For the friends of the Independent Cat Society, a no-kill cat shelter
Spring 2015 #145
Special Thanks!
ICS was privileged to be able to receive not just one but TWO special gifts recently. First of all, we would like to thank the second grade at Yost Elementary School in Porter! Every year, the Yost second grade teachers, Mrs. Heather Dunkle, Mrs. Jade Navarre, Miss Amanda Scully, along with student teacher Miss Barbara Hunt, get their students together for a lesson on charity and helping others. The students learn how to make candy that they then sell to all of the other students and teachers in the school. Once they have their proceeds counted, they learn about several local charities in the local area, and vote on which one they want to donate their hard-earned money toward. And this year, their choice was ICS! We cannot be happier and more proud to be the recipients of these second graders’ generosity.
As a special extra treat, volunteers Roberta Jocius and Staci Trekles even got a chance to visit Yost and speak to the 65 members of the second grade class. They enjoyed a great time getting to know the students, telling them all about ICS, and The amazing second grade at Yost Elementary introducing them to Chan, a beautiful Siamese kitten who was more than happy to oblige a warm welcome and some playtime with the students and their teachers. In fact, little Chan is probably still telling his new forever family about his exciting school adventure! We wish to give special thanks to the folks at Yost Elementary, and we hope to visit there again sometime soon. Second, we would like to thank Purina for their generous donation of 20,000 cans of Friskies® food for our shelter kitties. Yes, you read that right – 20,000! ICS was lucky enough to participate in and win a social media contest on YouTube and Facebook, joining four other lucky shelters across the country who were able to win big for the cats in their care. Our volunteers worked hard on delivery day to make sure all of those cases of food were put away and secured, and our cats are truly thankful. This donation will help us provide for cats in need for many months yet to come.
Our intepid volunteers hard at work!
Learn more and review those famous videos that we shared on our Facebook page at http://www.youtube.com/user/PurinaFriskies.
Your 2015 ICS Sweetheart is...
Georgie!
That’s right, Georgie was the big winner in our Sweetheart Contest this year – no pun intended of course! Georgie might be the most pleasantly plump fellow in this year’s contest, but all of our kitties were truly the winners. Through the efforts of our amazing volunteers who took the lead as Sweetheart team leaders, we were able to raise almost $7000 to help with food, litter, and medical costs for our ICS cats! We want to take some time to thank all who helped with this awesome effort, especially during our March 7 Sweetheart Day event. Great fun was had by all, including the cats themselves!
The 2015 Sweetheart Winner, “King” Georgie
The annual Sweetheart Contest is one of our favorite events at ICS, because it not only helps us raise funds to support our shelter residents, but also puts some of our kitties’ best faces forward. That’s right – so far, three of our nine sweethearts have now found their forever homes! Abby, Donut, and Snowball are all happily settled with their new families, and for that, we couldn’t be more thrilled.
Want to know more about helping with events like the Sweetheart Contest, and all sorts of volunteering that you can do with ICS? Look no further than our website: http://www.catsociety.org. You can even fill out an online volunteer form while you’re there. We hope to see you around the shelter or at an event near you very soon!
Adoptable cats, great articles, dates to remember, and more inside!
