Transcripts
Welcome to Animal Posse, the podcast dedicated to the
2
:people and rescues making a
difference in the lives of animals.
3
:Today's guest is Jonathan
with Rescue Alliance.
4
:hi Jonathan.
5
:How are you
6
:Jonathan: doing Good, Ms.
7
:Dixie, how are you doing?
8
:Dixie: I'm good.
9
:Thanks for coming on the show.
10
:I appreciate it.
11
:Jonathan: It's no problem.
12
:Dixie: So tell me a
little bit about yourself.
13
:Jonathan: I'm the director
of Rescue Alliance.
14
:We started the rescue back in 2019
after realizing that there's very few
15
:cat Rescue in the state of Louisiana.
16
:Dixie: And what is your background?
17
:What drew you to animal welfare and
specifically cat rescue to begin with?
18
:Jonathan: I was actually working for
Walmart and I witnessed firsthand
19
:somebody throwing a kitten out of a
moving vehicle in the parking lot.
20
:At that point I started volunteering
at the animal shelters and then decided
21
:to actually start a rescue from there
after seeing, how full the shelters were.
22
:And there just wasn't enough
space or help for the cats.
23
:Dixie: And did you have
cats as pets before this?
24
:Jonathan: Yes, I did.
25
:I.
26
:And, I saw just how wonderful cats are.
27
:They're lovable.
28
:And they deserve the best life and have
an opportunity to find their forever home.
29
:Dixie: I love your social media.
30
:I think you have some really good
posts that you put out on social media.
31
:So that's actually how I found you.
32
:I do cat rescue as well, and you're
right, there are few people that speak
33
:up for the cat, so I'm definitely
glad to see that you're around.
34
:Speaking up for the cats.
35
:So what kind of programs do
you offer with Rescue Alliance?
36
:Jonathan: With Rescue Alliance We
we have the Louisiana Pet Food Bank,
37
:we do disaster animal response and
we've got a Cats for Vets program,
38
:which helps veterans find a companion
to help 'em through a lot of the
39
:ones that we placed and everything.
40
:We've got veterans who are suffer from
PTSD and that companion animal just,
41
:it makes their life a lot more amazing.
42
:Dixie: So you said too that you started
this in:
43
:something that you started with or
how did they come into fruition?
44
:Jonathan: We started off in 2020 doing the
disaster animal response team at the same
45
:time as when we started the pet Food bank.
46
:The Cats Vets Program is a
program we started last year.
47
:Through the pandemic we realized
that, there was a need for pet food
48
:and supplies and that the pandemic
is actually what brought the start
49
:to the Louisiana Pet Food Bank.
50
:Dixie: That's awesome.
51
:So tell me about the pet food bank.
52
:Jonathan: Our pet food bank.
53
:We provide cat food, dog food, and
other supplies that are donated.
54
:Our whole purpose is to give people
an option to where, if they're having
55
:to consider, to surrender their
companion animal, if we can provide
56
:them with pet food or supplies
to keep their pet at home, then.
57
:It's a win, not only for the pet
overpopulation problem, but it
58
:keeps that pet out of a shelter.
59
:Dixie: Yeah, I totally agree with that.
60
:So how do you secure your donations
for the pet food and the supplies?
61
:Jonathan: We actually, we
do Facebook fundraisers.
62
:We actually accept donations from anyone,
they're able to drop off donations at
63
:the Pet Smart Gonzales or the PetSmart
on South Mall Drive in Baton Rouge.
64
:And from there, when people submit
an application we've got one of our
65
:board members that actually reviews
applications and then from there they
66
:schedule the appointment for the person
to meet, to get the pet food and supplies.
67
:We also get a lot of calls from the
Council on Aging with a lot of their
68
:senior citizens that are actually.
69
:Just in desperate need and a lot of
the, through the Council of Aging,
70
:the Council of Aging will actually
do the applications on their behalf.
71
:Dixie: And do you normally have a good
stock of food for your pet food bank?
72
:Jonathan: This year has been very low.
73
:This year, donations altogether are very
low, so we make do with what we can.
74
:We get torn bags from Walmart.
75
:And, we try to do as best we can.
76
:We're not able to help everybody that
we'd like to, we do the best that we can.
77
:Dixie: So you also mentioned that
you do the disaster response.
78
:So how is it that you got started
in the disaster response and
79
:what disasters have you worked?
80
:Jonathan: We start, we started with
Hurricane Harvey when Hurricane
81
:Harvey hit we went to the hurricane.
