to where
they come to volunteer and, and even
431
00:27:20,995 --> 00:27:23,855
when I was bringing Hash Brown to
our adoption events, ' because Hash
432
00:27:23,855 --> 00:27:28,265
Brown was being bottle fed they'd
show up and they were sitting there
433
00:27:28,265 --> 00:27:31,025
in PetSmart bottle feeding this baby.
434
00:27:31,985 --> 00:27:33,875
Dixie: That's great to get
them involved that young.
435
00:27:33,875 --> 00:27:35,015
I know when I had my class.
436
00:27:35,825 --> 00:27:39,335
Believe it or not, we couldn't
find any bottle babies to bring.
437
00:27:39,575 --> 00:27:41,185
And I'm like it's not really a problem.
438
00:27:41,185 --> 00:27:44,035
I'm not gonna complain about that, but
I had to bring a stuffed animal 'cause
439
00:27:44,035 --> 00:27:45,625
we couldn't find any bottle babies.
440
00:27:45,625 --> 00:27:47,575
But that's a good problem to have, right?
441
00:27:48,925 --> 00:27:49,075
Jonathan: Yeah.
442
00:27:49,080 --> 00:27:52,245
It's always a good problem to have
when you can't find bottle babies.
443
00:27:52,710 --> 00:27:55,200
'cause if you don't have bottle babies,
that means that they've all got a mom.
444
00:27:57,155 --> 00:27:57,915
Dixie: So in, so that's
445
00:27:57,915 --> 00:27:58,755
Jonathan: a very good problem.
446
00:27:59,145 --> 00:28:00,795
Dixie: Yeah, I was very surprised.
447
00:28:00,800 --> 00:28:03,860
I reached out to three different rescues
and I couldn't find bottle babies
448
00:28:03,860 --> 00:28:05,360
anywhere, and I said, I'm not complaining.
449
00:28:07,490 --> 00:28:07,910
Jonathan: Oh, yes.
450
00:28:07,910 --> 00:28:12,210
One of the other things that we also
do is, actually, me and my wife, also
451
00:28:12,210 --> 00:28:19,230
sit on the board for the Louisiana Pet
Overpopulation Advisory Council, and we
452
00:28:19,230 --> 00:28:23,850
actually meet at the state capitol in the
legislative room, and that's how we help
453
00:28:23,850 --> 00:28:29,750
provide the animal friendly Louisiana
license plates goes towards issuing
454
00:28:29,750 --> 00:28:32,540
grants to help with spaying and neutering.
455
00:28:35,000 --> 00:28:35,540
Dixie: That's great.
456
00:28:35,570 --> 00:28:39,320
Jonathan: We've got a meeting coming
up next month at the state capitol.
457
00:28:39,920 --> 00:28:40,160
Dixie: Okay.
458
00:28:40,160 --> 00:28:43,470
I didn't know that they had that
going towards grants for spay neuter.
459
00:28:44,820 --> 00:28:45,330
Jonathan: Oh yes.
460
00:28:45,330 --> 00:28:48,970
We've been, a part of it now
for I think almost two years.
461
00:28:49,645 --> 00:28:52,615
I've been going and we meet
at state capital like three,
462
00:28:52,885 --> 00:28:54,205
two to three times a year.
463
00:28:54,795 --> 00:29:00,165
And there's a new pet stamp that's coming
out that is also gonna help go towards
464
00:29:00,165 --> 00:29:02,535
cost the with spaying and neutering.
465
00:29:03,555 --> 00:29:04,665
Dixie: And how does that work?
466
00:29:04,665 --> 00:29:06,915
Like how do they determine where it goes?
467
00:29:06,915 --> 00:29:10,875
Does it go to like parish shelters
or does it go to individual groups?
