October 16, 2008
CFD volunteer protects kitties through all nine lives
Editor’s note: During the Combined Fund Drive campaign, University Week will spotlight some of the UW faculty and staff who volunteer at agencies supported by the fund.
Name: Jeanine Kanov.
UW job: Administrator, Department of Medicinal Chemistry.
Volunteer activity: Kanov volunteers with MEOW Cat Rescue, in Kirkland. Learn more at www.meowcatrescue.org/.
How did you first get involved with fostering kittens for MEOW Cat Rescue?
I first became involved with MEOW when I saw an article in The Seattle Times in the spring of 2004. The article talked about MEOW looking for foster homes because it was “kitten season” and that temporary foster homes were needed to help raise these kittens. My husband is also a cat lover and the prospect of being able to raise kittens sounded much more like fun than work, so after getting details from MEOW — including finding out they are a no-kill shelter — we decided to start fostering.
I really like volunteering with MEOW because of how deeply everyone involved cares about the kitties, and that they each end up with their own “happily ever after.” (I love the motto too: ” All nine lives are precious.”) They are happy to answer questions, help resolve issues, and if need be, take back any cats that they adopted out.
I’d like to mention that MEOW is always looking for volunteers in many ways in addition to fostering: adoption counselors, kennel attendants, feral colony care, food drive organizers, people to work on special events, and more!
How long is a typical kitten-fostering time commitment?
It can vary from a few weeks to a few months. The beauty of the fostering program is that precious limited shelter space is reserved for adoptable kitties, while kittens and cats that aren’t ready for adoption can still be rescued and have a safe harbor until they are ready for their chance to find a forever home. At the last count MEOW currently has about 90 cats in the shelter and about 300 in foster homes.
Do you have any cat or kitten adoption “success stories”?
First that comes to mind are our fosters Farley, Carrie and Kizzie. Five one-week old kittens were brought in by a concerned person who found them out in the cold without their mom. Sadly it was too late for three of them and they passed away shortly after rescue.
We placed the remaining two with a mom-cat, Kizzie — practically a kitten herself — who had just weaned her own litter of kittens. Although she didn’t have much milk left, she adopted the kittens as her own and took great care of them. We needed to give them supplemental bottle feedings (what an amazing experience!), but these two grew up strong, healthy, and well socialized. We got lucky enough to hear from the couple who adopted Farley and Carrie, heard how much fun they were all having together, stayed in touch and ending up gaining new friends as well.
We also are happy to report that we’ve heard from Kizzie’s “forever” [or permanent] home as well, and were super-excited to hear that everything is going well with her, and also that the couple that adopted her are both UW alums, and their son is currently a graduate student at the UW, too.
Can you describe the fundraising events you’ve helped plan?
I’ve been on the event committee for two years, and in July chaired our annual auction and wine tasting fundraiser. Other fundraising events I’ve worked on, aside from past auctions, include, a 10th anniversary volunteer dinner, a banquet fundraiser at Columbia Tower, a kitten shower, and a craft bazaar/bake sale /open house which was so successful at our first attempt last year, we will be holding one again this year on Dec. 7.