Calendar of Events
April
Published for the friends of the Independent Cat Society, Inc. PO Box 735, Westville, IN 46391 (219) 785-4936
Earth Day April 18, 9:00am - 4:00pm Porter County Expo Center, Valparaiso, IN
Web: www.catsociety.org Email: shelter@catsociety.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/ indcatsociety
Be Kind to Animals April 25, 10:00am - 4:00pm Porter County Expo Center, Valparaiso, IN
May
The Independent Cat Society, Inc., founded in 1977, is a non-profit, no-kill cat shelter on US Rt 6 at the Porter/LaPorte County Line Road in Westville, Indiana. Our mission is to rescue, shelter, adopt, and promote the spaying and neutering of cats in our Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland community. Adoption hours: Saturday, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm Sunday, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm Others by appointment. Please call (219) 785-4936. About our Adoption Fees Include: Spay/neuter, vet exam, feline leukemia and FIV test; ageappropriate vaccinations; parasite treatment; tattoo ID/microchip; 30 Day No-Cost Pet Insurance; Hills Science Diet coupon; and free postadoption participating vet visit. Please check our website or shelter for monthly adoption specials! Board of Directors: President: Anastasia Trekles Vice-President: Judy Lindmark Recording Secretary: Judy Dean Corresponding Secretary: Carol Albrecht Treasurer: Natalie Cebulski Board Members: Diana Foster Jason Petrovich Jennifer Stall Joan Hildebrand
Give Local America! May 5 24-Hour online giving event of the year! Learn more at http://www.catsociety.org
Aunt Kitty’s Trash and Treasure Sale May 16-17, 10:00am - 4:00pm Donations accepted: May 15, 9:00am - 5:00pm ICS Shelter, Westville, IN Join us for our annual spring yard sale! Food and fun will be available each day. Bring your gently used housewares, toys, holiday items, small appliances, shoes, collectibles – please do not donate large furniture items or clothes.
June Summer Open House June 20, 10am - 4pm; June 21, 2015, 1pm - 4pm ICS Shelter, Westville, IN Stop in for baked goods, cat toys, visiting the cats and kittens, and much more during our annual Summer Open House!
Last Day for Yankee Candles! June 30 Go to http://www.yankeecandlefundraising.com and enter the Group Number 990078011 and our Seller ID “Anastasia9” in order give ICS credit.
July Annual Book Sale July 17-18, 9am - 4pm Donations accepted: July 16, 11am - 4pm NEW location! National Guard Armory, 1502 Linwood Ave, Valparaiso, IN (Rt. 30, west of Sturdy Road, near Graceland Cemetery)
Start saving those used books, electronics, music, and games! 2
President’s Message A black cat crossing your path signifies that the animal is going somewhere. – Groucho Marx When a loving Portage resident who had been fostering four magnificent cats for several years explained to the Independent Cat Society (ICS) in Westville that he was no longer able to care for them in the manner in which they’d grown accustomed, the ICS sprang into action. Thanks to you, our supporters, we were able to help our friend in his time of need and find new forever homes for all of his foster cats, including Damien and Jimmy who are living comfortably in Chesterton, and Cathloua and Callie who are now settled in Valparaiso. That’s right, the kitties you learned about in our last Mewsletter have been adopted by a wonderful new family! We are so happy for these kitties, as well as for their adopters. Have you ever thought about fostering? Or perhaps serving as an adoption counselor? These are two important areas for volunteering, as we are always in need of loving, patient, and knowledgable people to fulfill these roles. Fostering is a beautiful thing!
The ICS Foster Program is the perfect solution both for humans and animal companions. While fostering, you provide one – or several – cats with loving attention and companionship, making them even more adoptable. After the application process, trained ICS volunteers do a reference check and a home visit making certain that the environment is safe, and that the person’s lifestyle, skill sets and schedule are compatible with fostering a cat or kitten. Adoption counselors, meanwhile, help match up incoming potential adopters with their new best friend. You don’t need any special skills to be a counselor, save for a love of animals and people, a friendly disposition, and a kind heart. We will train you in the rules and policies that ICS follows when it comes to adoption applications, and we will also help you learn how to use our PetPoint animal database to make sure that the proper paperwork is completed for each successful adoption. You’re never alone, but we do need your help to keep making ICS a wonderful temporary home for our favorite felines. Let us know you’re interested in volunteering at http://www.catsociety.org today! We hope to see you soon! Sincerely, Staci Trekles, ICS Board President and Dee Dunheim, ICS Volunteer
