ICS Newsletter Winter 2019

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

Winter 2019 #160

Meet the 2019 Sweethearts!

That’s right, the time is here to vote for your favorite ICS Sweethearts!

If you haven’t participated in our Sweetheart Contest in the past, the rules are simple: $1 equal 1 vote. The kitty with the most votes by the weekend of our big March 2, 2019 Sweetheart Day event at the Valparaiso Moose Lodge (108 Indiana Avenue) is the winner, and gets special treats, cuddly blankets, and of course, plenty of pictures posted to show everyone their purr-fect poses! You’ll be a winner, too, no matter which kitty you vote for, as your votes will help keep our ICS cats fed and well cared for during their time at our shelter.

Send in your votes in person at the shelter, online at Facebook or catsociety.org, or mail them in. We wish the best of luck to all of our favorite feline candidates!

Upcoming Events, Tributes, and much more inside!

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: www.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.

Adoption hours: Friday, 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm 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.

Calendar of Events

February February 23 It’s All About the Cats Chesterton Feed and Garden 10:00am - 3:00pm Stop by and say hi to support the kitties and pick up your favorite treats!

March March 2 Sweetheart Day Valparaiso Moose Lodge, 108 Indiana Ave. The winner of the 2019 Contest will be determined today!

Join us for a wonderful day of crafts, food, fun, and your favorite ICS kitties

June June 7-9 Aunt Kitty’s Trash and Treasure Yard Sale!

9:00am - 3:00pm each day Donations accepted Friday - housewares, holiday items, shoes, children’s, small furniture and appliances appreciated ICS Shelter, 4061 County Line Road, Westville

July July 13 Bark in the Park 9:00am - 3:00pm Thomas Centennial Park, Chesterton

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

July 13-14 ICS Semi-Annual Used Book Sale 10:00am - 4pm Saturday, 11am - 5pm Sunday Valparaiso Moose Lodge, 108 Indiana Ave.

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President’s Message Dear Friends, 2018 was another great year for ICS – we adopted out a record 319 cats, our revitalized TNR (Trap-Neuter-Release) program was a huge success with 328 cats spayed or neutered, and our dream of a new building became reality – by year-end, construction was almost complete!

It was a difficult year as well, as we lost a beloved volunteer, Joan Hildebrand, as well as several of our long term feline residents. Also, with so many homeless kittens and cats, our admissions were at a record high again, but we made it – thanks to all of you, our valued supporters and dedicated volunteers.

And 2019 is off to a great start! So far in January, we’ve had 32 adoptions, a successful book sale despite bad weather, and a great bunch of Sweetheart Candidates (as shown on the front of this Mewsletter). It will be a busy spring, as we complete our new building and plan for the grand opening of the Joan Hildebrand Adoption Center!

That’s right, as you’ll see later in this edition, our building projects continue to evolve and the first phase of our journey is nearly complete. Later in the spring, we look forward to inviting you to our new facility, which will serve as a new welcoming entryway into the shelter. Our ICS cats – and our volunteers and staff – are excited to share the new Adoption Center with you, and you’ll see why when you check out our photos!

Don’t forget to vote for your Favorite Sweetheart through March 3rd! Check out our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/INCatSociety where you will find Fundraisers for each candidate where you can easily vote ($1 = 1 Vote) for your favorite via PayPal. Or, you may submit your votes via PayPal on our Website (www.catsociety.org); by mail to ICS, P.O. Box 735, Westville, IN 46391; or, stop by the shelter and meet the contestants Purrsonally! And join us for the Sweetheart Day event on Saturday, March 2nd from 10 AM—4 PM at the Valparaiso Moose Lodge. The teams are busy preparing some really great things for this year’s event. You don’t want to miss it. As always, donations directly benefit all the kitties of ICS. Fiona and I hope to see you all soon at the shelter and/or at an event. Thank you all for your continued support!

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 Coyne Veterinary Center (Portage): 219763-3311 –$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 low-cost 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)

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

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Sponsor-A-Cat!

from your Spokescat, Pyewacket

Happy New Year!

It’s Pyewacket here, ready to help you celebrate 2019. All of our ICS Shelter cats are celebrating right now, as the new year brings new possibilities, and new excitement. It brings with it the chance for a forever home full of warmth, love, and plenty of food, but it also reminds us that no matter what happens, we’ll always be safe at ICS. I suppose some things don’t change with the new year, huh?

Maybe you’re one of those kind folks out there that would like to give a cat a forever home, but just can’t right now. We understand – there’s lots of reasons why you might not be able to. You might have other pets at home, or might be in a place where you can’t have more pets.

