Prayers, Please and Maybe Suggestions?

[Sue and Kids]

Hello, everyone. I hope you and your furry children are all doing well. I'm afraid I'm here to ask for prayers. They are not for my kitties. Shadow and Tank are doing fine. I'm asking in behalf of our local Humane Society cats. I have volunteered at the Cat Rooms for two days a week (sometimes more) since 2009. Until now, it has been a no-kill shelter.

Our director has been suffering from severe health problems, and her prognosis is not good. The cats are housed in two large rooms in her walk-out basement. In mid-March, at our quarterly meeting, the director announced that the cats can no longer stay there. She told us that the cats will all be gathered up and taken to the kill facility (40 miles away) and will be destroyed. She gave no timeframe, so when that would happen is anyone's guess. I was in shock. Except for one other lady and me, our members are "dog people" and really didn't seem to care about this bombshell.

I have grown to know and love our 17 kitties almost like a second cat family. The other lady, Rita, and I have been trying to do anything we can to get our kitties homes or at least placed in a no-kill shelter or rescue group. We can't take the obvious route - advertising. The director is a controlling, very dominant person and what she says "goes". She does not want any advertising in the media or posting of public fliers. She told us when she did this in the past, instead of people coming to adopt animals, they just dumped more animals.

I have checked the nearest Petco and Petsmart stores. Petco is small and only sells small animals, like fish, birds, hamsters, etc. We used to have an agreement with Petsmart. But the director told me not long ago that the corporate office changed policies and we didn't place a large enough number of animals to qualify to use their store. While in there recently, I was paying for my kitties' food and my hubby saw a management person nearby. John asked why our shelter wasn't listed in the cat adoption area and was told that our agreement had expired???!!! The guy said if we re-applied, we could use Petsmart. You can see the dilemma there - who is correct?

Two other local ladies have tried to help. One made a slideshow, which is being run in our vet's office. Another had earlier set up a Petfinder page for dogs and gave me access to post our kitties there. I added them into the website. However, I've had no response yet. I have emailed a Siamese rescue group in Denver about four of our kitties who are Siamese mix or possibly Oriental Shorthair mix. I've had no reply to that either. Next, I'll email the national Siamese rescue. We had hoped Denver would reply, since we could have arranged transportation there. I have never dealt with national animal transportation groups.

I signed up with an online company and also made a slideshow presentation of our cats. I've also uploaded it to YouTube and put it on my personal Facebook page. However, for privacy reasons, I've limited that to "friends" only. Another lady made a Facebook page for our Humane Society. She has put our Petfinder link in there and hopefully, will put a link to the YouTube video also. Here's a link to the slideshow, if you would like to see our kitties: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjF-4VALJVo

I thought we had four no-kill facilities in this area. However, one has hit hard financial times and can take no more cats. When I tried to call another to get general information, the phone was disconnected. I went to a fundraiser for a third and was able to see their facility. It was nice and new and already full of cats. I hope to see the last one soon. (I have to go out of town for a week next week.)

Sadly, it seems there are too many homeless cats. Our shelter is 501(c)(3) certified, our cats are/will soon be spayed or neutered, they have been tested for Feline Leukemia, etc., and have been vaccinated. Rita and I would be willing to each give a sizeable donation for each cat to a good facility that would take them.

If none of this works, Rita and I will approach the director about having them put to sleep in the Cat Rooms. That's the only home many of them have ever known. I can't bear to think of them, so frightened and in a strange place - only to be killed in a cold, impersonal way and thrown away like garbage. Traci, do you know of any way I can handle that - asking a vet to euthanize (I hate that word!) kitties who are not sick. Or does anyone know of any large rescue organizations who could help us? We're two people and feel like we're "beating our head against a brick wall".

I'm sorry to have written a novel here. I wanted to ask if there are any options we've missed to place these kitties. Above all, I'm asking for your prayers for them. As you can see in the slideshow, they are a special group of cats. Thank you.

And thanks for all you do, helping people with their pets.

