TABLE OF CONTENTS. Alley Cats and Angels 2014 Annual Report. June 2015 Page ii

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2 TABLE OF CONTENTS LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT... 1 WHO WE ARE... 2 Overview... 2 Exciting News!... 2 Board of Directors... 2 ADOPTION PROGRAM... 3 FERAL CAT ADVOCACY, EDUCATION, AND ASSISTANCE... 3 ALTER AN ALLEY CAT SPAY AND NEUTER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AT A GLANCE... 4 INTAKE BY TYPE FEATURED RESCUES... 5 COMMUNITY EVENTS FINANCIAL SUMMARY Revenue Expenses... 8 HOW YOU CAN HELP... 9 Become an Alley Cat Angel!... 9 SPECIAL THANKS... 9 Page ii

3 LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT Every day your support helps us transform lives. In 2014, experienced many transformations of the numerous cats whose lives we touched. We look back in gratitude and amazement, and we thank our foster parents, volunteers, and donors for the many miracles we were able witness in 2014 due to their support. When we allow ourselves to reflect, we can recognize the little miracles the cats bring us nearly every day. We may never know what happened in the first chapters of a cat s life, but our role is to make sure each story is written well as far as we can take it. When our cats are adopted, their story continues to be written by their new families. There are almost unnoticeable coincidences; circumstances coming together at just the right time, in just the right way. Alley Cats and Angels believes that each cat or kitten who comes to us has miraculous potential, and we provide a foster parent angel to watch over them. The cats come to us cold, hungry, and dirty. Often they are too frightened to eat and too nervous to accept consolation, some have just been abandoned, and many others are injured or ill. Some are tiny newborns, struggling for an opportunity to fulfill their potential. Most are scared, bewildered, and upset, perhaps flattening themselves against the back of a carrier or hiding under their bedding. They come to us because they have nowhere else to go. They come in need of an angel. Whether they are perfectly healthy or have permanent challenges, whether their lives are just beginning or they are in their adult years, each one is equally valued. All will have a clean, warm, and safe place to call their own; good nourishing food; the best veterinary care; the love and respect of deeply committed foster parents and volunteers; and perhaps most importantly, the promise of a forever home. They come to us in need of comfort, love, and care and they have come to the right place because places a premium on the care of the cats in our programs. As always, does not turn away a cat for medical reasons if we can find space for them (and we always try to make space for those cats/kittens that no one else wants due to the high cost of the immediate medical care needed to save their lives). In the last four months of 2014, we took in eight cats/kittens who needed emergency eye surgery those cats and kittens are all doing well and were all adopted at the time this report was published. Over 50% of the cats and kittens we took into our adoption program were sick and malnourished or needed immediate medical treatment when they came to us. Today, tomorrow, and always, we pledge to continue being angels for the cats in our care. looks forward to sharing the stories, triumphs, and unfortunately as with all rescue, sometimes the heartbreak with you throughout Tia Hagnas Founder and President Page 1

WHO WE ARE Overview is an all-volunteer, non-profit, 501(c)(3), foster home-based cat rescue organization located in the Triangle, NC area. takes a multi-faceted approach to cat rescue and welfare.

4 WHO WE ARE Overview is an all-volunteer, non-profit, 501(c)(3), foster home-based cat rescue organization located in the Triangle, NC area. takes a multi-faceted approach to cat rescue and welfare. It starts with our feral cat education, assistance, and TNR program, where we assist with the TNR of feral cats and take in kittens and friendly cats from feral colonies. After socializing and vetting them, they are put up for adoption through our adoption program. There is also the barn/garden cat program that relocates high-risk feral cats to safe barns for a second chance at life. Finally, our Alter an Alley Cat spay/neuter assistance program provides low-cost spay/neuter for pet cats, stray cats, and feral cats whose owners/caregivers cannot afford the cost of spay/neuter. Brings attention to the plight of feral cats and helps alleviate the problem of overpopulation in our area by sponsoring spay/neuter surgeries for cats from lowincome/hardship families and feral cats to facilitate zero growth in street/feral colonies Relocates at-risk feral cats into safe barn/garden homes so they are no longer in danger and have a second chance at life Educates the public about pet overpopulation and promotes spay/neuter Is an Advocate for Forgotten Felines is proud to have been named a 2014 Top-Rated Nonprofit by Great Nonprofits. : Rescues stray and abandoned cats and kittens, and young kittens from feral colonies (adult cats are TNR d); socializes the cats in a foster home environment; fully vets the cats; and then finds loving, safe, forever homes for the cats Find Us Online Exciting News! is excited that Dr. Teresa Danford joined our Board of Directors in Known to many of us simply as Dr. T, she has been instrumental in shaping our medical protocols for for several years. Dr. T is also a fantastic diagnostic vet who has come up with out-of-the-box approaches when necessary to treat difficult or unusual health situations. Many lives have been saved and made better because of her care. is blessed to have such a fantastic vet overseeing the medical care of our cats. Board of Directors The following individuals served on the Alley Cats and Angels board of directors in 2014: Tia Hagnas, President Jill Walters, Vice President Karen Tracey, Secretary Lynn Warren, Treasurer Dr. Teresa Danford, DVM Medical Advisor Tricia Andrews, Director Advisory Board, Alter Voucher Program Coordinator Nicky Thayer, Director Advisory Board Page 2