But you can still help! You can still bring the hope of new possibilities to a shelter kitty by sponsoring a cat, and providing for some food and medical costs for them while they’re in our care. Sponsor a Cat also provides another valuable service by helping people notice many special members of our ICS shelter. You can get to know one special kitty, who in turn might be a cat that you talk up to neighbors and friends. And who knows, that message might just get to your sponsor kitty’s future forever family!

You can make a difference in a cat’s life, in small or big ways. Joining Sponsor a Cat at any level can help, and I hope that in 2019 you consider bringing a new cat into your life, even if it’s just by photo and email. (And yes, I’m working on teaching the other cats how to type...!)

Rosie

Maude

Zoey

Phoebe

Whitley

Wiley

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 4

Charitable Gift Planning with Qualified Retirement Assets by Jason Petrovich

Greyson gives Anakin an encouraging pat

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, 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.

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?

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)!

Update: The ICS TNR Project

day to day tasks of TNR.

We started out the year with 19 TNR cats in January, and we’re helping other organizations TNR 16 others. A single group cannot combat the free roaming cat population on their own. It takes a village to help homeless cats.

Social networking, planning, meetings, and more go into the

our Facebook group ICS/TNR Project (https://www.facebook.com/ groups/ICSTNRProject/) to learn about what you can do to help the cats that roam our communities. We provide all the training and support.

Jodi Dusek & Bernard Howard Project Leaders Learn more about TNR programs in general, and how you can be a part of the solution as well by visiting some of these websites:

Not only do we spay and neuter the cats that roam our streets, we also help with medical issues, injuries, and aftercare, including providing shelters and food. All of this is made possible with generous donations made to ICS/TNR Project.

• • • •

We desperately need volunteers to trap, transport to and from vet clinics, assisting clients with cat care, attending events, and so much more. Please reach out via email at icstnr2018@gmail.com or join 5

Alley Cat Allies, https://www.alleycat.org Humane Society of the United States, http://www.humanesociety.org/assets/maps/feral-cats.html Alley Cat Rescue, http://www.saveacat.org/indiana.html Purrfect Friends Cat Rescue, http://www.purrfectfriendscatrescue.org/feral.html

Memorials & Tributes

November 2018 - January 2019

In memory of Robert Cauchon, from Lori Cauchon, Dluzak and Associates, and Marti Rukavina

In memory of Smokie, from Margot Purcell

In memory of Marian Bukovich, from the Bukovich Family

In memory of Freeway, from Donna Frey

In memory of Ali Cummings, from Kathy Cummings

In memory of beloved mother and animal lover Katherine Kanny, from Kathy and Tom Heath

In memory of Sally Jean Benson, from Dorothy Benson In memory of Laurence “Chris” Christensen, from Theresa Christensen

In memory of Sharon Berry, from Donna and Alan Resetar

In memory of Snicket and Kitterun, from Diane Hanson

In memory of Mike Masters from William and Wendy Masters

In memory of Callie and Madison, from Susan Cassler

In memory of Dasher, from Glenn Goodwine

In memory of Delphin McLaughlin, from Tracy and Christopher Cannon

In memory of BooBoo and Zoey, from Cynthia Murray

In memory of Walter Witt and our cat Christer, from Mary Witt

In memory of Theresa DiFatta from Michael and Shirley Corey

In honor of Beverly Overmyer, from Angela Elbert

In memory of Jeanne Witte, from Deborah Jordan

In honor of Holly McCain, from Yvette Noe

In memory of Cody and Bella,from Sharon Jokantas

In honor of Yvette Noe, from Holly McCain

In memory of Elmo and White Sox, from Patricia Mounce

In honor of Terry Pfeiffer’s birthday, from Suzanne and Michael Jascoviak

In memory of Oliver, Hugglebears, Spike, Max and Kit, Pookie, and Abby, from Robert and Michelle Negro

In honor of Noelle Streuber-Eden, from Kathleen McGinty

In memory of Samantha, Mokey, Bertha, and Sandy, from Elizabeth Zolkowski

In honor of Betsy Barr, from Ann Marie Barr

In memory of Jasmine, my beloved, from 7-16-98 to 4-19-18, from Ana Garcia

In honor of Binki, from Gerald and Darlene Brooks

In memory of my girls, Molly, Olivia, Zoey, Maraie, from Roxanne Myers

In honor of Marti Rukavina, from Laura Barich

In memory of Dennis Palla, from his many friends and loved ones including Karen Gray-McCormick, Kathleen O’Neill, William Forgey, Karen and Keith Foor, Mary and Randy Foor, and Candi and Michael Moore, Tracy Foor, and Brenda Palla