Sue -^..^-

[Traci]

Our director has been suffering from severe health problems, and her prognosis is not good. The cats are housed in two large rooms in her walk-out basement. In mid-March, at our quarterly meeting, the director announced that the cats can no longer stay there. She told us that the cats will all be gathered up and taken to the kill facility (40 miles away) and will be destroyed. She gave no timeframe, so when that would happen is anyone's guess. I was in shock. Except for one other lady and me, our members are "dog people" and really didn't seem to care about this bombshell.

Based only on what you've posted, I'd say this "director" is totally shirking HER responsibility to these cats. If she knew she was sick, and failed to tell anyone until the last minute, that just is so wrong, on so many levels. She should have taken time to prepare and consider the best for the welfare of the cats.

Have you or anyone else actually asked when this "time frame" actually is? That would be the first and foremost to determine.

Does this humane society also work with and place dogs? If so, how is THAT being handled and by whom?

Who are the "members", and what are the responsibilities of the members? Is there a board that oversees operations?

I have grown to know and love our 17 kitties almost like a second cat family. The other lady, Rita, and I have been trying to do anything we can to get our kitties homes or at least placed in a no-kill shelter or rescue group. We can't take the obvious route - advertising. The director is a controlling, very dominant person and what she says "goes". She does not want any advertising in the media or posting of public fliers. She told us when she did this in the past, instead of people coming to adopt animals, they just dumped more animals.

What is the reasoning behind this woman's refusals? Who gains by her not allowing advertising, contacts to help place these cats? What is she so afraid of? If the cats need homes, what on earth does others dumping cats have to do with placing cats who can no longer stay at this facility? If people dumped cats because she advertised, then she obviously wasn't proficient in advertising. It sounds like more is going on than she is letting on, and if she is ceasing operations, then more than members need to know about this, like the city, or county. Pleads for help are almost critical for a situation like this. 17 cats is not a large number, they should be able to be placed fairly easily with minimal advertising, contacts, working with others in the community, but people need to know what exactly is going on and the director needs to let others offer the help to do so.

Someone needs to know about this. Members, supporters, major donators either current or past. If they don't know about it, they have no idea how to help.

I have checked the nearest Petco and Petsmart stores. Petco is small and only sells small animals, like fish, birds, hamsters, etc. We used to have an agreement with Petsmart. But the director told me not long ago that the corporate office changed policies and we didn't place a large enough number of animals to qualify to use their store. While in there recently, I was paying for my kitties' food and my hubby saw a management person nearby. John asked why our shelter wasn't listed in the cat adoption area and was told that our agreement had expired???!!! The guy said if we re-applied, we could use Petsmart. You can see the dilemma there - who is correct?

If the MANAGER from Petsmart stated that, then it is HE who is probably correct. The director of your humane society sounds like she is not being honest about something, or perhaps something occurred between them she is not willing to divulge to others, which is wrong, because the sole reason for the humane society is placing pets. Bring this up with the director, and state what the manager stated, if it is only a reapplication that is necessary, then the director is rather obligated to the cats and the members to reapply and get the cats up for adoption there. By not doing so, she is negligent in her director's duties. If she has operated like this in the past, it could have lost her the 501(c)(3) status.

Two other local ladies have tried to help. One made a slideshow, which is being run in our vet's office. Another had earlier set up a Petfinder page for dogs and gave me access to post our kitties there. I added them into the website. However, I've had no response yet. I have emailed a Siamese rescue group in Denver about four of our kitties who are Siamese mix or possibly Oriental Shorthair mix. I've had no reply to that either. Next, I'll email the national Siamese rescue. We had hoped Denver would reply, since we could have arranged transportation there. I have never dealt with national animal transportation groups.

I signed up with an online company and also made a slideshow presentation of our cats. I've also uploaded it to YouTube and put it on my personal Facebook page. However, for privacy reasons, I've limited that to "friends" only. Another lady made a Facebook page for our Humane Society. She has put our Petfinder link in there and hopefully, will put a link to the YouTube video also. Here's a link to the slideshow, if you would like to see our kitties: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjF-4VALJVo

I thought we had four no-kill facilities in this area. However, one has hit hard financial times and can take no more cats. When I tried to call another to get general information, the phone was disconnected. I went to a fundraiser for a third and was able to see their facility. It was nice and new and already full of cats. I hope to see the last one soon. (I have to go out of town for a week next week.)

