Non-Kill Cat Shelter
Recieves Donation Challenge
9th
Life Hawai‘i seeks matching funds to help with land purchase.
9th
Life Hawai‘i, Maui's only non-kill cat sanctuary,
has been promised
a major donation for the purchase of a permanent rescue and no-kill
cat sanctuary on Maui.
The donor, who wishes to remain anonymous, has offered $250,000
towards land acquisition and shelter space and hopes matching
donors will come forward so the sanctuary, now located on leased
land, can be permanently located. The anonymous donor is extending
a challenge/invitation to the Maui community and business organizations
to match or better her donation so that a permanent no-kill sanctuary
will become a reality.
9th Life Hawai‘i was founded by Crystal Smith and became
a non-profit in 1998. However, Crystal had actually been rescuing
cats on Maui for over a decade prior to acquiring non-profit status.
Crystal’s goal was to rescue feral and abandoned cats that
had nowhere to go and no one to care for them. She utilized Trap,
Neuter, Release (TNR) techniques to sterilize entire colonies
to cut down on the ever-expanding cat population. Studies have
shown that TNR is the only proven method of control of over-population
in colony and feral cats. Euthanasia does not control over-population
because it does not stop the cats’ ability to procreate.
To humanely control the cat population, 9th Life Hawaii has neutered
well over 1,000 cats on Maui. Crystal brought the TNR method to
the attention of the Maui Humane Society and encouraged them to
use it. MHS now has over 100 registered cat colonies under the
care of volunteer caretakers.
But even with these managed cat colonies, cats die every day from
disease, starvation, cars, poisoning, mauling by dogs and in cane
field harvests. There are always cats that would face certain
death if returned to their colonies because their colonies have
been under attack by dogs, humans or both.
“Cane field kitties are never returned to the cane fields
because harvesting requires that the fields be burned, explained
Phyllis Tavares, Smith’s mother and 9th Life executive director.
“These cats are taken into the 9th Life Hawai‘i sanctuary
until a loving home can be found for them.”
Tavares has been active in rescue and caring for homeless animals
for many decades.
“Having a place for these animals where they can be cared
for until homes can be found is vital”, stated Tavares "The
work my daughter Crystal started with 9th Life Hawai‘i continues
today, but resources are very tight. I cannot tell you how hard
it is to find money and space to give these cats the care they
deserve.”
Tough there is no accurate count of homeless and feral cats on
Maui, it is believed that the number may be as high as 100,000.
Thousands of cats die each year, due in part to people erroneously
believing that domestic cats can thrive on their own in the wild.
The death rate for these animals is extremely high.
“Although the abandoned cat population is huge, it is not
an insurmountable problem,” said Tavares. “Maui now
has the opportunity to embrace the concept of no kill/ no more
homeless pets. Together we can do it,” stated Tavares.
For photos of 9th Life cats and kittens and to learn more about
the 9th Life Hawai‘i, please visit them online at www.9thlifehawaii.org.
To make a donation, become a foster “parent” or adopt
a cat or kitten, call Phyllis Tavares at 572-3499.
9th Life Hawai‘i
Kitties Of The Week
Grown-up kitties
make great Christmas presents too!
MAHMI
This
pretty kitty's name is Mahmi or Mommeee because she was brought
to 9th Life with her two babies. The boy was adopted immediately
but Mommeee still needs a home.
ISIS
Isis
needs a special home with people who have had kitties before and
understand them because she gets frightened easily. She is half
Siamese and half Tortie with beautiful blue eyes.
Her mother has had much more experience with humans and is more
trusting, but for some reason mom's outgoing attitude didn't rub
off on Isis.
If you have a quiet home, Isis could be the perfect kitty for
you.
9th
Life Hawai‘i is a non-profit, non-kill 501C3 organization
dedicated to the protection of homeless cats on Maui. To adopt
a cat, donate, or volunteer please call Phyllis Tavares at 572-3499
or visit online at www.9thlifehawaii.org.
