Independent Cat Society Mewsletter Fall 2019

For the friends of the Independent Cat Society, a no-kill cat shelter

Fall 2019 #163

Thanks for a wonderful year!

On October 12, ICS celebrated its friends with the annual fundraising dinner, held at the Blue Chip Casino.

With our theme of 1920’s style, a great time was had by all!

• The Book Worm • Wildrose Brewing • Wiseguys Discount Liquors of Chesterton • Xscape Quest

We would like to thank our corporate sponsors: • BoyConn Printing • Blue Chip Casino • Westchester Animal Clinic • Northwest Indiana Eye and Laser • Pet Supplies Plus of La Porte • Ark of the Dunes Animal Hospital

Finally, we would like to thank the many individuals who contributed items or helped us put this fabulous event together. Without these wonderful people, our event would not be possible!

We would also like to thank those who provided in-kind donations to our silent auction and raffle prizes: • Cat Trees by Max • Chesterton Feed and Garden • Chicagoland Popcorn • Crazy Ink Publishing • Duneland Pizza • El Salto Restaurants • Four Fathers Brewing • Gelsosomo’s Pizza of Chesterton • Jackson Galaxy Foundation • KimKayyArt • Mucho Mas Published for the friends of the Independent Cat Society, Inc. PO Box 735, Westville, IN 46391 (219) 785-4936 Web: www.catsociety.org Email: shelter@catsociety.org Facebook: facebook.com/INCatSociety 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.

Tis the Season...

A canceled flight. A postman in need. An unexpected surprise, and a magic snow globe. You’ll find all of the ingredients above mixed and blended just right in this collection of Holiday super-short stories that will warm your heart, touch your soul, and perhaps even scare you just a little bit. All of these authors have come together to offer you a collection you’ll not soon forget. Grab your cat and cup of hot cocoa and snuggle up, your Christmas adventure begins now.

Release date: November 14 Preorder today: http://bit.ly/ OurChristmasNook Paperback available soon!

All proceeds benefit the Independent Cat

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; age-appropriate vaccinations; parasite treatment; tattoo ID/microchip; 30 Day No-Cost Pet Insurance; Hills Science Diet coupon; and free post-adoption participating vet visit.

Please check our website or shelter for monthly adoption specials!

Board of Directors President:

Jocelyn Vereb Vice-President:

Paulette Gonzalez Recording Secretary:

Diana Richie Corresponding Secretary:

Kay Vazquez Treasurer:

Natalie Cebulski Board Members:

Diana Foster

Beth Hayden

Lori Hlinsky

Jennifer Stall

Thanks to our Supporters!

As 2019 winds down, we must again thank all of our Supporters, Volunteers and Employees for everything they have done to help this year. Our Fall Yard Sale was successful, despite the rain, and our Cat’s Meow Gala was great. And the best thing is that over 300 of our great cats and kittens have found their purr-ever homes!

Fiona and I need to sign off and start planning for more great things in 2020. We wish you and your family a wonderful holiday season, and hope to see you at our Holiday Open House on December 14th and 15th!

Jocelyn Vereb, ICS Board President with Fiona, ICS “Office Manager”

Spay/Neuter Resources ICS assisted spay/neuter 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). After purchase (cash/check/credit card), call one of the clinics below to schedule an appointment: • • • • •

McAfee Animal Hospital (Valparaiso): 219-462-5901 – $115 Westchester Animal Clinic (Chesterton): 219-926-1194– $65 All Creature Features (LaPorte): 219-393-3558 – $85 Gast Animal Hospital (Valparaiso): 219-759-7387 – $110 Maple City Animal Hospital (LaPorte): 219-324-0055 – $116

Dr. Anderson’s Feline Reduction Center has a lowcost clinic on Saturdays in Beverly Shores. The scheduling number is 219-861-9006.

Other local options: • • • • • •

Neuter Scooter: www.neuterscooter.com Pet Neutering and Adoption: 219-987-7297 (DeMotte) ABC Clinic: www.petrefugeabcclinic.com (Granger) The Estelle Marcus Animal Clinic: www. hscalumet.org or (219) 924-7140 (Munster) PAWS Chicago: The Lurie Spay/Neuter Clinic or mobile unit, www.pawschicago.org or (773) 521-7729 (Chicago) Fried’s TNR Clinic: 219-252-2872, friedstnr@gmail.com (Michigan City)

Wish List Office supplies • Stamps • 2-pocket folders w/business card • Letter sized manila folders Cleaning supplies • Laundry soup (HE preferred) • Dryer sheets • Paper plates • Paper towels • 30-gallon trash bags • Tall kitchen garbage bags Building & Grounds • Water softener pellets (rust prevention) • Aire Bear furnace filters 20x25x5 • 16x20x1 fiberglass furnace filters Other • Dry cat food (kitten/adult) - we prefer Science Diet • Ground flavors of Friskies and Fancy Feast • Kuranda cleanable cat trees • Scoopable & clay litter • Gift cards to Menard’s, Home Depot • Safeguard SG-36D humane traps • Turbo tracks replacement scratchers • Extra large litter scoops • Small blankets, rugs, and towels • Wellness grain-free food

Contact us at icstnr2018@gmail.com for information on feral/community cat spay/neuter.