Ready for a summer vacation? Thanks to the wonderful folks at Southwest Airlines, you just might be “free to fly” and be the lucky winner of our raffle for TWO roundtrip tickets! That’s right, you can choose any destination, any date, up to an $800 value. All proceeds from the contest will go toward our medical and dental fund – don’t miss out! Raffle tickets are $5 each, or 5 for $20 and can be purchased at our shelter, by mail, or via Paypal online at http://www. catsociety.org. Remember, if you use Paypal or US mail to get in on the action, be sure to mark clearly in your message (“special instructions to seller” in PayPal) the number of tickets you are purchasing, your name, address, and phone/email. We will confirm your ticket purchase and send you your ticket stubs. Tickets will be on sale between now and June 14th, when we will draw the big winner during our Summer Open House on Sunday June 14th at 3:00pm. 3
Please note: We do not use litter pan liners, newspapers, or pine cleaners like Pine Sol. Thank you! Office Supplies Stamps Various Colored 2-pocket folders with Business Card Slots Letter-Size Manila File Folders Cleaning Supplies Bleach Laundry Soap (prefer HE type) Dryer Sheets Liquid Hand Soap Dish Soap Paper Plates Paper Towels 30-gallon Trash Bags Tall Kitchen Garbage Bags Medical Supplies Microwaveable Heating Discs Science Diet A/D, I/D, K/D Wellness Grain-Free Food Building and Grounds 20 x 25 x 5 Aire Bear Furnace filters Water Softener Pellets 16 x 20 x 1 Fiberglass Furnace Filters Replacement Filters for Hunter Air Purifier Model #30547 Carpenters, plumbers, painters Other Dry Cat Food, kitten and adult, Prefer Hills Science Diet but use other brands for donations to those in need Ground flavors of Fancy Feast and grain-free foods Kuranda Plastic Cleanable Cat Trees Scoopable and Clay Litters Gift Cards to Lowe’s, Menard’s, Home Depot, etc. Safeguard SG-36D Humane Traps Turbo-Tracks Replacement Scratchers Extra Large Litter Scoops Small Blankets, Rugs, Towels Special Services Artists and craftspersons for events Transportation and hauling vehicles
The cats thank you! Ask us for a receipt for tax-deductible donations.
Sponsor-A-Cat!
from your Spokescat, Corky
Hi, I’m Corky, your ICS spokescat! From my two-story condo, I’m a top-notch eavesdropper. Recently a visitor asked a volunteer, “What does that sign with the smiling cat mean? ‘We are 100% sponsored’?” That sign means that every cat in that room has a sponsor who pledges a donation for the cat’s food, litter, and medical care. Of course, no cat goes without food, clean litter, or necessary medical care, but this gives our generous donors a more personal connection with the cats they help. Still, SAC donations are the most reliable source of operating funds for ICS. Sponsors receive a studio-quality 4x6 picture of their special cat and a brief story of the kitty’s life before living in the shelter. If you’re like to sponsor a cat, please fill out the coupon below and send it with your first months’ check, and you’ll hear from your sponsor cat soon. Please tell us if you have a preference – male or female, young or senior, orange, black, tabby, or tortie.
Corky, your Spokescat
Last year at this time, I pledged to try to get every cat in the shelter a sponsor. Well, we came close, but with your help, every room can have a smiling cat on the door saying that that room is 100% sponsored! I’ve heard the saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” Here are cats that would love for you to be their sponsor. If you live in the area or are visiting, please come and visit your sponsored cat, and all of our wonderful shelter residents during our weekend hours.
Scooter
Speedy
Mustang
Victoria
Zen
Chessie
Sassy
Pyewacket
Necco
Twix
I want to Sponsor-A-Cat from the Independent Cat Society
I have enclosed a check for:
__________ $180 for one year of Sponsor-A-Cat
__________ $15 for the first month of Sponsor-A-Cat. I pledge to send $15 each month to Sponsor-A-Cat
__________ I pledge to send the amount that fits my budget and feels “right” to Sponsor-A-Cat each month Please mark “SAC” on your envelope and check memo. The sponsor will receive a photo and biography of his or her Sponsor-A-Cat. Name of sponsor_____________________________________________ Address_________________________________________________ City______________________________________ State_______ ZIP__________ Telephone _______________________________________ Month of sponsor’s birthday______________________________ email address_______________________________________ Clip and mail to: Independent Cat Society, Inc., PO Box 735, Westville, IN 46391 4
The Power of Joy of Giving to Animals Recently at ICS, we were introduced to a wonderful resource here in the Chicagoland area, a lovely person by the name of Dr. Linda Harper. Dr. Harper is a clinical psychologist, and also an avid animal activist. In fact, she founded Blessed Bonds in Palos Park, Illinois (http://adoptpetshelter. org/programs-services/Crisis%20 Assistance.aspx), an organization dedicated to finding foster homes for pets when their owners have a medical or personal crisis that may take them away from home for a period of time.