82
:We had the hurricane that hit
Texas where we actually were right
83
:in the middle of that hurricane.
84
:We've had.
85
:A couple of hurricanes that
hit Louisiana and we've been to
86
:Florida every year since 2020.
87
:Dixie: And how is it that
you got involved doing that?
88
:Jonathan: I actually got involved
with that because, I partner with a
89
:bunch of organizations in, one of the
organizations that we had partnered
90
:with actually got us started was the
Animal Disaster Relief Coalition.
91
:They'd come down here to Louisiana and
we partner with them, and then we'd
92
:go and we'd meet up with them to, and
going into the disaster areas along
93
:with a couple of other organizations.
94
:Is how we got involved in going
and doing disaster relief.
95
:Helping not only just rescue, but
also bring pet food and supplies
96
:to disaster stricken areas.
97
:Dixie: And does that require that you
have any kind of certifications to work
98
:with them or train specific training?
99
:I guess
100
:Jonathan: we've actually, we have
gone through the FEMA training.
101
:We've also gone through a training
that's available through the
102
:A-S-P-C-A along with Code three.
103
:So through all the different organizations
we've taken in to where we even have
104
:volunteers that are certified in
Swift Water Rescue, along with animal
105
:cruelty and, so we even partnered
with the Cajun Navys to where whenever
106
:there's a need, we're there to help.
107
:Dixie: How many volunteers do you
have that do the disaster response?
108
:Jonathan: On average we have
anywhere between 10 and 40.
109
:Dixie: Oh, wow.
110
:That's wonderful.
111
:Jonathan: So it's all about
partnership for the pets.
112
:Is the more that we can come together,
the more help we can provide.
113
:Dixie: Absolutely.
114
:Yeah.
115
:And I saw on your Facebook that you
just did a collection of supplies
116
:to go to Kerrville, correct?
117
:Jonathan: Yes.
118
:We had partnered with Kerrville Pets Alive
and because of Brucey Animal Rescue to do
119
:a donation drive to get more supplies out
to Kerrville pets live after the flood.
120
:To where we even had Sunbelt rentals,
actually volunteered their services
121
:to transport supplies for us.
122
:Dixie: Do you also take any
animals from the affected area?
123
:Jonathan: A lot of times we do for
Kerrville we did not, for this recent
124
:flooding in Kerrville, we did not they
actually had a lot of resources set up
125
:to handle and so they transported out at
the same time as they, they transported
126
:out all the animals they had in house.
127
:That way they could actually
take in strays and animals found.
128
:Dixie: And how did you make
all these connections with all
129
:these other animal rescues?
130
:Jonathan: Honestly, a lot of
it was done through Facebook.
131
:Whenever there was a
disaster, we would reach out.
132
:We're actually currently,
are Florida sarc.
133
:Responders.
134
:So whenever Florida actually needs a
response, they actually send us emails
135
:along with, we get emails from the
A-S-P-C-A and along with a lot of the
136
:other big organizations they send us
requests for volunteers and for services.
137
:Dixie: If anyone is interested in
getting involved with this, can
138
:they contact you and you can help
walk 'em through the whole process?
139
:Jonathan: Yes, they can.
140
:They actually, can even sign up by going
to our website, animal recovery.org.
141
:And clicking on the volunteer tab
or they can message us through
142
:Facebook or reach out to us directly.
143
:But we're always looking for volunteers.
144
:We're always looking for
people to do donation drives.
145
:We've actually got one teenage child
right now who's her summer mission is, to
146
:collect as much pet food and supplies to
help pets across the state of Louisiana.
147
:Dixie: Oh, that's wonderful.
148
:Jonathan: It is, anytime we can get
the youth involved in helping with
149
:animals, it's a big accomplishment.
150
:Dixie: So for volunteers,
what is your biggest need for
151
:volunteers in which program?
152
:Jonathan: Right now our biggest need
for volunteers, because currently we're
153
:not working in active disaster, is
we're looking for volunteers in our cat
154
:care centers, which is gonna be at the
PetSmart in Gonzales and the PetSmart
155
:on South Mall Drive in Baton Rouge.
156
:To where they come in, they clean,
give the cats food and water,
157
:and they socialize with the cats.
158
:The other thing that we are also
looking for currently right now is
159
:adoption of volunteers to come and
help with doing adoption events.
160
:Dixie: So how many volunteers
do you currently have that help
161
:with that, with the cleaning
and also your adoption events?
