By: Aurora Sain, Reporter

View the original article in The Auburn Journal

Finding homes for abandoned cats has become one woman’s full-time, unpaid job.

Shirley Hartford, founder of Friends Forever, A Cat Sanctuary, has devoted her life to cats for the last 10 years.

“The kitties that come here will live out their lives if they have no place to go,” Hartford said.

The sanctuary is no-kill, no-cage and 100 percent survived by donations and their thrift store, The Cat’s Meow.

At any given time, the Nevada Street organization houses 75 to 140 cats depending on the season.

The sanctuary is open five days a week to the public, but someone is at the shelter daily to care for the animals.

The sanctuary uses Companion Veterinary Clinic for all of their medical needs, which more often than not is a lot.

“It’s odd to not have at least one cat at the vet,” Hartford said.Last summer the sanctuary took in 140 kittens and it wasn’t unusual to see a $6,000 to $8,000 month bill.

The volunteers help with the weekly washing of litter boxes and the care of the 14 separate rooms of cats.

They also have an isolationroom for cats who may need some space to get better or for newcomers.

Most recently, Friends Forever took in three cats and had no where to put them so they ended up living in the bathroom for a few days.

Friends Forever strives to have at least one adoption a day. In December they adopted out 50 cats.

“For every cat that gets adopted, there’s room for another one,” Hartford said.

Sometimes cats are able to be reunited with their owners because of a microchip, but more frequently, the strays are never reunited or are left behind.

“It’s very sad. Who leaves a cat behind?” said Hartford. “They think they can just live on their own.”

The shelter is always looking for monetary donations and volunteers.

There are five different volunteer positions including adoption counselor,foster care, workinghe thrift shop and cat socialization.

Hartford has about 60 active volunteers, but she consistency is a big problem.

She is also looking for someone to run the social media accounts and help with the online presence.

Volunteers can be 14-years-old or older, any younger and the person must be accompanied by an adult.

The post Abandoned but not forgotten appeared first on Friends Forever.

It seems that the need for rescue of cats and kittens grows each year. Despite all the work we and other organizations do, there are always more kitties that need our help. That’s why we are reaching out to you for financial support.

We have an especially miraculous story to share with you today. In May this year, we received a call from a gentleman working at a business near the Auburn airport. He had just located 2 two-week old kittens inside a piece of equipment they were dismantling for disposal. Both kittens had obviously not been cared for by their mother for several days and one kitten passed away shortly after rescue. The other kitten seemed stronger and could bottle feed. We sent him away with a trap to get the mother and he was successful. We named her Amelia. The kitten flourished under the mother’s care for a week, getting the benefit of all her milk. Seven days later this same man called us and told us he had located 3 more kittens screaming for help in the bushes near the building. He could pick them up because they were so weak. They too were united with the mother who immediately recognized them. These three kittens had survived a week alone in the outdoors.

A few days later we received a call from someone in downtown Auburn who found a 4-week old kitten attempting to cross a busy street. We took her in and she too was accepted by Amelia so another miracle occurred. Had it not been for FFACS, none of those kitties would have had a chance because we are the only rescue organization left in Auburn.

This story is just one of many success stories that we could share. But without your help, we will not be able to provide the help to the cats who cannot help themselves. Your tax-deductible gift can make the difference to these and so many more. Your support can assist us in the following ways and is tax deductible:

• $45 will neuter a male cat
• $60 will spay a female cat
• $97 will provide the first month’s cost for a new cat
• $130 will save a mom and her litter
• Larger amounts will pay for surgery or treatment of a sick cat

Your support is especially critical during this year’s kitten season. Help us to “Save Them All.” As a reminder, we an all-volunteer; cage free, no kill facility and the last remaining cat rescue organization in the Auburn area. Below are photos that show Amelia with her kittens on the left and on the right the kittens by themselves.

Amelia and her extended family

On behalf of all our cats and kittens waiting for their forever homes, we thank you.

Kitty hugs,

Shirley Hartford Executive Director

P.S. We urge you to donate at least $50.

DONATE NOW

The post Summer Fund Drive 2017 appeared first on Friends Forever.

Dear Friend,

I am writing to you today because I know you care about cats as much as I do.

Cats like Highway.

Highway was found this past summer on a very hot day lying on the shoulder of Highway 49 by a Good Samaritan who took him to a veterinarian.  He had a broken jaw and was overheated, and to his good fortune the Good Samaritan followed him as he was delivered to Animal Control for euthanasia.  She then found us and we agreed to accept him into our system where he received the surgery to wire his jaw.  Today he is a handsome and completely healed cat who is awaiting his forever home.

