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Shanti’s House

An Oasis of Healing for Feral Cats Our Story | Solution | Results

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A New Approach to Saving Feral Cats

Saving feral cats from euthanasia, while supporting the community, requires innovative approaches. We have raised the bar to what is possible. We are the first to create and build a Pet Therapy & Comfort Pavilion for feral cats on the grounds of a senior living facility. With hopes that others will emulate our business model, and with the goal of helping to control and care for the thousands of feral cat colonies that exist, we provide free instruction, education, and A-to-Z, hands-on mentoring for other organizations, senior living facilities, and individuals who wish to create similar pavilions on retirement campuses and other secure locations.

MATCHING GRANT – DONATE TODAY! We are thrilled to announce a generous matching grant of $5,000, thanks to long-time friend of the Sanctuary, Don Micheli. This incredible opportunity means that any donations made to us this year will me matched, effectively doubling what we can do.

The Sad Truth There are an estimated 60-100 million feral and abandoned cats in the United States. San Diego alone has an approximate 3000 + feral cat colonies. Through no fault of their own, these cats are forced to live a tragic existence. Feral cats typically live a brutal life of two to five years — or less, if they don’t have regular feeders.

Some were once pets, betrayed by their humans, abandoned and discarded like trash.

These cats endure: • wild animal predation • dog attacks • disease • starvation • severe weather • anemia – blood loss • severe flea infestations • abscesses and battle injuries • abuse and torture from cruel humans • bodily injuries from vehicle trauma

Our Story Previously, 60+ cats were living on the grounds and asphalt parking lots of an assisted living property and an adjacent strip mall. The cats were emaciated — walking skeletons slowly starving to death, covered in fleas, anemic, injured, frightened, and un-fixed. Desperate for food, they would timidly approach the senior residents, hoping for handouts, or scavenge in dumpsters where they sometimes incurred injury from razor blades, needles, and other dangerous refuse. Their future was animal control and euthanasia.

MAX – Before When we met Max, he was near death, suffering from many of the afflictions common to feral cats.

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SHEENA – Before When we met Sheena,

SHEENA SHEENA –– Before Before When we met Sheena, When we met Sheena, SHEENA – Before she was weak she she wasweso somet weak she When Sheena, had no use of her hind had was no use of hershe hind she so weak legs. legs. had no use of her hind legs.

Solution Solution Now, imagine this alternative to Solution Now, imagine this alternative to abandonment abandonment and and euthanasia: euthanasia:

A enclosed Feral Pavilion with green A multidimensional multidimensional Feral Cat Cat with beautiful beautiful green gardens, gardens, Now, imagineenclosed this alternative to Pavilion abandonment and euthanasia: trees, grass, lush plants, water fountains, solar lighting, and wind chimes. trees, grass, lush plants, water fountains, solarwith lighting, and wind A multidimensional enclosed Feral Cat Pavilion beautiful greenchimes. gardens, Most importantly — safety, shelter, food, water, medical care, and love.

Most grass, importantly — safety, shelter, food,solar water,lighting, medical care, and love. trees, lush plants, water fountains, and wind chimes.

Most importantly — safety, shelter, food, water, medical care, and love.

MAX MAX –– Now Now Fully healed, he FullyMAX healed, he is is the the – Now Benevolent Ruler of Benevolent Fully healed,Ruler he is of the the Colony.

Nobody the Colony. Ruler Nobody Benevolent of messes with Mr. Max. messes with Mr. Max. the Colony. Nobody messes with Mr. Max.

SHEENA SHEENA –– Now Now “Tiny Dancer”— legs “Tiny Dancer”— legs SHEENA – Now

now fully functional — now functional “Tinyfully Dancer”— legs — our Little Princess, our Princess, the the nowLittle fully functional — beauty queen, loves to beauty queen, lovesthe to our Little Princess, cuddle. cuddle. beauty queen, loves to cuddle.

These These are are only only two two of of our our stories stories of of recovery recovery — — so so far far there there have have been been more more than than 60 60 — — and many more are waiting to happen. and manyofmore are waiting happen.

These are only two of our stories recovery — so fartothere have been more than 60 —

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A Dream Fulfilled A Dream Fulfilled oasis for a San Diego feral colony, locatIn just two and a half years, we designed and built an extraordinary

In twosite andofa half years, we designed and built an extraordinary oasis for San Diegothe feral colony, edjust on the a senior living facility. Our immediate, urgent imperative wasa to secure safety andlocatwelled on the site of a senior living facility.