468
00:29:11,990 --> 00:29:19,130
Jonathan: Basically when the application
process is opened then from there for
469
00:29:19,250 --> 00:29:24,170
shelters and rescues across the entire
state of Louisiana, they'll submit an
470
00:29:24,170 --> 00:29:29,240
application with the financials and
then we actually go and we vote on
471
00:29:29,670 --> 00:29:34,790
the groups that are gonna get awarded
grants like last year, I think.
472
00:29:35,415 --> 00:29:36,915
It was 19 grants
473
00:29:39,225 --> 00:29:41,595
to rescues and shelters across the state.
474
00:29:42,345 --> 00:29:43,095
Dixie: Oh, that's wonderful.
475
00:29:45,795 --> 00:29:50,875
Jonathan: And it's all with makes the
animal friendly license plate so vitally
476
00:29:50,880 --> 00:29:55,825
important that the more people they can
go, they go to the DMV and get their
477
00:29:55,825 --> 00:29:58,390
animal friendly license plate that is.
478
00:29:59,215 --> 00:30:04,135
Revenue that actually helps with
pet overpopulation in our state.
479
00:30:05,185 --> 00:30:06,355
Dixie: Yeah, that's fantastic.
480
00:30:06,355 --> 00:30:09,865
I've always seen them, but I never knew,
really where the funds went for that.
481
00:30:11,755 --> 00:30:12,265
Jonathan: Oh, yes.
482
00:30:12,270 --> 00:30:13,230
That's one of them.
483
00:30:13,750 --> 00:30:15,340
And that's what we're a part of.
484
00:30:15,340 --> 00:30:18,950
And, we're steadily trying to grow
it because I think last year we had,
485
00:30:19,400 --> 00:30:23,060
I think it was almost $20,000 worth
of grants that actually went out.
486
00:30:25,520 --> 00:30:26,450
Dixie: Yeah, that's great.
487
00:30:26,964 --> 00:30:29,934
In your experience, what are some
of the most pressing challenges
488
00:30:29,934 --> 00:30:31,824
facing feline welfare today?
489
00:30:34,554 --> 00:30:42,059
Jonathan: I think our the most challenging
is when you have individuals who they
490
00:30:42,059 --> 00:30:45,689
feel that spaying and neutering is wrong.
491
00:30:46,439 --> 00:30:51,059
They don't understand that by
not spay and neutering, you're
492
00:30:51,059 --> 00:30:56,699
making an overall critical issue
that we deal with in the state.
493
00:30:57,189 --> 00:30:58,659
It makes it even worse,
494
00:31:00,859 --> 00:31:08,069
it leads to cat hoarding situations
where we actually took in 64 cats
495
00:31:08,069 --> 00:31:13,599
from one house in a course of two
days because that's actually how long
496
00:31:13,599 --> 00:31:15,789
it took us to catch all the cats.
497
00:31:16,209 --> 00:31:16,569
Dixie: Wow.
498
00:31:16,569 --> 00:31:18,309
And were, they weren't spayed or neutered.
499
00:31:19,509 --> 00:31:20,289
Jonathan: None of them.
500
00:31:21,139 --> 00:31:25,609
They had ne they had never even been to
a vet, never had a vaccine or anything.
501
00:31:26,089 --> 00:31:27,409
Dixie: That's a lot of work right there.
502
00:31:28,100 --> 00:31:32,150
Jonathan: When going unchecked, not
only does it become a big problem,
503
00:31:32,180 --> 00:31:34,370
it becomes a big expensive problem.
504
00:31:34,700 --> 00:31:38,300
' they tried, of course, this
lady was in her sixties.
505
00:31:38,780 --> 00:31:43,340
She was trying her best to provide
the best care, that one little small
506
00:31:43,340 --> 00:31:48,320
problem that started off as just a few
exploded into an even bigger problem.
507
00:31:49,655 --> 00:31:54,815
And then it got to the point to where she
was steadily setting up more litter boxes,
508
00:31:55,175 --> 00:32:00,725
but she was unable to properly clean all
the litter boxes that she was setting up.