Sadly, it seems there are too many homeless cats. Our shelter is 501(c)(3) certified, our cats are/will soon be spayed or neutered, they have been tested for Feline Leukemia, etc., and have been vaccinated. Rita and I would be willing to each give a sizeable donation for each cat to a good facility that would take them.

It's great that you've done this, and a lot of hard work put in by you and your fellow cat lovers. This is something the director should have done or at the very least, deligated to someone in order to promote, help and place the cats. That she has done virtually nothing, is perhaps telling, and you should find out why.

If none of this works, Rita and I will approach the director about having them put to sleep in the Cat Rooms. That's the only home many of them have ever known. I can't bear to think of them, so frightened and in a strange place - only to be killed in a cold, impersonal way and thrown away like garbage. Traci, do you know of any way I can handle that - asking a vet to euthanize (I hate that word!) kitties who are not sick. Or does anyone know of any large rescue organizations who could help us? We're two people and feel like we're "beating our head against a brick wall".

Unacceptable, just plain unacceptable. The director needs to grow a pair, communicate effectively with you and your fellow members, and get the ball rolling on placing the cats. Explain to her your efforts already done, (websites, petfinder, contacting other facilities etc) and explain that it is ethically/morally her responsibility to ensure assistance is found to help place the cats, or to be willing to accept offers for help. I cannot fathom what excuses she has that she is not divulging to you and others why she hasn't made any effort to properly place the cats.

Follow up with your contacts, express the urgency, talk to Petsmart managers and find out how they can assist, and ask if they have contacts you might not have thought of. Talk to as many vets in your area that you can so they can keep clients in mind for potential adoptions. Be sure to express that the cats are vaccinated, well cared for, have health histories and bios, will be spayed/neutered and your personal donations to other facilities, and if there truly is a drastic time frame here, contact your local media for assistance (I would ask petsmart first and other contacts and ask if contacting the media is feasible - I would think with a small number of cats, it would be ideal. People usually show their hearts and donating abilities when there is an urgency about a situation, and adoptions are usually always forthcoming).

Are any of the members in a capacity to take over directorship of the humane society? If it is already established, already has non-profit status, all the bookkeeping is in order, supporters established, etc, then it would also be ideal if members could discuss keeping operations and simply moving it to another location. If this facility is in the director's home, is someone else willing to do the same, even if only temporary in order to get the cats placed in homes? A temporary facility (home, petsmart, etc) would be workable and far better for the cats than the director's so-called plan.

I don't understand either the director, her actions, or the relationships she has with her members, supporters, volunteers or employees, but she is certainly dropping the ball on this one, and it sounds like you and your fellow members may have to take this on yourself, I would only caution the timing here, and talk to her to make this doable. This is not just about her health issues, someone has to make it clear to her that she is responsible and has an ethical obligation to help the cats SHE took in. I would think temporary housing (petsmart, members' homes) would work until other assistance helps to place the cats (rescue orgs, petsmart, supporters, media, etc). Think of it as temporary fostering, until arrangements for placement of the cats can be made. One thing is clear, it would be best to get the cats out of the director's home immediately before she pulls something drastic. Perhaps address it to her as your offer to help her, considering her health situation, maybe she can't deal with anything and would be open to offers for help as long as she understands the cats deserve loving homes, not dumped at the shelter as she has accused others of doing to her.

Please forgive my attitude, but the director should at the very least, be willing, open to, and accommodating offers of help for placing those precious cats.

[Sue and Kids]

Thank you for your prompt reply, Traci. I really appreciate your thoughts about the situation.

I'm digging out from our latest snowstorm. Hubby and I are supposed to go out of state tomorrow for a week, to celebrate my Dad's 90th birthday! So I'm busy packing, etc. right now. I'll write when I get back (or earlier if I have Internet access). I wanted you to know I have read your post and am not ignoring you.

