Coswell Gets A Break
Coswell was found a few days before last Christmas -- in a group of feral cats -- eating out of the dumpsters at Briarwood.  Declawed and very affectionate, it was obvious he didn't belong there.  He was taken to HSHV and, although he is an older cat -- around 8 years of age -- he instantly bonded with their staff and was put up for adoption anyway.  Unfortunately, Coswell wasn't very good at marketing himself and huddled in the back of his cage.  Since he was on the floor level, we guess nobody saw him.  After a few months it was pretty clear that Coswell wasn't going to be adopted so we were asked to put him in our Cat Retirement Program.   We did and he immediately fit in both with our staff and with the other cats.

We thought he'd be quick to adopt but during his intake physical we discovered a loud heart murmur.  Then we did an ultrasound and learned he has cardiomyopathy with a prognosis of a few months to a few years to live.  He went on daily medication and last month was re-evaluated -- much to our pleasure we found the medication is controlling his heart so well that he hardly has an audible murmur! His prognosis has been upgraded and -- hopefully he'll now be adopted and spend the rest of his time in a permanent loving home.

Our Many Thanks
DONORS: William & Margaret Brudon, Carole Carlsen, Richard & Charlene Cutchins, Laura Gemellaro, Lee Rome & Sherry Hanson, Doris Harris, Gina & Cameron McGibbon, Ed & Elaine Palmer, Dean Rockwell, Maury & Edna Robbins, Peggy Rogers, Ralph & Jo Rumsey, Candis Stern, Pat Tompkins, Klaas & Helena Volger, Judy VonBoncel, Jennifer & Stanley Weed, Al & Sarah Weiner, Kristen Winter, Tom & Sue Wisely, West Hawk Industries, Kristine Zvirbulis.
IN MEMORY OF: Emma Huffman-Smith by Susan Everitt & Jean Genaw, Foster & Millie Schuman by Robert Gurney, Jaguar Mall by Nancy Page, Orange Freligh by Sarah Freligh, Periwinkle Levenberg by Sue Ransom, Scooter Cavrell by Cheryl Blackwell & Jamie Seguino.
SUPPLIES: Julia Bommarito, Barb Faust, Al & Karen Gallup, Joan Lawrence, Anne Perry, David Stringer, Humane Society of Livingston County, Saline Veterinary Service, Julie Ward, Barb & Larry Wolfe.
VOLUNTEERS: Barb Almli, Cheryl Blackwell, Julia Bommarito, Mary Beth Budd, Mary Cady, Jenny Carano, Sylvia Copeland, Helen Denoyer, Holly Diener, Barb Faust, Anne Fischer, Al & Karen Gallup, Ann Gambino, Debbie Garrett, Terri Geitgey, Debbie & Emily Geister, Colleen Genga, Courtney Gramlich, Deb Granneman, Rachel Granneman, Jeannine Hayden, Sivana Heller, Liz Johnson, Ariel King Moore, Vicki Landau, Cynthia Lempert, Mara Lirette, Betsy & Jack Mall, Monica Milla, Angela Morris, Lisa Murray, Pat Naffin, Anne Perry, Alicia Pratt, Sue Ransom, Maya Rhodes, Maury Robbins, Maggie Sadoff, Terri Sarris, Bill & Nancy Schultz Julie Scovel, Allison Sparks, Angela Siggia, Candis Stern, Gina Trusty, Jan Wahl, Julie K Ward, Barb & Larry Wolfe, Christine Wren.
STAFF: Ashley Allemang, Kris Dudley, Deb Granneman, Cynthia Jones.
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Dear Friends,
With our TNR program beginning its fourth year, we wondered if we were reducing the numbers of cats in Washtenaw County.  We checked the statistics of the Humane Society of Huron Valley and were dismayed to find both their intake and their euthanasia rates were up over 3 years ago.  As the local animal control facility, they are the primary source of statistics.  But, since most of cat welfare is done individually or through rescue groups, their numbers don't reflect the entire picture.  So, have we impacted the cat population in Washtenaw County?  We think yes.  We've created 290 "kitten free zones"-- areas where cats live but no longer reproduce.  For example, one colony caregiver -- with 35 cats -- reported that last summer 60 kittens were born on her land.  This year, after neutering all but the last few -- her kitten births dropped to 13.  Next year, when she's finished sterilizing her colony, we expect the births to drop to zero.  So long as we continue to establish kitten free zones, we will continue to reduce the feline birth rate.  How long before that impacts county statistics, we just don't know.  We do know, though, our work has just begun!
Kitty Zimmer