509
00:32:01,725 --> 00:32:05,025
Dixie: Working in cat rescue
can be incredibly rewarding, but
510
00:32:05,025 --> 00:32:06,785
also emotionally challenging.
511
00:32:06,785 --> 00:32:08,135
What keeps you motivated?
512
00:32:09,545 --> 00:32:10,055
Jonathan: Coffee.
513
00:32:10,295 --> 00:32:10,445
Oh,
514
00:32:11,705 --> 00:32:12,905
Dixie: coffee and cats, right?
515
00:32:13,985 --> 00:32:14,525
Jonathan: Yes.
516
00:32:14,885 --> 00:32:20,675
What keeps me motivated to do it is just
seeing that like last year we did 550
517
00:32:20,675 --> 00:32:28,355
adoptions as a small rescue, doing 550
adoptions in one year, knowing that all
518
00:32:28,355 --> 00:32:34,445
those cats are no longer on the street and
reproducing it makes you wanna keep going.
519
00:32:34,800 --> 00:32:41,010
When you got people from the community
who do their monthly sponsorships that
520
00:32:41,010 --> 00:32:44,610
you know every little bit that we can
come together knowing that we're helping,
521
00:32:45,690 --> 00:32:47,940
it's also motivating to keep going.
522
00:32:49,330 --> 00:32:52,360
Dixie: Looking ahead, what are
your long-term aspirations?
523
00:32:54,215 --> 00:33:00,110
Jonathan: We are in the process of trying
to reopen another cat rescue center.
524
00:33:00,110 --> 00:33:04,340
We had one, but the building that we
had just had too many problems with it.
525
00:33:04,820 --> 00:33:10,940
So we are actively trying to raise
the funds to where we can go ahead
526
00:33:10,940 --> 00:33:15,770
and open up a new cat rescue center,
which would at the same time allow us
527
00:33:15,770 --> 00:33:18,470
to take in more and help more, but.
528
00:33:18,840 --> 00:33:23,130
It's just to expand our services
to be able to offer more
529
00:33:23,130 --> 00:33:26,700
resources to those in need.
530
00:33:29,230 --> 00:33:32,230
Dixie: Before we end, do you
have any happy adoption stories
531
00:33:32,230 --> 00:33:33,160
that you would like to share?
532
00:33:33,415 --> 00:33:33,895
Jonathan: Yes.
533
00:33:33,975 --> 00:33:38,415
We had one cat that came to
us and it was a Scottish fold.
534
00:33:38,465 --> 00:33:42,785
Scottish folds are very sweet,
very, expensive cats to if
535
00:33:42,785 --> 00:33:43,955
you were to try to buy one.
536
00:33:44,555 --> 00:33:48,705
And the great thing about this
is we brought this baby in.
537
00:33:48,885 --> 00:33:53,205
It, it actually it came
to us infested with fleas.
538
00:33:53,895 --> 00:33:56,595
All of its neck, its
body was all scabbed up.
539
00:33:57,105 --> 00:34:03,855
So we put this baby into foster home
and the amazing foster fell in love.
540
00:34:04,620 --> 00:34:08,580
And decided, you know what, this
baby needs to stay here with me.
541
00:34:09,690 --> 00:34:15,400
So she decided that she was going to
adopt that beautiful Scottish fold.
542
00:34:17,110 --> 00:34:17,620
Dixie: That's great.
543
00:34:17,620 --> 00:34:20,080
You gotta love when you have
the foster failures, right?
544
00:34:21,370 --> 00:34:21,760
Jonathan: Yes.
545
00:34:21,760 --> 00:34:22,925
That's what's happened to me.
546
00:34:22,975 --> 00:34:25,885
I've got some of the most
amazing cats of my own.
547
00:34:26,335 --> 00:34:27,235
Dixie: Yeah, me too..
548
00:34:27,235 --> 00:34:29,635
I've got a lot of them
actually that were returned.