Thanks again for your concern.

Sue (and Kids!)

[Traci]

Well, please don't take my ire personally, it's just that in these situations, we try so hard to make progress and all it takes is just one person to upset everything and take us many steps backwards. I truly think the director dropped the ball on this, big time.

Keep at it with the organizations, and don't be afraid to look elsewhere in your state. It doesn't have to be local, it could be any other organization in the state or neighboring states, someone somewhere probably has contacts in which to assist.

I think the main and most important thing right now is getting the cats to a temporary place, and working on assistance/placement after they are safe and secure. It doesn't sound like the director is trust-worthy right now and she should be grateful for offers of help.

[Tina B and crew]

I don't have any more advice that what Traci has given but I hope dearly that homes can be found for these cats. They do not deserve to lose their lives because the director is an...well, I'll refrain from giving my true thoughts. Please update us when you can. I wish I could help!

[k9Karen]

Our local Humane Society and SPCA often have adoptathons at local malls. I almost came home from one with an adorable Eskie. I already had 3 at the time, and knew I'd be biting off more than I could chew if I did, so I let common sense rule over my decision. I worried about him and called the shelter on Monday to find out if they still had him, and they said he had been adopted. I was so glad to hear that! Is something like that an option? Maybe at a mall, a large shopping center parking lot, or something like that?

[Traci]

Mall adoptathons are cool, and get tons of exposure, I wish they were done more often. Good idea, Karen.

I'm wondering tho, in this case, if there's enough time to coordinate one with the mall - would be worth it to find out.

[Tambrey]

Are you on facebook?....
SpecialNeeds InNeed CrossPosting can get the word out...
Life With Cats can do a story
Cats Cradle Shelter iin Fargo, ND might have some ideas...

It is amazing how fast word travels on FB these days...

[Sue and Kids]

Thanks for your replies, everyone. My planned trip was cancelled. On Monday (the day before we were to leave) my hubby had a grand mal seizure in a restaurant. He was rushed by ambulance to the nearest Emergency Room and later released. However, he can't drive until a neurologist "clears" him. This certainly was not a good time for this to happen! Now there's more to worry about...

I'll try to address some of the items you posted about.

Based only on what you've posted, I'd say this "director" is totally shirking HER responsibility to these cats. If she knew she was sick, and failed to tell anyone until the last minute, that just is so wrong, on so many levels. She should have taken time to prepare and consider the best for the welfare of the cats.

Have you or anyone else actually asked when this "time frame" actually is? That would be the first and foremost to determine.

Does this humane society also work with and place dogs? If so, how is THAT being handled and by whom?

Who are the "members", and what are the responsibilities of the members? Is there a board that oversees operations?

I wanted to ask the director about the time frame at our next quarterly meeting, in front of all the other members. I don't want to ask her privately because then it's her word against mine. However, a fundraiser is being held that same day and I doubt the meeting will be rescheduled.

Yes, the humane society does work with dogs. We have no large dogs left to place, thanks to the huge effort of one of the society's "dog people". The director seldom adopts out small dogs.

The members have not done much in the past. There are a few new ones ("dog people") who are currently working on a fundraiser. They don't show any interest in the cats. The "Board of Directors" are basically figureheads (friends of the director), just to keep the organization legal. I'm the lone "cat person" on the Board. Most people are intimidated by the director and won't challenge her. I don't want to "make waves" at this point, for fear of retaliation on the cats. We would need to have somewhere to move them - quickly.

What is the reasoning behind this woman's refusals? Who gains by her not allowing advertising, contacts to help place these cats? What is she so afraid of? If the cats need homes, what on earth does others dumping cats have to do with placing cats who can no longer stay at this facility? If people dumped cats because she advertised, then she obviously wasn't proficient in advertising. It sounds like more is going on than she is letting on, and if she is ceasing operations, then more than members need to know about this, like the city, or county. Pleads for help are almost critical for a situation like this. 17 cats is not a large number, they should be able to be placed fairly easily with minimal advertising, contacts, working with others in the community, but people need to know what exactly is going on and the director needs to let others offer the help to do so.