With your help, we can help more animals like Highway so FFACS is urging you to consider making a donation in support of our Holiday Fund Drive.  Our goal is to raise $20,000 so that we can continue to save those who need us the most. 

 Your tax deductible gift can be mailed using the enclosed envelope or you may make it online using Paypal.  Any amount is appreciated.  Your support can assist us in the following ways:

• $15 can vaccinate a cat
• $35 will neuter a male cat
• $50 will spay a female cat
• $100 will save a mom cat with her litter
• Larger amounts can pay for surgery or treatment of a sick cat

Download form HERE

Your support is critical at this time to help us “Save Them All.”  On behalf of all our cats, we thank you.

Kitty hugs,

Shirley Hartford

Executive Director

P.S.    We urge you to make a donation of at least $50.  As a reminder, FFACS is an all-volunteer; cage free, no kill facility.

Download form HERE

The post 2014 Holiday Fund Drive appeared first on Friends Forever.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

BOARD OF DIRECTOR

DOWNLOAD PDF DESCRIPTION

Purpose

Serve as an officer/director of Friends Forever, A Cat Sanctuary Board as described by the Bylaws of the of organization for the term required.

 Duties/Responsibilities

• -Attend monthly Board Meetings as prescribed by law, by the Articles of Incorporation of this corporation or by the Bylaws of the organization:  non attendance of more than 2 meetings in a calendar year will be grounds for dismissal from the Board
• -Attend special Board meetings that are called by the President as needed
• -Perform any and all duties  as imposed by the Bylaws of the organization
• Propose and approve/disapprove changes made within the organization
• -Appoint and remove, employ and discharge, prescribe and supervise the duties or all officers, agents and employees of the corporation, if any, and fix the compensation if required
• -Hold the term of office as prescribed by the Bylaws, for a term of two years until a successor has been elected and qualified
• -Attend the annual meeting which takes place in October of each year
• -Support the fundraising efforts of the organization
• -Provide a written resignation to the Board of Directors a minimum of 30 days prior to effective date of the resignation if leave is required before the length of office expires
• -Perform other duties as required

Qualifications

• -Good organization and communication skills required
• -Prior non-profit organization experience preferred
• -Strong interest in the animal welfare society
• -Ability to uphold all policies of the organization
• -Able to make decisions and attend all BOD meetings as required by Bylaws

The post FFACS Board Member Needed appeared first on Friends Forever.

8/16/2013

Zero Population Growth
Goal for Cat Population in Placer County

Auburn, CA – Friends Forever, A Cat Sanctuary located at 359 Nevada Street, Suite 101 received a generous grant from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) to spay and neuter unaltered cats and kittens that we have rescued.

Cat overpopulation is a major problem throughout the nation. Here in Placer and surrounding counties, the issue is exacerbated by people abandoning their pets when they abandon their homes or are forced to move to apartments that do not allow pets. One of the most important goals of our organization is to have no more homeless cats in the community. The best method of achieving this goal is to spay and neuter every cat in the area to attain a true ‘Zero Population Growth’. We accept approximately 300 cats or kittens into our program each year. All of them are altered before they are adoptable.

The grant funded by the ASPCA will fund the altering of 92 cats, thereby preventing them from reproducing.

For more information, please visit www.ffacs.org

About Friends Forever, A Cat Sanctuary
Friends Forever, A Cat Sanctuary (FFACS) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that is dedicated to rescuing abandoned or homeless cats and kittens primarily in Placer County, California. We started rescuing cats in September 2008 and received our federal non-profit status in April, 2009. To date we have rescued over 1,400 cats and kittens. We pay for their medical care, have them spayed/neutered, vaccinate them,
test them for FeLV and/or FIV and micro-chip them for identification. While under our care, they are housed in foster homes or in our Cat Adoption Center until they are adopted. We are a no-kill facility and require that our cats be returned to us if the owner becomes unable to care for them. Sales at our thrift store, ‘The Cat’s Meow’, help fund the organization. We greatly appreciate cash and item donations. We are a 100% volunteer organization and are always in need of good volunteers to work at the Adoption Center and Thrift Store, plan and work fundraisers, serve as board members, etc.

The post Placer County Zero Population Growth appeared first on Friends Forever.