549
00:34:30,219 --> 00:34:33,909
For various reasons and they ended
up living their life with me now.
550
00:34:33,960 --> 00:34:34,380
Jonathan: Oh yes.
551
00:34:34,380 --> 00:34:38,790
I took in one of, one of my personals
we took from the shelter that actually
552
00:34:38,790 --> 00:34:40,560
had a drainage tube in his leg.
553
00:34:41,250 --> 00:34:48,340
And Carlos came to us and he
was very sick and he wasn't
554
00:34:48,340 --> 00:34:50,500
thriving in the animal shelter.
555
00:34:51,534 --> 00:34:53,935
And what ended up happening
over the course of the past
556
00:34:53,935 --> 00:34:56,425
year is he is gotten better.
557
00:34:56,505 --> 00:35:01,125
He still suffers from on and off
pneumonia, but from where he was
558
00:35:01,125 --> 00:35:06,075
to where he is now, he is still
much more healthier and happier.
559
00:35:06,945 --> 00:35:09,555
Dixie: Yeah, and I think that's
an amazing thing too, when you can
560
00:35:09,555 --> 00:35:14,955
always see the before and afters
to see what an impact you make.
561
00:35:17,145 --> 00:35:19,535
Jonathan: And then we love
when we get the wobbly cats.
562
00:35:20,750 --> 00:35:27,120
And, because people think that, oh, wobbly
cats, we took in one, his name was Buddy.
563
00:35:28,080 --> 00:35:33,020
And we took him in and everybody thought
he was neurological, so we pulled him
564
00:35:33,020 --> 00:35:37,320
out of PetSmart because we were getting
out there there's a neurological cat, and
565
00:35:37,890 --> 00:35:43,710
he just had cerebral hypoplasia, but he
turned out to be the most sweet loving.
566
00:35:44,775 --> 00:35:46,695
Outstanding cat you could ever find.
567
00:35:46,695 --> 00:35:49,215
He was very demanding
for time and attention.
568
00:35:49,785 --> 00:35:53,325
It just goes to show that even
in their imperfection sometimes
569
00:35:53,775 --> 00:35:55,725
they're still the best companions.
570
00:35:56,475 --> 00:35:57,435
Dixie: Absolutely.
571
00:35:57,435 --> 00:35:59,520
I have one, and she was
born without any eyes.
572
00:36:00,345 --> 00:36:06,015
And she is absolutely amazing
the things that this cat does.
573
00:36:06,015 --> 00:36:07,485
It's amazing to watch her.
574
00:36:09,555 --> 00:36:09,945
Jonathan: Oh yeah.
575
00:36:09,945 --> 00:36:11,415
At one of our adopter's house.
576
00:36:11,465 --> 00:36:14,885
She had actually adopted
out a cat from us.
577
00:36:15,125 --> 00:36:16,685
A cat that has no eyes.
578
00:36:17,240 --> 00:36:19,580
At all completely blind.
579
00:36:20,220 --> 00:36:24,815
And the amazing thing is when I
was over by their house to see
580
00:36:24,815 --> 00:36:29,495
that this cat maneuvered through
that house as if it had eyes.
581
00:36:30,125 --> 00:36:30,395
Dixie: Yeah.
582
00:36:30,395 --> 00:36:31,985
It's amazing to watch 'em.
583
00:36:31,985 --> 00:36:33,005
That's like mine.
584
00:36:33,005 --> 00:36:36,725
What she does is she'll go walk into
my bedroom and jump on the bed, and I'm
585
00:36:36,725 --> 00:36:38,015
like, how do you know the bed's there?
586
00:36:38,145 --> 00:36:39,045
It's amazing.
587
00:36:39,255 --> 00:36:40,995
We've seen her chasing flies.
588
00:36:40,995 --> 00:36:41,955
She does everything.
589
00:36:43,350 --> 00:36:43,710
Jonathan: Oh yeah.