Frankly, Traci, I don't understand the director or her refusal to advertise. To her credit, she became Animal Control Officer and built the Humane Society herself and has paid for a lot of expenses. The City and County's solutions before she came was to kill every cat or dog picked up in just a couple days. They would not care if the Humane Society was closed.

If the MANAGER from Petsmart stated that, then it is HE who is probably correct. The director of your humane society sounds like she is not being honest about something, or perhaps something occurred between them she is not willing to divulge to others, which is wrong, because the sole reason for the humane society is placing pets. Bring this up with the director, and state what the manager stated, if it is only a reapplication that is necessary, then the director is rather obligated to the cats and the members to reapply and get the cats up for adoption there. By not doing so, she is negligent in her director's duties. If she has operated like this in the past, it could have lost her the 501(c)(3) status.

I asked my hubby if he was SURE the man he spoke to was the Manager, but he wasn't positive. Rita and I are going to make an appointment with the Petsmart Manager and make sure we are absolutely correct about our Humane Society's status and what needs to be done to reinstate it. Then we will meet with the Director about it. I would have preferred to bring it up at the quarterly meeting with the other members there. It's really unfortunate timing for the fundraiser. When I was at Petmart on Monday, there was ONE cat there - with an adoption pending. We need to get our "social" kitties up there!

Follow up with your contacts, express the urgency, talk to Petsmart managers and find out how they can assist, and ask if they have contacts you might not have thought of. Talk to as many vets in your area that you can so they can keep clients in mind for potential adoptions. Be sure to express that the cats are vaccinated, well cared for, have health histories and bios, will be spayed/neutered and your personal donations to other facilities, and if there truly is a drastic time frame here, contact your local media for assistance (I would ask petsmart first and other contacts and ask if contacting the media is feasible - I would think with a small number of cats, it would be ideal. People usually show their hearts and donating abilities when there is an urgency about a situation, and adoptions are usually always forthcoming).

Are any of the members in a capacity to take over directorship of the humane society? If it is already established, already has non-profit status, all the bookkeeping is in order, supporters established, etc, then it would also be ideal if members could discuss keeping operations and simply moving it to another location. If this facility is in the director's home, is someone else willing to do the same, even if only temporary in order to get the cats placed in homes? A temporary facility (home, petsmart, etc) would be workable and far better for the cats than the director's so-called plan.

That's a good idea to contact area vets and let them know about the situation and to see if they have ideas on possible adopters.

I don't know of any of our members who could take over. We are a small organization and most of our members are older people. No one (including me) has any place on our property to put a building. Being a tourist area, cost of houses is very high and the City is very intolerant of pets. (Our Humane Society is outside the city limits.) We are really hoping to get established with Petsmart again.

We hope to get a no-kill shelter for many of our kitties. Almost all of them arrived here as a kitten/young cat or were born here. They have not had a lot of human contact. They are very tame with me and the two other regular volunteers now, but are absolutely terrified if any stranger comes to the Cat Rooms. It would take a lot of time and patience to gain their trust, and most people want a friendly cat. (I think Petsmart had required that cats placed there be "social".) We plan to contact the last no-kill shelter in the area very soon, see their facility and talk to them about the kitties.

Perhaps address it to her as your offer to help her, considering her health situation, maybe she can't deal with anything and would be open to offers for help as long as she understands the cats deserve loving homes, not dumped at the shelter as she has accused others of doing to her.

I have offered help to the Director repeatedly. She seldom accepts it. I went to the Cat Rooms every day when she was incapacitated and unable to care for them. I've told her about Petfinder, YouTube, etc. and told her several times we're TRYING to find homes or a shelter for the cats.

Our local Humane Society and SPCA often have adoptathons at local malls. I almost came home from one with an adorable Eskie. I already had 3 at the time, and knew I'd be biting off more than I could chew if I did, so I let common sense rule over my decision. I worried about him and called the shelter on Monday to find out if they still had him, and they said he had been adopted. I was so glad to hear that! Is something like that an option? Maybe at a mall, a large shopping center parking lot, or something like that?