Our immediate, urgent imperative was to secure the safety and wellbeing of the colony. We spayed or neutered every cat, one by one, and administered any necessary medical being of theWe colony. spayed or neutered every cat,home. one by one, and administered any necessary medical treatment. then We began construction on their new treatment. We then began construction on their new home.

PROPERTY BEFORE PROPERTY BEFORE

This isn’t a dream — it actually exists!

This isn’t a dream — it actually exists!

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The Pet Therapy & Comfort Pavilion is entirely separate from the resident area. The cats live in their own compound with their own caregivers. They have five cottages of varied sizes, a secret garden, and multiple play areas which include a huge Podocarpus tree to climb, and a tree house. Except for the indoor cottages, the entire habitat is open on one side for senior resident viewing, with a large plexiglass wall providing unobstructed views of the central pavilion.

Enchantment for Senior Citizens Every morning, afternoon, and evening the seniors enjoy watching the kitties play. It’s a win-win for the residents who love the cats, many of them having known these cats since they were kittens.

Shanti’s House

An Oasis of Healing for Feral Cats

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First-Time Experience Our ferals, like millions of others, had never experienced comfort before.

They had never slept on a soft pillow, felt a warm blanky under their bodies, or had a cozy kitty bed to curl up into.

They had never experienced toys or balls to play with. They couldn’t escape the hot sun or shivering cold that made their bones brittle.

The cats never experienced a safe and quiet place to lay their heads, always having to sleep with one eye open. And they never knew where their next meal was coming from.

But now, for the first time in their lives they know what this feels like!!

Donate at: www.shantishouse.org Or mail check to: Shanti’s House, P.O. Box 651, La Jolla, CA 92038 6

DONATE TODAY!

DONATE TODAY! 100% of your contribution supports the cats Your donations are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.

Results Shanti’s House is designed to live up to the principles of its namesake and has proven to be a place of “peace, rest, calmness, and tranquility” for the felines that are lucky enough to call it their home!

Incredibly, since this endeavor began fewer than three years ago, many of our ferals have become tame, craving human touch and companionship.

They They love love being spoken to to and and have truly healed and and thrived, thrived, resulting so far far in in twelve twelve successful adoptions into forever adoptions homes. homes.

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It takes a lot of patience and perseverance to build trust from feral cats. We will continue on with this path and for every cat we adopt out we will connect with animal welfare organizations to take in older, sick, needy, or crippled ferals needing a safe, beautiful, and gentle environment.

Shanti

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In March 2018, our founder took a wrong turn down an alley and found a lone kitten in the street.

Shanti That kitten was Shanti. The rest is history. . .

With the hope that others will emulate this business model, and with the goal of helping to control and care for the thousands of existing feral cat colonies, we provide free instruction, education, and A-to-Z, hands-on mentoring for other organizations, senior living facilities, and individuals who wish to create similar pavilions. Although our focus and immediate expertise is California — having successfully navigated and mastered the intricacies of licensing and code requirements here locally — the With the hopeofthat willferal emulate thisfacility business model, and with the goal of helping to control fundamentals thisothers unique rescue can be applied anywhere and we stand readyand as a

care for the thousands of existing feral cat colonies, we provide free instruction, education, and A-to-Z, hands-on mentoring for other organizations, senior living facilities, and individuals who wish to create simithrough the internet, we could easily help animal welfare groups in other countries as well, with startlar pavilions. Although our focus and immediate expertise is California — having successfully navigated and upmastered fundamentals unique of tolicensing feral needs. the intricacies and code requirements here locally — the fundamentals of this unique feral rescue facility can be applied anywhere and we stand ready as a resource to provide assistance in photos on our website are of our actual resident cats,thepast and present. any state.All Given the increasingly interconnectedness of the world through internet, we could easily help animal welfare groups in other countries as well, with start-up fundamentals unique to feral needs.

resource to provide assistance in any state. Given the increasingly interconnectedness of the world

DONATE TODAY! 100% of your contribution supports the cats Your donations are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.

All photos on our website are our actual resident cats, past and present.

Donate at:ofwww.shantishouse.org

Or mail check to:

Building the Dream Shanti’s House, P.O. Box 651, La Jolla, CA 92038 n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n

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The End The End

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Contact Us If you’d like more information about Shanti’s House or getting involved, Contact Us please contact us!

If you’d like information about We’d lovemore to connect with you.

Shanti’s House or getting involved, please contact us!

We’d love to connect with you.

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About Us

Kristina Hancock Director of Operations

Karla Dutt

Assistant Director

© 2023 Shanti’s House is a division of SNAP: a purpose-driven 501(c)(3) charitable organization: EIN: 33-0517862 www.shantishouse.org