162
:Jonathan: Right now our volunteers
are low, so right now we've got
163
:about five volunteers for that.
164
:And we do need many more.
165
:Dixie: Yeah.
166
:I see with a lot of rescues, that seems
to be the hardest thing is finding
167
:the people to go do the cleaning
and to actually go do the adoptions.
168
:People like going to play with
the animals, but they don't like
169
:necessarily doing the cleaning.
170
:Jonathan: Oh, yeah.
171
:Cleaning is the part that it is
the hardest to find volunteers for.
172
:The great thing about when people do the
volunteers to do the adoption events.
173
:Is, adoption events are only from 10
o'clock in the morning till two, three
174
:o'clock in the afternoon on Saturdays.
175
:And if we got the volunteers to do
it, it would be on Sundays also.
176
:But it just very rewarding because
you not only get to go there and love
177
:on the cats the whole time, but you
also get the accomplishment of knowing
178
:that you helped find this cat at home.
179
:Dixie: So can you walk us through
the process of you actually
180
:intaking cats and then getting them
into the petmarts for adoption?
181
:Jonathan: From the point of the
intake, all of our cats before
182
:they even go to PetSmart, they're
gonna be spayed or neutered.
183
:They're gonna be age appropriate
vaccinated and microchip.
184
:They're completely they
are completely vetted.
185
:And, in order for 'em to go
with PetSmart it is required
186
:that they are completely vetted.
187
:They undergo, all the testing and
that's needed to make sure that
188
:they're healthy and thriving to where
when they get in the home, it's a lot
189
:easier for them to become comfortable.
190
:Dixie: I saw on your website that
Rescue Alliance, you champion
191
:feline welfare through rescue
adoption and support programs giving
192
:every cat the chance to thrive.
193
:Can you elaborate on what
that truly means for a cat?
194
:Jonathan: Thriving is, we work with
the adopters not only up until the
195
:time of adoption, but we remain a
resource to where if the adopter has
196
:questions or concerns, they're able
to call us and we'll do whatever
197
:we can to answer their questions.
198
:And provide the best resource to
help, the cat adapt to being happy
199
:and healthy in their new home.
200
:So even at the time of adoption,
we even provide a week's worth
201
:of food to every adopter.
202
:That way they're able to be weaned
onto a different type of food,
203
:whether if the adopter doesn't
wanna keep 'em on hill signs diet.
204
:Dixie: Do you find that all of
the post adoptive support that
205
:you do helps from, say, having a
cat returned to your organization?
206
:Jonathan: We do still have.
207
:Every now and then we do still have, an
adoption that, the adopter has to return.
208
:We had one just last week to where
the person was actually gonna be
209
:moving outside of the United States
for work and was told that they
210
:couldn't take their pet with them.
211
:So we did accept the cat back into our
care to help find the cat a new home.
212
:So it's not a true science, but
any way that we can to help.
213
:We do.
214
:Dixie: And where do you get
your cats and kittens from?
215
:Jonathan: We actually we pull from
across the entire state of Louisiana.
216
:We get cats from as far as away
as Shreveport and Bastrop up in
217
:north Louisiana, we get cats from
down in Morgan City, Patterson.
218
:We get cats from
Companion Animal Alliance.
219
:We even get cats from
Crowley in Lake Charles.
220
:Dixie: How many come into
your program in a given year?
221
:Jonathan: On average we bring in
anywhere between five and 700 a year.
222
:Dixie: Wow.
223
:All spayed and neutered.
224
:So imagine how many that number would be
if they weren't spayed or neutered, right?
225
:Jonathan: Oh, yes.
226
:When you sit back and you think about
it on average for each litter, that they
227
:have, it can be anywhere between four on
average, between four and nine kittens.
228
:And with that being said, we actually
had one mom that we took in who actually
229
:came with her three litters of kittens
230
:So in all actuality that
one mom had 26 babies.
231
:Wow.
232
:Who came with her
233
:Dixie: three litters.
234
:Wow.
235
:And what were the ages of 'em?
236
:Jonathan: They were all the way
from 1-year-old down to newborn.
237
:Dixie: Of course I'm in cat rescue,
so I know how fast they reproduce
238
:and how young they are when they
reproduce, but that's amazing.
239
:That many from one mom.
240
:I've never seen that before.
241
:Jonathan: It gets worse when
you sit back and think about.
242
:Those 26, what would happen if those
26 had already started to reproduce it?
243
:They wouldn't come to us when they did.