590
00:36:43,710 --> 00:36:46,650
Now that's like with the
blind cat and everything.
591
00:36:46,650 --> 00:36:50,490
It has not a lack vision, but yet
they came running across the room,
592
00:36:50,880 --> 00:36:53,160
jumped and landed on the cat tree.
593
00:36:54,750 --> 00:36:54,930
' Dixie: Cause it,
594
00:36:55,425 --> 00:36:58,200
Jonathan: it memorized
exactly where that tree was.
595
00:36:58,570 --> 00:37:02,510
Dixie: Before we end, for listeners who
are passionate about feline welfare,
596
00:37:02,510 --> 00:37:06,050
what is the single most important action
they can take right now to contribute
597
00:37:06,050 --> 00:37:08,000
to a more compassionate world for cats?
598
00:37:09,740 --> 00:37:15,910
Jonathan: If you can't foster,
donate, cat rescue, it's rewarding.
599
00:37:16,030 --> 00:37:21,240
And if you're not able to foster or adopt,
the best way to help is just to donate.
600
00:37:24,115 --> 00:37:25,615
Dixie: Thank you so much, Jonathan.
601
00:37:25,615 --> 00:37:29,575
I enjoyed our conversation and I liked
learning about all the programs and
602
00:37:29,575 --> 00:37:31,555
the great work that you do for cats.
603
00:37:32,005 --> 00:37:34,375
There's not enough pioneers
for cats in the world, so we
604
00:37:34,375 --> 00:37:35,275
need to get some more of them.
605
00:37:35,275 --> 00:37:37,795
So I'm glad that you're out
there working for the cats.
606
00:37:39,085 --> 00:37:39,355
Jonathan: Oh, yes.
607
00:37:39,355 --> 00:37:45,385
And we're willing to, if there's somebody
who is interested in starting up and
608
00:37:45,385 --> 00:37:50,005
everything, we are always, up for
partnering and mentoring to help guide
609
00:37:50,455 --> 00:37:57,485
on, helping from how to get the 5 0 1 C3
and the processes to go to help become
610
00:37:57,485 --> 00:38:02,105
more productive and making sure that not
only are you taking in cats, but you're
611
00:38:02,105 --> 00:38:07,485
taking 'em into a healthy environment
that continues to help 'em thrive.
612
00:38:08,475 --> 00:38:11,715
Dixie: And I'm so glad that you offered
the help like that too, because I
613
00:38:11,715 --> 00:38:14,715
know that, sometimes some groups
are a little bit reluctant to share
614
00:38:14,715 --> 00:38:18,435
information, so it's good that you're
out there willing to be a mentor.
615
00:38:20,400 --> 00:38:20,910
Jonathan: Oh yes.
616
00:38:20,960 --> 00:38:25,880
You know the reason why we named it
Rescue Alliance because as a rescue,
617
00:38:25,880 --> 00:38:30,260
if we can come together and work
together, we can save more cats.
618
00:38:30,410 --> 00:38:35,450
And for those that do dogs, they can
save more dogs just by working together
619
00:38:35,900 --> 00:38:38,360
than fighting one against each other.
620
00:38:38,840 --> 00:38:41,960
Because that energy can be saved
towards getting animals homes.
621
00:38:42,830 --> 00:38:43,520
Dixie: Absolutely.
622
00:38:43,520 --> 00:38:48,830
And I hope that this podcast actually
can accomplish that and bring rescues
623
00:38:48,830 --> 00:38:50,420
together in, in some kind of way.
624
00:38:50,420 --> 00:38:53,570
If I help one animal, I find that
I'd at least be doing my job.
625
00:38:55,310 --> 00:38:55,790
Jonathan: Oh, yes.
626
00:38:55,995 --> 00:39:00,015
And it all boils down to is as you get
to thinking about, even if you help one
627
00:39:00,015 --> 00:39:02,625
person become an advocate towards animals.