Karen, that is a good idea for an area with more population. I live in a very small town and we have no malls or shopping centers. The nearest large town is 40 miles away.

Are you on facebook?....
SpecialNeeds InNeed CrossPosting can get the word out...
Life With Cats can do a story
Cats Cradle Shelter iin Fargo, ND might have some ideas...

It is amazing how fast word travels on FB these days...

Thanks, Tambrey, for the information. I'm "Facebook and Internet challenged". I'd never heard of the sites you mentioned and visited them. "SpecialNeeds InNeed CrossPosting" shows as being "closed - on vacation". I assume you need to become a member to post there. Does the website owner need to approve you before you can post? I'll also go on the Life with Cats and Cats Cradle Shelter websites and see what I can do. I'd appreciate any help or advice about these sites.

Thank you, everyone, for your concern and ideas. I'm trying to do the best I can to save our kitties. Having a sick hubby doesn't help matters. I'll post if there are any further developments. And I'd sure appreciate more prayers for the cats.

Sue (And Kids!)

[Traci]

Sue, I'm so sorry about hubby, I sure hope his doc gets to the bottom of it, it sounds scary! Please let him know he's in our thoughts and prayers.

I wanted to ask the director about the time frame at our next quarterly meeting, in front of all the other members. I don't want to ask her privately because then it's her word against mine. However, a fundraiser is being held that same day and I doubt the meeting will be rescheduled.

A fundraiser, for what? Do you mean this fundraiser will take away from the scheduled meeting?

Do you have time to wait for this scheduled meeting? When is it? I mean, it doesn't sound like you can trust the director at all, regarding any time frame. There's nothing wrong with asking her, yourself, you have to have an idea what she's thinking.

The members have not done much in the past. There are a few new ones ("dog people") who are currently working on a fundraiser. They don't show any interest in the cats.

A Humane Society who does not promote ALL pets on the premises is a Humane Society few could support. This is the fault of the director for not seeing to it that ALL members, board members and volunteers are working for the benefit of ALL the pets. Otherwise, it is just a poorly run rescue organization with suffering pets.

Have you attempted to talk to these dog-people, and get ideas from them, especially how they managed to adopt out all of the dogs, and actually ask them for help?

The "Board of Directors" are basically figureheads (friends of the director), just to keep the organization legal. I'm the lone "cat person" on the Board. Most people are intimidated by the director and won't challenge her. I don't want to "make waves" at this point, for fear of retaliation on the cats. We would need to have somewhere to move them - quickly.

Have you attempted to contact every single board member? They are equally as responsible for ensuring and helping to place the cats. Members are NOTHING if they cannot work together, and for the good of the pets and the Humane Society as a whole.

I think ideally, you and Rita should call a meeting with the director, the board members, and the other volunteers, etc, to get the ball rolling on getting the cats in a safe place and working on adoptions. This needs to be a TEAM effort, and someone needs to call it out!

Frankly, Traci, I don't understand the director or her refusal to advertise. To her credit, she became Animal Control Officer and built the Humane Society herself and has paid for a lot of expenses. The City and County's solutions before she came was to kill every cat or dog picked up in just a couple days. They would not care if the Humane Society was closed.

I think I can understand the inception, but it sounds more like this director was not actually working for much benefit but for her own. That she doesn't have a TEAM, and that the employees can't work together for the same goal for every single pet, is a huge problem, and sounds like it has been a problem from the beginning. Her controlling issues have not been for the benefit of the pets, obviously.

I asked my hubby if he was SURE the man he spoke to was the Manager, but he wasn't positive. Rita and I are going to make an appointment with the Petsmart Manager and make sure we are absolutely correct about our Humane Society's status and what needs to be done to reinstate it. Then we will meet with the Director about it. I would have preferred to bring it up at the quarterly meeting with the other members there. It's really unfortunate timing for the fundraiser. When I was at Petmart on Monday, there was ONE cat there - with an adoption pending. We need to get our "social" kitties up there!

