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Pebbles learned the hard way that the world can be a cruel place. Abandoned when her family moved out of their apartment and left her behind, she barely survived living on the streets by foraging for food.
But Pebbles, a calico cat, is a success story. She was saved by Community Concern for Cats, a nonprofit organization with about 25 active members, that helps rescue homeless, abandoned and feral cats and kittens and prepares them for adoption.
Concern for Cats' financial situation could also use some rescuing, however, due to fewer adoptions. The group usually averages 700 to 1,000 adoptions; last year 457 felines found homes. Now, 150 kittens and 50 cats overwhelm about 20 foster homes, waiting for someone
Since it does not have a central facility, Concern for Cats rents space on the weekends at PETCO in Walnut Creek and Pet Food Express in Lafayette and Pleasant Hill. Adopting kittens costs $120 for the first and $80 for the second, and adult cats are $100. No one seems to be buying.
"It's really sad to go home at the end of the day not having any adoptions," said Gemma Osendorf-Boyd, president of the organization. "To go through all that effort for nothing is heartbreaking."
Neutering and spaying the animals takes a big chunk of the group's budget, even though veterinarians discount the procedures. Costs also include supplies and medical care for sick or injured cats.
It's the economy that hurts them,
"With home foreclosures and such a bad economy right now, people are reconsidering if they want to have another mouth to feed in the family," she commented.
Boyd is fearful Concern for Cats will have to stop taking calls (they receive five to 10 a night). "We're running out of the resources to do this," she said.
Concern for Cats members track their progress by the number of cats euthanized each year in the county, and the statistics they collect show success. In 1985, when the organization was starting up, 91.2 percent of cats in shelters were euthanized. The number dropped to 38.2 last year. They are one of a number of cat and animal rescue groups in the county.
This year, the organization launched a no-kill initiative. "Our whole goal is to keep these cats alive and healthy and find them homes," said Susan Hunt, a six-year volunteer.
Kelly, a Pittsburg resident, is one of the group's chief trappers. She asked that her last name not be printed because she receives more calls from people with feline concerns than she can respond to. Using a large net with a round metal rim, she makes rounds all over Contra Costa County, trying to meet her personal quota of rescuing a minimum 100 homeless and feral cats per month.
Community Concern is different from other pet rescue groups because "we're on the streets," she said.
Kelly also works with felines. In 2006, Concern for Cats started Operation Cat Fix, which offers free spaying for pets in low-income households.
"Most of the cats we catch are in low-income neighborhoods," Kelly said. "And a lot of families just can't afford the time or money to fix their pet."
Mostly, Concern for Cats members want people to open their homes to an orphaned kitten or cat.
Hunt, Boyd and Kelly say they strongly believe that everyone has an inner cat-lover.
"If someone says they don't like cats, it's because they've really never known one," they said. "And to know a cat is to love a cat."
Jeanetta Bradley can be reached at jbradley@bayareanewsgroup.com or 925-945-4700.
To learn more about Community Concern for Cats or how to help, call 925-938-CATS or visit www.communityconcernforcats.org
For a slide show with audio, go to ContraCostaTimes.com