628
00:39:03,210 --> 00:39:08,310
But you still gotta always think about as
far as with the litters, that one animal
629
00:39:08,430 --> 00:39:11,430
can reproduce and become 20,000 over time.
630
00:39:12,390 --> 00:39:15,690
So every cat we can save
is an accomplishment.
631
00:39:17,260 --> 00:39:18,340
Dixie: Thank you so much.
632
00:39:18,340 --> 00:39:20,650
I really appreciate it
talking to you this evening.
633
00:39:22,000 --> 00:39:23,260
Jonathan: Thank you so much for having me.
634
00:39:24,860 --> 00:39:27,780
Dixie: That's all the time that
we have for today's episode.
635
00:39:27,840 --> 00:39:30,570
Thank you for listening and
we hope you join us next week.
636
00:39:30,960 --> 00:39:34,590
If you know somebody that loves animals
as much as I do, please send 'em our way.
637
00:39:34,590 --> 00:39:35,790
We would love to talk to 'em.
638
00:39:36,220 --> 00:39:39,940
If you are enjoying our show, please
consider leaving us a donation.
639
00:39:40,270 --> 00:39:43,100
A hundred percent goes to our animals.
640
00:39:45,800 --> 00:39:48,220
Suno: Paws in
641
00:39:51,050 --> 00:39:59,590
the night Claws in the
fight Whiskers twitch and
642
00:40:01,610 --> 00:40:02,380
tails
643
00:40:04,840 --> 00:40:05,510
take flight
644
00:40:05,565 --> 00:40:11,915
They’re calling in Stories to spin
From the wild to the heart within
645
00:40:12,935 --> 00:40:18,485
Broken wings and hopeful springs
We’re the voices for these things
646
00:40:18,950 --> 00:40:22,590
animal posse hear the call.
647
00:40:24,250 --> 00:40:25,630
We stand together.
648
00:40:26,850 --> 00:40:38,710
Big and small Rescue tales We’ve
got it all Animal posse Saving
649
00:40:40,790 --> 00:40:41,210
them
650
00:40:47,080 --> 00:40:47,200
all
651
00:40:47,490 --> 00:40:54,150
The vet’s got tips The rescuer’s
grit The foster homes where love
652
00:40:54,150 --> 00:41:06,260
won’t quit From a pup in the rain to
a bird in pain , Every soul’s worth
653
00:41:08,535 --> 00:41:08,735
the
654
00:41:11,095 --> 00:41:12,915
strain
655
00:41:13,180 --> 00:41:16,090
Animal posse
656
00:41:21,060 --> 00:41:25,370
Hear the call
657
00:41:28,130 --> 00:41:32,020
We stand together Big
658
00:41:34,060 --> 00:41:42,440
and small Rescue tales We’ve got
it all Animal posse Saving them all
659
00:41:42,750 --> 00:41:48,860
Every caller tells a tale, every
howl a whispered wail, we rise up.
660
00:41:49,320 --> 00:41:49,980
We never
661
00:41:54,400 --> 00:41:54,560
fail.
662
00:41:57,350 --> 00:41:57,440
This
663
00:41:59,500 --> 00:41:59,560
is
664
00:42:01,980 --> 00:42:02,040
the
665
00:42:08,360 --> 00:42:10,500
bond
666
00:42:13,280 --> 00:42:15,010
The holy grail
667
00:42:15,040 --> 00:42:30,385
Animal posse Hear the call We stand
together Big and small Rescue tales We’ve
668
00:42:30,385 --> 00:42:39,155
got it all Animal posse Saving them all
669
00:42:39,205 --> 00:42:46,470
Every caller tells a tale Every howl
a whispered wail We rise up We never
670
00:42:46,470 --> 00:42:50,340
fail This is the bond The holy grail.
671
00:42:51,010 --> 00:42:53,176
Song by Suno.ai