244
:Those 26 would've turned into hundreds,
245
:Dixie: right exactly.
246
:Yeah.
247
:And they can do it as
young as four months.
248
:Jonathan: Yes.
249
:And we've taken in a few cats this
month, this year that are like four or
250
:five months old and already pregnant.
251
:Dixie: And at that point do
you do the pregnant spays?
252
:Jonathan: It depends on
how far along they are.
253
:A lot of times if they're four months
old, , we're not gonna risk it.
254
:So unfortunately we do.
255
:But a lot of it all goes down
to how far along they are.
256
:And how we make that decision on,
because we try not to, but at the
257
:same time, if they're four months old,
their coping mechanism to become a
258
:productive parent is limited because
they're still babies themselves.
259
:Dixie: That's absolutely true.
260
:And a lot of people don't realize
that when they'll get a cat.
261
:Throw it out on the street.
262
:They don't think it can get
pregnant until it's six months old.
263
:Or some people even think maybe
a year and they don't realize
264
:that it's babies, having babies.
265
:And a lot of the times
they don't know what to do.
266
:Jonathan: We actually, get a lot
of cats that come to us that are
267
:having a baby right at a year old.
268
:And even at a year old, we see
a lot of times , they still even
269
:struggle understanding I'm not
supposed to lay on top of my babies
270
:or, it's very traumatic work.
271
:Dixie: You have the issue too, where
a lot of people will contact you
272
:that they just found newborn kittens?
273
:And want you to take all the
kittens to be bottle raised.
274
:Jonathan: We get, probably, on average,
between five and 10 calls a day.
275
:Dixie: So what is the
advice that you give them?
276
:Do you normally tell 'em to
put the kittens back outside
277
:first to see if the mom returns?
278
:Jonathan: We do.
279
:We always do recommend setting up a box
with a blanket in an area which that's
280
:covered in shade with food and water.
281
:To where it would give the mom an
opportunity to come back and see
282
:that there's food and water there.
283
:That way they don't
have to go off hunting.
284
:And at least give about 24 hours
to see if the mom even comes
285
:back before pulling them inside.
286
:Because a lot of times when the mom
leaves the babies in a spot, it's
287
:because she's going to look for food.
288
:Dixie: Exactly.
289
:Yeah, there's this misconception
that the moms stay with them 24
290
:hours a day, which isn't the case.
291
:'cause the moms have to eat too.
292
:Jonathan: Exactly.
293
:And that's one of the reasons why in a
lot of our cat colonies, we've actually
294
:we buy houses that have feeding systems.
295
:To where we'll go and we can actually
pull, pour in about a quarter of a bag
296
:of food and it's in a little chute and
then it's got the water hooked up to it.
297
:We find that a lot of times when
we show up to go check on our
298
:colonies, that a mama cat's moved
into these houses just because
299
:everything is provided right there.
300
:Dixie: Yeah.
301
:I'd love to see your setup for that.
302
:Jonathan: I can get you
some pictures for that.
303
:And one of the other things
that we also do is we actually
304
:also have an ultrasound machine.
305
:We're one of . The small rescues that
we've got access to a portable not
306
:x-ray machine, a portable ultrasound
machine to where we can actually go
307
:and look at the moms to and check on
the babies even while in the field.
308
:Dixie: Oh, that's pretty cool.
309
:Jonathan: It's been a lot of work.
310
:We have two ICU units that also have,
that we would have the oxygen and
311
:everything for, to where it really
helps with, helping them get over
312
:having upper respiratory infections.
313
:Dixie: Yeah.
314
:And I can see where that
definitely would help.
315
:I'm actually working on that myself
'cause I do a lot of bottle feeding.
316
:And it's hard to find bottle feeders
that's over here anyway, that's for sure.
317
:Jonathan: Oh, yeah.
318
:That's actually one of the things that
I actually do a lot of personally is,
319
:I've got my one little bottle feeder,
now he's just a brown little brat.
320
:And his name's Hashbrown, but he
was dropped off and had no mom.
321
:And, we took him in and, we
syringe fed him and now he's just
322
:a hyper little ball of energy.
323
:Dixie: Yeah.
324
:It's rewarding to feed him.
325
:It's a little bit of a pain
sometimes, but it is very rewarding.
326
:Jonathan: Oh yeah.
327
:And we use the foster care.
328
:We use a little bit more expensive milk,
but to us it's a better quality milk.