Special Services • Artists and craftspersons • Transportation and hauling vehicles • Skilled trades for grounds and building work

Featured cat: Jada

Featured cat: Avacado

Featured kitten: Dreamy

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_____________________________________________ Is this a gift sponsorship? _______________ 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 2

Memorials & Tributes

September 2019 - October 2019

In honor of Eleather Baker from the Senior Team at HealthLinc, from Josephy and Beth Wrobel

In memory of Marcus Brown and his beloved cats Boo Boo and Buddy, from Jacqueline Hazzard-Reed

In honor of Moose, who found his forever home, and Pax, my new sponsor cat, from Nancy Machura

In memory of Heidi Dods, from Carol Siepka

In memory of Riley, from Evelyn Hutton

In memory of Rex Eckert, from Linda and Bill Moran and Michele Belzowski

In memory of Skip, from Cleo and Doc

In memory of Bailey and Suki, from Judith Blanchette

In memory of Tom Kouttoulas, from Thomas and Tomilee Felton

In memory of Dennis Palla, from Laura and Ken Christy

In honor of Janet Schweitzer’s birthday, from Shirley Anderson and Joseph and Pamela Jarnecke

In memory of Vickie Napiwocki, from her many friends at ICS

In memory of Fran McWhitten, from Arlene Maxwell In memory of Andy and Mittens, from Luella Anderson In memory of Holstein, from Jeaneen Dougherty In memory of Honey Cat, from Loree McKinney In memory of Danny Boy, we hardly knew ye, from Carol Albrecht In memory of Walter Witt and Christopher, from Mary Witt In memory of Dave Engel from his Psi Chi brother, Bill Mahl In memory of Nathan, our little man, from Carol Albrecht In memory of Coco Chanel, a real diva, from Carol Albrecht In memory of Shirley Bunton, from Debbie Schroeder and her family, and Mark and Carol Rowley

In memory of Ellie Mae, from Brian and Wendy Roseman

In memory of Henry, from Michael and Selina Modesett In memory of Sally Benson and her precious little Princess, from Dorothy Benson

If we have inadvertently omitted anyone, please write, email, or call us so we can include them in the next newsletter.

Ask Ollie: The Magic of the Season by “Ollie” and his human, Viktoria Voller, Board Member, Humane Society of Northwest Indiana Dear Ollie,

Moore wrote this Christmas poem for his children. His imagination opened the door of possibility for a miniature St. Nick to carry a bag of toys on his back while scooting down chimneys all over the world.

Every year, just about a week before Christmas, our family, including one dog (which is me) and our brindle cat named Sylvia, gathers around the fireplace while Grandpa Harry reads Clement Moore’s 1822 poem, “T’was a Night Before Christmas.” What infuriates me is the idea that eight tiny reindeer are leading the sleigh full of toys and St. Nicholas too. Come on... everyone knows that reindeer don’t lead sleds – dogs do. And I am the dog that could and can also write a letter to you, Ollie.

But now, we must go back to your question. Sure, a team of Huskies can drive a real sled because you guys have been clocked at 30 mph too! But the question here is whether they should or could lead a sleigh full of toys and St. Nicholas too.

Let me have you read this line from the poem: “When what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer.” That is just charming. Now, here’s the rewrite as per your suggestion, Victor: “When what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a miniature sleigh and eight tiny Husky dogs.” Ugh. Writers have been shot for better poetry than that.

So, why didn’t Moore choose a team of Siberian Huskies to pull the sleigh?

That’s what we do in competition. If he could imagine a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer, why not imagine eight tiny huskies?

And to my point, here’s more from Moore: “And then in a twinkling I heard on the roof, the prancing and pawing of each little hoof.” Try substituting this: “And then in a twinkling I heard on the roof the running and scratching of each little paw.” And that’s my point Victor. Lighten up and don’t be so dogged and super-determined to re-write Moore’s Christmas poetry.

Letty, a disappointed husky South Bend, Indiana Dear Letty, Yes Letty, there is a Santa Claus and this tiny St. Nick was in need of transportation so he harnessed eight tiny reindeer to a miniature sleigh to do that job. But Christmas is a time of magic and not the time to over-analyze every little thing. Some stuff just has to be taken on faith. Am I right?

December is the month of magical, mystical times, imagination, wonder, love, hope and redemption. So, turn your attention to believing in the spirit of Christmas and all the good things the season brings for reindeer, dogs, cats and otherwise who believe in in the spirit of St. Nicholas. I hope you and all of your family enjoy a beautiful holiday season!

Sure, we know that reindeer can travel up to 32 miles an hour; it would take 778 hours to encircle the 24,901 mile circumference of the globe. So, no one harnesses them to pull anything. It’s just not practical. But in the world of make-believe or imagination, anything can happen and often does.

Ollie, Your friend in Fur “Love is a four legged word.”

3

Independent Cat Society PO Box 735 Westville, IN 46391

Non-Profit Organization US Postage

PAID

Valparaiso, IN Permit No. 134

facebook.com/ INCatSociety

Become a Member!

Annual Dues: ______

$1000 Corporation

______

$500 Platinum

______

$100 Gold Star

______

$50 Family

______

$25 Individual

______

$1­­0 Student

______

$10 Senior

Donate or Volunteer! ______ I am donating $______ for the care of the cats and kittens. ______ I am donating $______ to the building fund. ______ I am donating $______ to the TNR/Assisted Spay & Neuter Fund. ______ I will help groom cats at the shelter. ______ 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. ______ 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