around. To be certain, anyone who spends time volunteering or giving to animal welfare – and indeed, to many other charitable causes – should read this book! The purpose of Dr. Harper’s latest book is to let those who give know that they are not alone with those fears, stumbling points, and roadblocks that often get in the way of enjoying the work that we do. She provides numerous examples and practical pieces of advice, including perspectives from co-author Faith Maloney, one of the founders of the Best Friends Animal Society. These stories light the way toward a greater understanding of the inherent strains that charitable work can bring, and how we can ensure that the joy of helping others does not get lost in feelings of disappointment and helplessness when things don’t always work out the way we’d like. Most of us are not Superman or Superwoman, after all!
Among her many talents, Dr. Harper
A great book for anyone who is also an author, and has written a dedicates work to animals! number of books to help people expand
The demands on someone who gives their time and efforts to charity can be great at times, but so can the rewards. Dr. Harper’s book reminds us to remember the joy, the fun, and the value that each of us brings to our causes, no matter how great or small our contributions might feel. When we remember that we are not alone, and that we are doing good work, we all win!
their lives and their perspectives in a variety of ways. She concentrates specifically on supporting those of us who give of our time, talents, and resources, which can often leave us feeling depleted if we do not make sure to take care of ourselves while we are taking care of others. She generously donated a few copies of her recent book, The Power of Joy of Giving to Animals, to our ICS Board of Directors and committee chairs, and we have been avidly reading them through and passing them
Learn more and purchase your copy ($6.99 ebook/$13.86 paperback) at http://www.harperhelper.com or http://smile. amazon.com.
We’re Putting the FUN in Fundraisers! Light up a cat’s life . . . with Yankee Candles! Throughout the spring and through June 30, 2015, we invite you to help ICS by participating in our online Yankee Candle fundraiser! The Web catalog contains not just candles, but a wide array of other gifts, including decorative housewares, flameless home fragrance, garden decor, and much more!
Details on the 5th Annual Black Cat Strut and 5 Mile Trail Run, a memorial to ICS alumni “Buddy:” Date: Saturday, October 31st, 2015 Time: 11:00 am Location: Sunset Hill Farm, 775 Meridian Rd, Valparaiso, IN 46385
To join in, visit http://www.yankeecandlefundraising.com and enter the Group Number 990078011 and our Seller ID “Anastasia9” in order give ICS credit.
Entry Fees For 5 mile run: $20.00 per person Be a winner and run with us! entry if received by October 20th For 5k non-competitive walk: $10.00 per person entry if received by October 20th
Also, this Halloween, mark your calendars for the ICS Black Cat Strut 5k Non-Competitive Walk and 5-Mile Trail “Run for Buddy!” This exciting new entry into our annual Black Cat Strut events is part of the Crazy Legs Race Series, a popular series for athletes all over our region (see http://crazylegsraceseries.info for more!). Look to our website and the next Mewsletter for registration information.
$3 off entry fee if you are a member of the Crazy Legs Race Series
Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Options ICS Vouchers are available at the ICS shelter on Saturdays from 10 AM-4PM and Sundays from 1-4 PM. (Others hours may be available by appointment only).