ADOPTION PROGRAM AC&A s adoption program places cats and kittens into indoor-only homes.

The homelike environment allows for plenty of one-on-one care and socialization.

management and fundraising for facilities.

program and the right cat for every home.

Our feral cat advocacy program helps to reduce the number of feral cats entering shelters that would certainly be euthanized and

5 ADOPTION PROGRAM AC&A s adoption program places cats and kittens into indoor-only homes. As cats come into our adoption program, they receive needed medical attention and are placed in foster homes until they are adopted. The homelike environment allows for plenty of one-on-one care and socialization. Besides being good for the cat, our network of foster homes allows us to concentrate on care and adoption rather than shelter management and fundraising for facilities. In 2014, along with taking in kittens found in feral colonies and stray and abandoned cats, pulled over 44 cats and kittens from a rural high-kill shelter this year. There are no time limits to make the perfect match when it is our mission to find the right home for every cat in our adoption program and the right cat for every home. kicked off several successful adoption campaigns in 2014, including the following: FERAL CAT ADVOCACY, EDUCATION, AND ASSISTANCE Our feral cat advocacy program helps to reduce the number of feral cats entering shelters that would certainly be euthanized and helps to reduce the number of feral kittens being born into the community. In addition to guidance, education, and advice, also loans humane traps to the general public for TNR purposes only. Our feral cat volunteers spend countless hours ing, talking with, and assisting members of the community who need guidance and education on feral cats. is out in the trenches on an almost daily basis trapping cats for TNR, transporting cats to spay/neuter surgeries, and even recovering cats after surgery. Page 3

6 ALTER AN ALLEY CAT SPAY AND NEUTER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM Protecting cats in need goes beyond providing them with safe refuge and a new home. It also means ensuring we are doing our best to reduce the number of cats needing assistance through helping end cat overpopulation. Because of our generous supporters, we have been able to make a difference through our Alter an Alley Cat program by spaying/neutering hundreds of cats owned by lower income families, and feral cats cared for by people with lower incomes. This crucial service prevents hundreds of unplanned and unwanted litters. The Alter an Alley Cat program sterilized and vaccinated 150 cats in 2014 through our spay/neuter voucher program. Voucher program: Each voucher covers spay/neuter, distemper and rabies vaccination, and pain medication. Our voucher program is made up of two categories: Full-price vouchers: there is no income requirement to purchase the $60 voucher Subsidized vouchers: subsidizes and sponsors vouchers on a sliding scale for individuals with true financial need The majority of the vouchers issued are 50-75% subsidized by 2014 AT A GLANCE Intake: 288 Adoptions: 265 Relocated to Barn Homes: 52 Total Spay/Neuter through Alter Program: 150 Note: Intake includes adoption program only it does not include cats taken into the barn/garden cat program and placed into barn/garden/alternative homes. INTAKE BY TYPE We are often asked where the cats in our adoption program come. Our focus is on cats from feral colonies and stray cats, thus, taking in the cats before they end up at a kill shelter. However, as space allows, we will take in cats from hoarding situations and owner surrenders and pull from rural high-kill shelters. In 2014, 228 cats came to us as kittens pulled from feral colonies where TNR is underway or as strays. We were also able to pull 44 cats/kittens from rural high-kill shelters. In addition, we took in several cats from hoarding situations, and five owner surrenders, due to extenuating circumstances. Cats and kittens came to us from multiple counties including Alamance, Cumberland, Franklin, Johnson, Orange, Wake, and Wilson. Intake by numbers (adoption program only): Feral/Stray: 228 (79%) High-Kill Rural Shelters: 44 (15%) Owner Surrender: 10 (4%) Other: 6 (2%) Page 4