329
:Dixie: With all the kittens
that you intake, how do you keep
330
:all of their records and stuff
like that straight before they
331
:go into PetSmart for adoptions.
332
:Jonathan: We use a software
called PET Established.
333
:And with PET established, we can record
all their records and we we even do
334
:their adoptions through PET established.
335
:So even after adoption, all their
digital records are emailed and
336
:controlled through their microchip.
337
:Dixie: And do you let your fosters be
involved in recording their records
338
:or is that something that you have
a specific person set up to do?
339
:Jonathan: We actually do let all
of our fosters, are given access
340
:to go input medical records.
341
:They can go in there and we allow our
fosters to go and even write their
342
:biography because who's better to
say, to tell us more about a cat than
343
:the foster who was taking care of it?
344
:Dixie: The Fosters always know
the personality, the behavior.
345
:So they're also the ones that are, best
to say when their animals would do well,
346
:say with another cat or dog or small
children or anything like that too.
347
:Jonathan: Yes.
348
:And we do have a lot of
fosters that do also have dogs.
349
:So it, with operating over the fosters.
350
:It allows us to put cats in homes
with dogs to where if somebody wants
351
:to adopt a cat and they have a dog,
then we can speak more towards that.
352
:This cat was fostered with dogs and was
okay with it, or if they were not okay
353
:with it, we can even speak towards that.
354
:Dixie: Can you explain a little
bit about your Cats for Vets
355
:program and how that works?
356
:Jonathan: The Cats for Vets Program
basically what that program is it's a
357
:free program to veterans who served.
358
:They come to us and they're
like, I'm interested in a cat.
359
:And what we do is we
waive the adoption fee.
360
:There is no adoption fee for a veteran.
361
:Because a lot of times,
they're coming to us.
362
:They're on disability or, they need
that extra love and we just wanna
363
:be able to help our veterans by
providing them, a companion animal.
364
:We help 'em with pet food and supplies
just to give them the opportunity to.
365
:I had a fully thriving companion to help
them through a lot of time, was one of
366
:our clients suffers from PTSD and the cat
that we helped him find was a love magnet.
367
:So the cat required a lot of attention,
so it went to him, and because of
368
:that they perfectly bonded, which his
in intern helped him with his PTSD.
369
:Dixie: Are they requesting more adult cats
or kittens or is it just depend a lot?
370
:Jonathan: A lot of times with
our cats vets program, it's
371
:been more of the adult cats.
372
:'Cause they're not looking
for too much hyperactivity.
373
:They want a well established cat.
374
:One who you know is okay with using
the litter box we have one who actually
375
:got one of our special needs cats who
actually only had one eye and they
376
:bonded and they're best friends now.
377
:Dixie: When they select a cat, do they
tend to select like a single cat or do
378
:they ever do 'em in pairs or to put with
an existing cat that they might have?
379
:Jonathan: We do have a few that
have already had one cat and
380
:they're just looking for more love.
381
:We actually did have a veteran
couple who actually ended up
382
:getting three cats at one time.
383
:And they're just the happiest.
384
:We checked with them.
385
:We make sure that that they don't struggle
with pet food or, we help 'em out their
386
:vaccinations, just to make sure that
you know that everything the cat needs,
387
:they have the opportunity to have.
388
:Dixie: That's great.
389
:And three cats in one home.
390
:That's amazing too, to have them
all adopted at the same time.
391
:Jonathan: And it's a lot of fun to have.
392
:We make the joke and everything.
393
:We can't even call you a cat
lover and everything, so you
394
:got five cats and everything.
395
:But it's all about one, knowing what
you can handle, but for two, knowing
396
:that by providing a cat a home.
397
:You're taking on a best friend.
398
:Dixie: Absolutely, and I always say
to add in pairs, I try to promote
399
:that because honestly I find that
it's no more work to have a pair.
400
:If you add in even numbers, it
doesn't seem to make a difference.
401
:Jonathan: We've noticed is it's
actually a lot easier to take care of
402
:the cats when you take them in pairs,
because whereas the average person
403
:goes to work eight to 12 hours a day,
and what happens when you're at work?
404
:The cats can get lonely.
405
:The cats can get bored.
406
:When they get bored,
they become mischievous.
407
:So if you adopt 'em out to where your
cat's got more than one cat in the house.
408
:You're in turn giving them somebody
to have fun and play with Chase
409
:around and keep them company.
410
:Dixie: Yeah, absolutely.
411
:Do you support any kind of educational
initiatives as well to promote responsible
412
:pet ownership and feline wellbeing?