Other local options: • Neuter Scooter: www.neuterscooter.com • Pet Neutering and Adoption: www.petneutering.com (DeMotte) • ABC Clinic: www.petrefugeabcclinic.com (Granger) • The Estelle Marcus Animal Clinic: www.hscalumet.org or (219) 9247140 (Munster) • NAWS: www.nawsus.org or (708) 478-5102 (Mokena) • PAWS Chicago: The Lurie Spay/Neuter Clinic or mobile unit, www. pawschicago.org or (773) 521-7729 (Chicago) • Anti-Cruelty Society: www.anticruelty.org or (312) 644-8338 (Chicago) For help with spaying neutering of free-roaming cats, please email us at: icstnr@comcast.net
After purchasing a voucher (cash/check/credit card), call one of the veterinary clinics listed below to schedule an appointment. ICS Spay/Neuter vouchers are only accepted at the following veterinary clinics: • McAfee Animal Hospital: 219-462-5901 651 Eastport Centre Dr. Valparaiso, IN 46383 Basic - $115; Comprehensive - $140 • Westchester Animal Clinic 219-926-1194 55E US Highway 20 Porter, IN 46304-1397 Basic - $65; Comprehensive - $90 Dr. Anderson’s Feline Reduction Center has a low-cost clinic on Saturdays in Beverly Shores. The scheduling number is 219-861-9006 – please call and leave a message.
5
Charitable Gift Planning with Qualified Retirement Assets by Jason Petrovich
Making the most of the assets you’ve worked hard to accumulate throughout your life is important. Whether you’re still planning for retirement or enjoying it already, having a solid plan for what happens to your assets at death is a critical step that, to be honest, nobody likes to think about. Taking care of family and loved ones, as well as achieving philanthropic goals, are two of the most common objectives related to successful estate planning. But did you know which assets you allocate toward which objectives can make a difference to not only your heirs, but the charities you plan to support?
maintaining their full impact to fulfill your wishes. An IRA with a balance of $100,000, when given to an heir, assuming they are in the 28% tax bracket, will result in your heir ultimately receiving $72,000. When this same asset is used for charitable purposes at the ICS, the full value of your IRA is received - $100,000 - and it maintains its full impact. Your current-year support of the ICS is highly valued through the gifts that you make on an annual basis that help ICS with its dayto-day operations, such as veterinary care and cat food. If you are wondering if your IRA or other qualified retirement plan assets would be good to utilize as a means of meeting your charitable goals during life, the answer is an unequivocal “no”. During life once you withdraw these funds, regardless of their intended purpose, it is a taxable event for you. If you receive a distribution and make a charitable gift with those assets, the charitable income tax deduction you claim for this gift will help to offset the tax owed from its distribution, but it will not offset it completely. Other tax-favored assets, such as appreciated securities, are a much better choice in this situation for current-year giving. In this case, you not only satisfy your charitable goals in any given year, but possibly avoid capital gains on the appreciated asset.
A typical overview of an individual’s total asset structure likely includes a home, qualified tax-deferred retirement accounts, individual stock ownership or mutual funds, life insurance and perhaps many other commonly owned types of assets. While the topic of estate planning is too wide and deep for a thorough analysis of all its intricacies, in this article we will focus on testamentary charitable gifts made with retirement plan assets. If you are thinking you might wish to create your personal legacy at the Independent Cat Society (ICS) through a deferred gift, this is a good place to start. Qualified tax-deferred retirement plan assets are assets that are not taxed until you begin withdrawing them from your account. Two of the most common plans are IRA and 401(k) retirement accounts. These grow over time, benefitting from their tax-deferred status, until you need them and begin taking distributions from the account, at which time you likely pay ordinary income tax in that year. Now think of these assets in the context of your overall estate goals: you wish to provide for your heirs and you wish to support the ICS to advance its good work. Where does my IRA or 401(k) fit in this equation?
When considering charitable gift options such as the above, prudent measures should always be taken and the professional advice of trusted counsel sought. Estate planning can be a weighty issue depending on the size and complexity of your estate. There are numerous aspects to making the right decisions and no two situations are ever the same. The ICS thanks you for considering its inclusion in your estate plan, as do the nearly 180 cats who call us home (for now)!
Qualified tax-deferred assets such as IRA funds and 401(k) accounts are often chosen for charitable purposes through beneficiary designations on the accounts. The reason is that if these taxdeferred assets are passed to an heir, the funds are subject to ordinary income tax, generating a potential tax liability for the heir. When tax-deferred funds are allocated to a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization, they pass to the organization on a tax-free basis,
Ask Ollie!