In honor of Misty (Mopsey) and Archer (Sawyer) who we adopted this year - we love them! from Pam Seneczko

In honor of Sarah Bernacchi, from Russell and Judith Bernacchi

In honor and memory of all my cats, from Michael Piontek

In memory of Sue McLaughlin, from Charles Welter In memory of my husband, Jason Petrick, from Kimberly Petrick In memory of Gunther, from Carol Alesia In memory of David Steuer, from Debbie Macki

Corporate Sponsorships Financial Institutions 1st Source Bank Allegius Credit Union Northern Indiana Federal Credit Union Grants Banfield Charitable Trust Best Friends Animal Society Bissell Foundation John W. Anderson Foundation Petco Foundation Porter County Community Foundation Porter County Master Gardeners TransCanada Corporation Unity Foundation of LaPorte County Matching Gifts ArcelorMittal Matching Gifts Benevity Community Impact Fund Charity Gift Certificates CNA Foundation Discover Financial Services Exxon Mobile Foundation JC Penney Change for the Better Campaign State Employee’ Community Campaign Truist United Way of Greater LaPorte County

Local 2nd Chance Games Movies & Music, Portage Aurelio’s Pizza, LaPorte Blue Chip Casino, Hotel & Spa, Michigan City BoyConn Printing, Valparaiso Cat Trees by Max, Hebron Chesterton Feed & Garden, Chesterton Chesterton High School, Chesterton Chicagoland Popcorn, Merrillville City’s Pure Ice, LaPorte Eley-Graham Financial Advisory Services, Merrillville Flanagin’s Bulk Mail Service, Valparaiso Jake’s Feed & Garden, Valparaiso Justin’s Tree Service, Chesterton K&D Tool Supply, Trail Creek KarahTess Clothing & Lettering, LaPorte Lake County Public Library, Merrillville Mid-America Claims, Inc., Valparaiso Moose Lodge – 1357, Valparaiso Portage High School, Portage Northwest Indiana Eye & Laser, Valparaiso Puntillo & Crane Orthodontics, Crown Point StoryTime Soap Shoppe, LaPorte Vincent’s Hair Design, Valparaiso You Can Make a Difference Club, Westville Elementary School

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Other AmazonSmile Cat’s Pride Litter for Good Program Event Wines - Benefit Wines Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund (Eldred) GoodShop Health and Hospitality Corp of Marion Co Lion with an Eye Patch Gaming Network for Good Wells Fargo Advisors Yankee Candle Participating Veterinarians All Creature Features, LaPorte Arbor View Animal Hospital, Valparaiso Ark of the Dunes Animal Hospital, Chesterton Coyne Veterinary Services, Portage Gast Animal Hospital, Valparaiso LaPorte Animal Hospital, LaPorte Maple City Animal Hospital, LaPorte McAfee Animal Hospital, Valparaiso Michigan City Animal Hospital, Michigan City New Carlisle Animal Hospital, New Carlisle Olson Veterinary Services, Randi Olson DVM Westchester Animal Clinic, Porter Vale Park Animal Hospital, Valparaiso

Building Campaign Progress

2018 was the year the building campaign kicked into high gear, and we have YOU to thank! We made a lot of progress on the Joan Hildebrand Memorial Adoption Center, including the frame, foundation, and exterior of the building addition.

In 2019, we continue to work with our good friends at Morton Builders to complete the interior of the building, in order to get it ready for a big Grand Opening in the spring.

Look out for our announcements and invitations to come your way in the months to come! We hope to see you for our big unveiling of this special new addition to the ICS facility.

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

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Independent Cat Society PO Box 735 Westville, IN 46391

Non-Profit Organization US Postage

PAID

Valparaiso, IN Permit No. 134

Upcoming Events • Sweetheart Contest Time!

http://catsociety.org

Beginning in January

• It’s All About the Cats!

@IndCatSociety

February 23, Chesterton Feed and Garden

• Sweetheart Day

March 2, Valparaiso Moose Lodge

facebook.com/ INCatSociety

• Aunt Kitty’s Trash and Treasure Sale

June 7-9, ICS Shelter

• Bark in the Park

July 13, Thomas Centennial Park, Chesterton

• ICS Semi-Annual Used Book Sale

July 13-14, Valparaiso Moose Lodge

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 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.

______

$10 Senior

­­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