2014 FEATURED RESCUES The Burlington Three: A litter of three kittens was living in a storm drain in Burlington after the mom was trapped by Animal Control (and most likely put to sleep because she

Another rescue said they would take the kittens, so a volunteer in Burlington trapped them, only to find out the rescue was not going to take them after all, leaving the trapper with three sick

Two of the kittens had bad eye issues and the third kitten, Janome (pictured here at an adoption event), had an extremely high fever.

The Container Kittens: On July 4, a local resident and her mother noticed a small kitten wandering down the road.

They put him in a carrier and brought him to Zebulon Animal Hospital forgetting that it was a holiday.

7 2014 FEATURED RESCUES The Burlington Three: A litter of three kittens was living in a storm drain in Burlington after the mom was trapped by Animal Control (and most likely put to sleep because she was feral). Another rescue said they would take the kittens, so a volunteer in Burlington trapped them, only to find out the rescue was not going to take them after all, leaving the trapper with three sick kittens. was able to step in and take these kittens into our adoption program. They were taken to the vet immediately after intake. Two of the kittens had bad eye issues and the third kitten, Janome (pictured here at an adoption event), had an extremely high fever. Once Janome was healthy enough, he had surgery to remove his bad eye. All three kittens recovered and all found forever homes. The Container Kittens: On July 4, a local resident and her mother noticed a small kitten wandering down the road. The kitten was exhausted, taking only two steps at a time; he had clearly not eaten or had any water in quite some time. They put him in a carrier and brought him to Zebulon Animal Hospital forgetting that it was a holiday. Because the vet was closed, someone suggested taking him to the local shelter, which also turned out to be closed. The next day, they went back to the shelter and began talking to one of the volunteers, who let them know that they would likely euthanize the kitten, as there was no room at the time for him (sick animals are also the first to be put down). While they were speaking to the volunteer, a man came up to them looking distressed. Someone had dropped off two mama cats and nine kittens in a sealed container outside his house. Determined to save them all, they called a vet, who recommended contacting. Alley Cats and Angels was able to take in the lone kitten and the two mama cats and kittens found in the container. Both mother cats were young and very thin. One litter of kittens was approximately five weeks old and the other litter was about eight weeks old. In addition to being treated for a severe respiratory infection and malnutrition, the vet aggressively treated one of the kitten s eyes to save his vision. Several of the other kittens were treated for a severe respiratory infection as well and fully recovered. As luck would have it, all of the male kittens were cryptorchid (neither testicle had descended); meaning the cost of neutering was more than twice the regular fee. But they all found happy homes! Parking Lot Box Kittens: One Saturday, someone left five 4-week old kittens (who were later named the music kittens Motown, Bluegrass, etc.) in an 18-inch box in the middle of a parking lot where they could have been killed. The kittens were skinny and malnourished and several had white tipping on their fur, which is known as fever coat and is an indication of severe malnutrition. After a vet visit, the kittens were placed in one of our neonatal critical care foster homes where they were closely monitored and bottle-fed. The music kittens would have surely died if had not taken them in. They needed numerous visits to the vet and emergency vet, as their health was very fragile for several weeks. Sadly, the runt of the litter did not make it, but the other four flourished, gained their full health, and found forever homes. The United States Kittens: Alley Cats and Angels was contacted by residents at a local mobile home park to help with a large feral colony. There were over 40 adult cats and more kittens being born every day. AC&A was able to fund the TNR project and agreed to take in all the kittens not realizing there would end up being over 30 kittens! Because there were so many kittens, we named them after states in the US. Most of these kittens were very sick, many were malnourished, one kitten had a bum back leg (which grew stronger with daily physical therapy), and one kitten needed eye surgery. We were able to take in all the kittens in stages, get them healthy and socialized, and find them forever homes. Pictured above to the right is Kansas, whose nickname was Piglet because in his first picture a week after intake that posted to Facebook, someone asked is that a cat or a baby pig? Many of the kittens needed extra care in special foster homes, where the foster parents could syringe feed them and monitor their health 24 hours a day. With much love, care, and medical attention, the kittens became healthy (and Washington even become an AC&A calendar kitty) and were all eventually adopted. We would like to thank the residents of the mobile home park who really put a lot of skin in the game by trapping the feral cats and transporting them to/from the vet, as well as caring for the kittens until we could take them all in. This was truly a team effort. Page 5

The Pirate Kittens: AC&A pulled six kittens of varying ages from an out-of-control feral colony as it was being TNR'd.