Dear Ollie,
I’m an attractive, male grey and white domestic short haired cat that followed my scent to a beautiful tortoiseshell female cat that lived near Highway 49 in Valparaiso. In my quest for my spring romance, I got lost and here’s my story.
by Viktoria Voller Dear Grey Greg,
It sounds to me that it has already happened. You were nearly killed on Friday and then neutered on Tuesday. Wow. That’s a lot for any cat! After surgery and recovery, you’ll feel better, quit marking territory, have more energy, be more adoptable and stop chasing girl cats in heat. Hopefully, you will be microchipped by your new owners so you are never lost again. Seriously, you’ll make someone a fabulous pet. After all, Greg, you can actually write a letter, and that’s a big deal for any cat!
When my sense of smell failed and I couldn’t find my prize, I just sat in the middle of Bullseye Lake Road, casually counting the cars that swerved around me. A good hearted woman-human slammed on her car brakes, stopped traffic, scooped me up and took me home. There, I spent the whole weekend with her family; a spoiled Siamese cat, one horrible, scruffy dog, and a man-human who kept yelling, “You don’t need another cat.” She tried to find my owners by phoning every veterinarian and shelter in Porter County but no one was missing me. I’m beautifully groomed, but have no tags or microchip. On Tuesday morning, she took me somewhere and the talk was about neutering. What does “neuter” mean, and what will happen to me? Grey Greg
I sincerely hope you have found your forever home by the time this article reaches the Mewsletter. There are many cats like you out there. If you were not lucky enough to be able to stay with your new friends, fear not. There is a forever home out there! Interested humans can find out more about you or other cats for adoption by phoning the Independent Cat Society at 219-785-4936 or visiting them online at http://www.catsociety.org.
6
Memorials & Tributes...
January - March 2015
In memory of Scooter, from the Cynthia Murray In memory of Smokie, from Aidan Moran In memory of Tater Tot, 2-14-04 to 1-23-14 - I miss him every minute, from Sandra Mason In memory of Taz and Sam, from Alan and Linda Miller In memory of Tigger, 11-26-14, from Paul Dreesen In memory of Tom, from Nathalie Pennington In memory of Walter Witt, my dear husband, from Mary Witt With love from Cynthia Jane, from Stacy Griffith
In memory of Zoe and Binky, from Barbara Crawford
In loving memory of Barbara Sennett, from Pat Dolezal, Karen Durnell, Jeanette Eason, Sue Potts, Robert & JoAnne Sennett, and Rose-Anne Uminski
In memory of Nickie, from Timothy Fizer In memory of Sandi Daniels, from Kelly Sargent
In memory of Beth Banner, from Jody Zodl In memory and honor of Juanita Viera, a fellow teacher and animal lover, from Mary Ann Eckhart, Roberta Jocius, and Dean & Susan Squire “Meow” to my HMS/PHS friend Juanita Viera, who loved and cared for animals,” from Millie Ruzbasan In memory of Mrs. Ruth Antrim, from Floyd and Jacqueline Nelson In memory of Alexia, from Gary and Beverly Overmyer In memory of Cassie and Muffy (ICS Kitty), from Beverly Shroat In memory of Darrell, from Cheryl Dusenbury In memory of Dorothy Shepherd, from Judith Standiford and Carla Casto In memory of Elizabeth Hanner, from William and Lynne Hrad In memory of Goliath, female tortie, 5/99-22/38/15 - our 17 year companion, from G. David Stoneburner In loving memory of JoBeth Madsen Cruz, from her many friends and family: Stanley Christianson, Jay Cruz, Helen Golding, Rick Hamada, John & Jan Hannah, John & Carol Holmquest, John & Kerrie Hoodlebrink, Bradly Lauman, Lauren Mache, Kristine Miller, Paul & Sheralyn Nash, Jean Racine, Sadonna Swann, Jeffrey & Marlene Vale, and Maggie Reister