413
:Jonathan: We actually, do have
what's called the CAT Club.
414
:And the cat club, it's a classroom
course that we actually have that is
415
:the first Tuesday of every month at the
Haven of Ascension here in Gonzales.
416
:And it's about an hour and a half.
417
:But, we teach everything from
bottle feeding to, the proper
418
:care and grooming of cats.
419
:We actually have one of our, board
members actually leads that the CAT club.
420
:Dixie: Yeah.
421
:I just started teaching a bottle feeding
class and it was, I was very happy to
422
:see the amount of people that showed
up and the engagement in the class.
423
:Jonathan: Oh yeah.
424
:When we had our bottle of feeding class,
we had three teenage girls come, and
425
:that's, this is when we had just taken
in hash Brown and Hash Brown was still
426
:on the bottle, could fit in your hand.
427
:And so we got to teach these
girls that were between the
428
:age of, what was it, 11 and 14.
429
:On how to properly bottle feed a baby.
430
:And they absolutely loved it to where
they come to volunteer and, and even
431
:when I was bringing Hash Brown to
our adoption events, ' because Hash
432
:Brown was being bottle fed they'd
show up and they were sitting there
433
:in PetSmart bottle feeding this baby.
434
:Dixie: That's great to get
them involved that young.
435
:I know when I had my class.
436
:Believe it or not, we couldn't
find any bottle babies to bring.
437
:And I'm like it's not really a problem.
438
:I'm not gonna complain about that, but
I had to bring a stuffed animal 'cause
439
:we couldn't find any bottle babies.
440
:But that's a good problem to have, right?
441
:Jonathan: Yeah.
442
:It's always a good problem to have
when you can't find bottle babies.
443
:'cause if you don't have bottle babies,
that means that they've all got a mom.
444
:Dixie: So in, so that's
445
:Jonathan: a very good problem.
446
:Dixie: Yeah, I was very surprised.
447
:I reached out to three different rescues
and I couldn't find bottle babies
448
:anywhere, and I said, I'm not complaining.
449
:Jonathan: Oh, yes.
450
:One of the other things that we also
do is, actually, me and my wife, also
451
:sit on the board for the Louisiana Pet
Overpopulation Advisory Council, and we
452
:actually meet at the state capitol in the
legislative room, and that's how we help
453
:provide the animal friendly Louisiana
license plates goes towards issuing
454
:grants to help with spaying and neutering.
455
:Dixie: That's great.
456
:Jonathan: We've got a meeting coming
up next month at the state capitol.
457
:Dixie: Okay.
458
:I didn't know that they had that
going towards grants for spay neuter.
459
:Jonathan: Oh yes.
460
:We've been, a part of it now
for I think almost two years.
461
:I've been going and we meet
at state capital like three,
462
:two to three times a year.
463
:And there's a new pet stamp that's coming
out that is also gonna help go towards
464
:cost the with spaying and neutering.
465
:Dixie: And how does that work?
466
:Like how do they determine where it goes?
467
:Does it go to like parish shelters
or does it go to individual groups?
468
:Jonathan: Basically when the application
process is opened then from there for
469
:shelters and rescues across the entire
state of Louisiana, they'll submit an
470
:application with the financials and
then we actually go and we vote on
471
:the groups that are gonna get awarded
grants like last year, I think.
472
:It was 19 grants
473
:to rescues and shelters across the state.
474
:Dixie: Oh, that's wonderful.
475
:Jonathan: And it's all with makes the
animal friendly license plate so vitally
476
:important that the more people they can
go, they go to the DMV and get their
477
:animal friendly license plate that is.
478
:Revenue that actually helps with
pet overpopulation in our state.
479
:Dixie: Yeah, that's fantastic.
480
:I've always seen them, but I never knew,
really where the funds went for that.
481
:Jonathan: Oh, yes.
482
:That's one of them.
483
:And that's what we're a part of.
484
:And, we're steadily trying to grow
it because I think last year we had,
485
:I think it was almost $20,000 worth
of grants that actually went out.
486
:Dixie: Yeah, that's great.
487
:In your experience, what are some
of the most pressing challenges
488
:facing feline welfare today?
489
:Jonathan: I think our the most challenging
is when you have individuals who they
490
:feel that spaying and neutering is wrong.
491
:They don't understand that by
not spay and neutering, you're
492
:making an overall critical issue
that we deal with in the state.