The fifth kitten's eye improved because of steady treatment using several medications as prescribed by our vet and the eye was able to be saved. The sixth kitten had no eye issues.

often takes in cats and kittens no one else wants due to immediate and high medical expenses, but in keeping with our mission of being advocates for forgotten felines, we must take them when we have

AC&A arranged for the finder to drop the kitten off at our vet for treatment, and we would pick her up.

8 The Pirate Kittens: AC&A pulled six kittens of varying ages from an out-of-control feral colony as it was being TNR'd. Five of the six kittens had severe eye issues, with four of them needing eye enucleation (removal) surgery. The fifth kitten's eye improved because of steady treatment using several medications as prescribed by our vet and the eye was able to be saved. The sixth kitten had no eye issues. Their soon to be "one-eyedness" made us think of pirates, so we named the kittens after pirates: Long Ben, Calico Jack, Captain Kidd, Blackbeard, Anne Bonny, and Red Leg Greaves. often takes in cats and kittens no one else wants due to immediate and high medical expenses, but in keeping with our mission of being advocates for forgotten felines, we must take them when we have space. We are happy to report they all found forever homes! Milagra (aka Millie): When AC&A received the call about a kitten that was very sick and close to death, we acted immediately. AC&A arranged for the finder to drop the kitten off at our vet for treatment, and we would pick her up. Known only as the little gray kitten for several days, Millie came home from the vet on several medications. We were surprised to learn she was actually 5 months old (estimated by the vet based on her teeth) she just weighed less than an average 7-week old kitten, weighing in at 1 pound, 7 ounces. Millie was isolated in the foster home and her quarantine cage was tented with a warm mist humidifier. She was force fed via oral syringe for two days. Late one evening, Millie was rushed to the emergency vet where she underwent a risky procedure to clear her sinuses (she would have definitely died without it). Shortly thereafter, Millie started eating on her own and eventually became the happy healthy cat pictured here. She was quickly adopted. COMMUNITY EVENTS Throughout the year, participated in a variety of community events to provide information on our rescue and programs, how to help feral cats, and local low-cost spay/neuter clinics. While the primary purpose of participating in the events was to raise awareness for and how we help cats in need, the events also served as small fundraisers where we sold our catnip toys and purr/pooch pads. With each event, we boosted the public s awareness of our programs and services. However, one event stood out above the others. Alley Cats and Angels was invited to participate in Apex Elementary s Animal Kind Club, which teaches young people about various rescue efforts and exposes them to the importance of being kind to all creatures. One of our foster parents was able to take her sweet foster mama cat and babies (pulled from a high-kill shelter) and share the joy we receive through rescue with these future rescuers! Page 6

9 2014 FINANCIAL SUMMARY As a non-profit organization, we are keenly aware of our responsibility to those who have chosen to invest in our mission. We are aggressive in our expense management, we seek to be good stewards of the money with which we are entrusted, and we endeavor to be completely transparent regarding our use of funds. We are pleased to share this year s financial results with you, as we believe that they illustrate a successful year of both program and financial management. In 2014, our funding was composed of adoption fees, individual and corporate donations, adoption partner donations (PetSmart), and fundraisers. The adoption fees do not cover the complete cost of normal/routine medical expenses for each cat, which is why donations are so vital. Routine medical care is defined as a wellness check; treatment for intestinal parasites, ear mites, and fleas; FeLV/FIV testing; FVRCP and FeLV vaccinations (initial vaccination and boosters); rabies vaccinations; spay/neuter surgery; and microchipping with rescue paid registration. Non-cash (in-kind) donations for 2014 included humane traps, cat carriers, cat toys, cat litter, cat food, signage, and handmade items for sale at our community events. In addition, several donors paid vet bills directly in the amount of over $4, Revenue Source Total Percentage of Total Revenue Adoption Fees $20, % Direct Donations: General/Medical/Donation Jar $25, % Direct Donations: Alter an Alley Cat Program $4, % Donations from PetSmart Charities $5, % Fundraising: Direct $8, % Fundraising: Indirect $4, % Community Events $2, % Website Store Sales and Calendar Sales $1, % Spay/Neuter Vouchers Fees $3, % Total $76, Page 7

2014 Expenses Description Total Percentage of Total Expenses Vet Fees $34,355.00 46% Medical Supplies $23,248.00 31% Alter an Alley Cat S/N Fees and Supplies $6,723.