If this is a Petsmart with a sizeable adoption area, you could probably work with them to get the majority if not all the cats there to showcase for adoption, since they can often be placed together in two's and three's. Please make that appointment with the manager ASAP, the sooner you know if the cats can be showcased, the sooner you can start.

I don't know of any of our members who could take over. We are a small organization and most of our members are older people. No one (including me) has any place on our property to put a building. Being a tourist area, cost of houses is very high and the City is very intolerant of pets. (Our Humane Society is outside the city limits.) We are really hoping to get established with Petsmart again.

Again, if the community is unaware of what's going on, you don't actually know what people are thinking, or if anyone would be willing to step forward with a proposal to take over the HS. Even if there were no proposal, there could be people coming forward to help the cats, which is the goal here.

On all of the websites you built, ask for help for temporary foster homes. People might come forward with offers of space if they know the need for it.

We hope to get a no-kill shelter for many of our kitties. Almost all of them arrived here as a kitten/young cat or were born here. They have not had a lot of human contact. They are very tame with me and the two other regular volunteers now, but are absolutely terrified if any stranger comes to the Cat Rooms. It would take a lot of time and patience to gain their trust, and most people want a friendly cat. (I think Petsmart had required that cats placed there be "social".) We plan to contact the last no-kill shelter in the area very soon, see their facility and talk to them about the kitties.

Another negligence on the part of the director. It was imperative of her to train and recruit and schedule volunteers to ensure every cat had the attention they needed in order to be socialized, with people and other cats. This is just pure negligence on her part. But, I don't think you should worry too much about this right now, if the cats respond to you and two other volunteers, that is a good thing. Only thing is, as you say, the need for socialization is strong, and you'll have to cross that bridge when you get there, regarding whomever will be placing the cats. Also remember that change of environment might be all the cats need, with people who care and are willing to spend time with them. Foster homes would be ideal for that before adoption.

I have offered help to the Director repeatedly. She seldom accepts it. I went to the Cat Rooms every day when she was incapacitated and unable to care for them. I've told her about Petfinder, YouTube, etc. and told her several times we're TRYING to find homes or a shelter for the cats.

Again, this isn't about her and her control issues, it's about the pets. I see alot of this going around, directors who think they can and should do everything without the input of others, and it never works, and it is never in the best interest of the pets. It only takes one person, then another, to do the right thing and speak up and do something.

I definitely understand your fears about the cats. This director sounds like a nutcase, the damage she has done is just mind boggling.

The other lady who made the Facebook page, ask her to promote that page, by linking it to others on Facebook, including the links in email and any other online media. Promote it by stating the needs: 17 cats need homes, or foster homes, immediate rescue and temporary fostering in order to get out of the HS's premises, a bio for each cat, photos, contact numbers, ask for assistance, transportation help, etc. Whatever you can do to grab the attention that these cats need help, relocation, adoption. Be sure to offer what you and your fellow cat women are already doing and can further provide (food, carriers, supplies, toys, etc).

Again, contact other rescue organizations in your state and neighboring states. If time is limited, seriously consider telling the director that asking for assistance through the media may be necessary (newspaper or tv) in order to generate assistance. What does she care, she's willing to give them up, she's shirking all responsibility, her so-called HS is apparently ceasing operations, she's taking the easy way out, and shirking her responsibility now would just put her in a very bad light. Many times, when there's a story out describing a plight for pets, the community steps forward to help. They can't do that without knowing what's going on, someone needs to spread the word.

Do you know anyone who is willing to have a conversation with the director, someone who can get through to her and get her to understand that it would help HER and her health issues if she were to allow others to assist in placing the cats, and that the cats deserve the attention and placed into loving homes? Someone who can tactfully remind her that was what the HS was supposed to be about? Ideally, it would be the entire collective of every single board member, member, volunteer, etc.

I completely understand your wish to do much of this privately, but time is of the essence and you have to do the right thing: pissing off a sick director who obviously doesn't care one iota for the cats she took in, wouldn't bother me, the cats deserve loving homes and are literally depending on you and others to save them from her. You have to get several others involved with this, ASAP.

Have you talked to your own vet about this? Does she know people who can help?