493
:It makes it even worse,
494
:it leads to cat hoarding situations
where we actually took in 64 cats
495
:from one house in a course of two
days because that's actually how long
496
:it took us to catch all the cats.
497
:Dixie: Wow.
498
:And were, they weren't spayed or neutered.
499
:Jonathan: None of them.
500
:They had ne they had never even been to
a vet, never had a vaccine or anything.
501
:Dixie: That's a lot of work right there.
502
:Jonathan: When going unchecked, not
only does it become a big problem,
503
:it becomes a big expensive problem.
504
:' they tried, of course, this
lady was in her sixties.
505
:She was trying her best to provide
the best care, that one little small
506
:problem that started off as just a few
exploded into an even bigger problem.
507
:And then it got to the point to where she
was steadily setting up more litter boxes,
508
:but she was unable to properly clean all
the litter boxes that she was setting up.
509
:Dixie: Working in cat rescue
can be incredibly rewarding, but
510
:also emotionally challenging.
511
:What keeps you motivated?
512
:Jonathan: Coffee.
513
:Oh,
514
:Dixie: coffee and cats, right?
515
:Jonathan: Yes.
516
:What keeps me motivated to do it is just
seeing that like last year we did 550
517
:adoptions as a small rescue, doing 550
adoptions in one year, knowing that all
518
:those cats are no longer on the street and
reproducing it makes you wanna keep going.
519
:When you got people from the community
who do their monthly sponsorships that
520
:you know every little bit that we can
come together knowing that we're helping,
521
:it's also motivating to keep going.
522
:Dixie: Looking ahead, what are
your long-term aspirations?
523
:Jonathan: We are in the process of trying
to reopen another cat rescue center.
524
:We had one, but the building that we
had just had too many problems with it.
525
:So we are actively trying to raise
the funds to where we can go ahead
526
:and open up a new cat rescue center,
which would at the same time allow us
527
:to take in more and help more, but.
528
:It's just to expand our services
to be able to offer more
529
:resources to those in need.
530
:Dixie: Before we end, do you
have any happy adoption stories
531
:that you would like to share?
532
:Jonathan: Yes.
533
:We had one cat that came to
us and it was a Scottish fold.
534
:Scottish folds are very sweet,
very, expensive cats to if
535
:you were to try to buy one.
536
:And the great thing about this
is we brought this baby in.
537
:It, it actually it came
to us infested with fleas.
538
:All of its neck, its
body was all scabbed up.
539
:So we put this baby into foster home
and the amazing foster fell in love.
540
:And decided, you know what, this
baby needs to stay here with me.
541
:So she decided that she was going to
adopt that beautiful Scottish fold.
542
:Dixie: That's great.
543
:You gotta love when you have
the foster failures, right?
544
:Jonathan: Yes.
545
:That's what's happened to me.
546
:I've got some of the most
amazing cats of my own.
547
:Dixie: Yeah, me too..
548
:I've got a lot of them
actually that were returned.
549
:For various reasons and they ended
up living their life with me now.
550
:Jonathan: Oh yes.
551
:I took in one of, one of my personals
we took from the shelter that actually
552
:had a drainage tube in his leg.
553
:And Carlos came to us and he
was very sick and he wasn't
554
:thriving in the animal shelter.
555
:And what ended up happening
over the course of the past
556
:year is he is gotten better.
557
:He still suffers from on and off
pneumonia, but from where he was
558
:to where he is now, he is still
much more healthier and happier.
559
:Dixie: Yeah, and I think that's
an amazing thing too, when you can
560
:always see the before and afters
to see what an impact you make.
561
:Jonathan: And then we love
when we get the wobbly cats.
562
:And, because people think that, oh, wobbly
cats, we took in one, his name was Buddy.
563
:And we took him in and everybody thought
he was neurological, so we pulled him
564
:out of PetSmart because we were getting
out there there's a neurological cat, and
565
:he just had cerebral hypoplasia, but he
turned out to be the most sweet loving.
566
:Outstanding cat you could ever find.
567
:He was very demanding
for time and attention.
568
:It just goes to show that even
in their imperfection sometimes
569
:they're still the best companions.
570
:Dixie: Absolutely.
571
:I have one, and she was
born without any eyes.
572
:And she is absolutely amazing
the things that this cat does.
573
:It's amazing to watch her.
574
:Jonathan: Oh yeah.
575
:At one of our adopter's house.
576
:She had actually adopted
out a cat from us.
577
:A cat that has no eyes.
578
:At all completely blind.