10 2014 Expenses Description Total Percentage of Total Expenses Vet Fees $34, % Medical Supplies $23, % Alter an Alley Cat S/N Fees and Supplies $6, % Adoption Program Supplies $4, % Barn/Garden Cat Program Supplies and Vetting $ % Fundraising Expenses $ % Website/ /Telephone/PO Box $ % Administrative (volunteer appreciation, accounting software, etc.) $2, Payment Service Fees (PayPal, Square, etc.) $ % 2.25% Sales Tax $ % Feral Cat Program $ % Community Event Expenses $ % Total $75, Page 8

11 HOW YOU CAN HELP Become an Alley Cat Angel! You have it in your power to make a difference; you can help save as many cats and kittens as possible. Please consider making a charitable contribution to Alley Cats and Angels a one-time contribution or a monthly contribution. If you have spare time, we would love to hear from you, as we always need volunteers. If you have an unused room in your house or apartment, you have room for a foster cat or kitten. Whatever help you can provide will be greatly appreciated. Donate: We cannot take care of the cats without financial support. In 2014, vet fees and medical supplies for our programs totaled $64,326.00, including spay/neuter assistance through our Alter an Alley Cat program. A total of 86% of 2014 revenue was spent on medical care for program cats and spay/neuter assistance and 6% was spent on food/litter for the cats that s a total of 92% spent on the medical and daily care for the cats (does not include vetting for barn cat program). As an all-volunteer organization, has no overhead and our administrative costs are extremely low a very low 2.25% of our overall expenses is attributed to administrative costs, with the remaining 1% spent on fundraising expenses. In addition to necessary donations to our medical fund, donations for our Alter an Alley Cat spay/neuter assistance program are always needed. There are so many people in need of spay/neuter for their cats who cannot afford it and, therefore, the response to our sponsored and subsidized vouchers has been overwhelming. The people we have helped have been very grateful. Foster: To foster, all you need is an empty room and a lot of love. Any cat or kitten that you are able to take into your home on a temporary basis is one less cat perishing on the streets. Other than financial donations for medical care, fostering is our biggest need. Volunteer: There are numerous ways to help the cats including fostering, cleaning center cleaners, trapping for TNR, fundraising, PR/communications, grant writing, and many other volunteer opportunities. Adopt: You can give the ultimate gift a loving permanent home to a stray or abandoned cat. However you choose to help, all help is greatly appreciated by board of directors and volunteers, and especially by the cats whose lives you help save. SPECIAL THANKS A very special thank you to everyone who opened their hearts and homes to animals; to those who donated in some way to help us or others who act in concert with our cause; and to our team of dedicated volunteers and foster home caregivers. You are the ones whose compassion, kindness, and generosity make the difference. We could not do what we do without your continued support. would like to thank all of our foster parents, volunteers, donors, and supporters. In addition, we extend a big thank you to the following veterinarians and adoption partners who helped contribute to our success and helped us accomplish our mission. Adoption Partners PetSmart Knightdale PetSmart Morrisville Pet Supplies Plus, Raleigh Vet Partners Dr. Teresa Danford Raleigh Community Animal Hospital, Raleigh, NC Magnolia Animal Hospital, Raleigh, NC Greystone Animal Hospital, Raleigh, NC Animal Kingdom Veterinary Hospital, Cary, NC (Spay/Neuter Voucher program) Rolesville Animal Hospital (Spay/Neuter Voucher program) SNAP-NC (Spay/Neuter Voucher program) Other Unleashed (The Dog and Cat Store) for selling our calendars in their locations Page 9

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c Trap-Neuter-Return Low-cost Spay/Neuter Affordable Vaccine Clinic

c Trap-Neuter-Return Low-cost Spay/Neuter Affordable Vaccine Clinic If you listen carefully, you can hear it: the tiny sound coming from the corner of an abandoned building. You were just out for a walk,