Walters In memory of Lexas and Priscilla Bradley from Mike and Dorothy Paunovich In memory of Lori Kelly, from William & Lee Anne Cahillane, and Faith Haupt In memory of Maggie and Codie, my grandkitties, from Sharon Jokantas In memory of Marilyn K. Senour, from her friends at the Miller-Aetna Group In memory of our mother Marilyn Senour, from the Senour Family In memory of Melvin Novak, from Michiana Mechanical, Inc. In memory of Mr. and Mrs. Soliday’s “Teddy”, from David and June Tompkins In memory of Mrs. Patricia E. Street, from Dorothy Konrady In memory of my cat Mendy, from Sally Benson In memory of my cat Snowball, from Thomas Osika In memory of Noel and Felix, my handsome feline boys, from Ana Garcia
In honor of Carlo (formerly Skeeter), adopted September 2002 and still a very happy cat, from Linda Ferguson and Ralph Klapis
In memory of our dear friend Tom Kennedy, from Richard & Valeria Borchert, Charles & Lori Greis, and Roger & Constance Mays
In honor of Martina Rukavina, from Laura Barich
In memory of our fine friend and customer Peggy Gibson, from Porter Bank
In honor of Kelley DePirro, from Roger DePirro
In memory of Peggy Gibson, from Richard & Karen Depirro, Leanna Fandl, and Nicholas & Joan Smith
In honor of my cats Purrsley, Mowgli, Gizmo, Luna, Tazzbe, and Tiger Lily, from Barbara Berg
In honor of Kira, adopted from ICS 12/22.2009, from S. Heller
In memory of Pretty Girl DePirro, from Richard and Karen DePirro If we have inadvertently omitted anyone, please write, email, or call us so we can include them in the next newsletter.
7
Independent Cat Society PO Box 735 Westville, IN 46391
Non-Profit Organization US Postage
PAID
Valparaiso, IN Permit No. 134
Upcoming Events
http://catsociety.org
• Earth Day
April 18, Porter County Expo Center, Valparaiso
• Be Kind to Animals
@IndCatSociety
• Give Local America
facebook.com/ indcatsociety
April 25, Porter County Expo Center, Valparaiso May 5, ONLINE special giving event! www.catsociety.org
• Aunt Kitty’s Trash and Treasure Sale
Donations May 15, Sale May 16-17, ICS Shelter
• Summer Open House
June 20-21, ICS Shelter
• Annual Book Sale
Donations July 16, Sale July 17-18, National Guard Armory, (Rt. 30 next to Graceland Cemetery), Valparaiso, IN
• Fall Yard Sale
Donations October 2, Sale Oct. 3-4, ICS Shelter
• Black Cat 5K Walk/Run and 5 Mile Trail
Run for Buddy
October 31, Sunset Hill Park, Valparaiso
If you’d like to receive the Mewsletter via email, let us know at shelter@catsociety.org.
Can you help the Independent Cat Society cats? Become a Member! Annual Dues:
Donate or Volunteer! ______ I am donating $______ for the care of the cats and kittens.
______
$1000 Corporation
______ I am donating $______ to the building fund.
______
$500 Platinum
______ I will help groom cats at the shelter.
______
$100 Gold Star
______
$50 Family
______
$25 Individual
______
$10 Student
______ I am donating $______ to the TNR/Assisted Spay & Neuter Fund. ______ I will help give cats their medications. ______ I will help at fundraising events. ______ I will be a foster parent. ______ I will donate my cat-themed artwork or crafts for fundraising events. ______ I will bake for fundraising events. ______ I will make adoption follow-up telephone calls. ______ I will help cats get good homes by becoming an adoption counselor. ______ I will help take care of the grounds and maintain the shelter.
______
$10 Senior
______ I will distribute flyers for fundraisers.
Name______________________________________ Address_____________________ City______________ State_______ ZIP__________ ____This is a new address. ____ Do not send a “thank you” note. Phone____________________ email___________________________ Clip and send to: Independent Cat Society, Inc., PO Box 735, Westville, IN 46391