579
:And the amazing thing is when I
was over by their house to see
580
:that this cat maneuvered through
that house as if it had eyes.
581
:Dixie: Yeah.
582
:It's amazing to watch 'em.
583
:That's like mine.
584
:What she does is she'll go walk into
my bedroom and jump on the bed, and I'm
585
:like, how do you know the bed's there?
586
:It's amazing.
587
:We've seen her chasing flies.
588
:She does everything.
589
:Jonathan: Oh yeah.
590
:Now that's like with the
blind cat and everything.
591
:It has not a lack vision, but yet
they came running across the room,
592
:jumped and landed on the cat tree.
593
:' Dixie: Cause it,
594
:Jonathan: it memorized
exactly where that tree was.
595
:Dixie: Before we end, for listeners who
are passionate about feline welfare,
596
:what is the single most important action
they can take right now to contribute
597
:to a more compassionate world for cats?
598
:Jonathan: If you can't foster,
donate, cat rescue, it's rewarding.
599
:And if you're not able to foster or adopt,
the best way to help is just to donate.
600
:Dixie: Thank you so much, Jonathan.
601
:I enjoyed our conversation and I liked
learning about all the programs and
602
:the great work that you do for cats.
603
:There's not enough pioneers
for cats in the world, so we
604
:need to get some more of them.
605
:So I'm glad that you're out
there working for the cats.
606
:Jonathan: Oh, yes.
607
:And we're willing to, if there's somebody
who is interested in starting up and
608
:everything, we are always, up for
partnering and mentoring to help guide
609
:on, helping from how to get the 5 0 1 C3
and the processes to go to help become
610
:more productive and making sure that not
only are you taking in cats, but you're
611
:taking 'em into a healthy environment
that continues to help 'em thrive.
612
:Dixie: And I'm so glad that you offered
the help like that too, because I
613
:know that, sometimes some groups
are a little bit reluctant to share
614
:information, so it's good that you're
out there willing to be a mentor.
615
:Jonathan: Oh yes.
616
:You know the reason why we named it
Rescue Alliance because as a rescue,
617
:if we can come together and work
together, we can save more cats.
618
:And for those that do dogs, they can
save more dogs just by working together
619
:than fighting one against each other.
620
:Because that energy can be saved
towards getting animals homes.
621
:Dixie: Absolutely.
622
:And I hope that this podcast actually
can accomplish that and bring rescues
623
:together in, in some kind of way.
624
:If I help one animal, I find that
I'd at least be doing my job.
625
:Jonathan: Oh, yes.
626
:And it all boils down to is as you get
to thinking about, even if you help one
627
:person become an advocate towards animals.
628
:But you still gotta always think about as
far as with the litters, that one animal
629
:can reproduce and become 20,000 over time.
630
:So every cat we can save
is an accomplishment.
631
:Dixie: Thank you so much.
632
:I really appreciate it
talking to you this evening.
633
:Jonathan: Thank you so much for having me.
634
:Dixie: That's all the time that
we have for today's episode.
635
:Thank you for listening and
we hope you join us next week.
636
:If you know somebody that loves animals
as much as I do, please send 'em our way.
637
:We would love to talk to 'em.
638
:If you are enjoying our show, please
consider leaving us a donation.
639
:A hundred percent goes to our animals.
640
:Suno: Paws in
641
:the night Claws in the
fight Whiskers twitch and
642
:tails
643
:take flight
644
:They’re calling in Stories to spin
From the wild to the heart within
645
:Broken wings and hopeful springs
We’re the voices for these things
646
:animal posse hear the call.
647
:We stand together.
648
:Big and small Rescue tales We’ve
got it all Animal posse Saving
649
:them
650
:all
651
:The vet’s got tips The rescuer’s
grit The foster homes where love
652
:won’t quit From a pup in the rain to
a bird in pain , Every soul’s worth
653
:the
654
:strain
655
:Animal posse
656
:Hear the call
657
:We stand together Big
658
:and small Rescue tales We’ve got
it all Animal posse Saving them all
659
:Every caller tells a tale, every
howl a whispered wail, we rise up.
660
:We never
661
:fail.
662
:This
663
:is
664
:the
665
:bond
666
:The holy grail
667
:Animal posse Hear the call We stand
together Big and small Rescue tales We’ve
668
:got it all Animal posse Saving them all
669
:Every caller tells a tale Every howl
a whispered wail We rise up We never
670
:fail This is the bond The holy grail.
671
:Song by Suno.ai
