My Nonprofit Reviews
christine20
Review for Cat Network, Inc., Miami, FL, USA
Upon moving to a new neighborhood in north downtown Miami along the Miami River, I noticed a number of stray cats. This was not usual on the south side but alarmingly so on the northside. When walking my dog around the block I noticed a kitten about to cross a busy road and likely get killed. Instincts kicked in and I ushered the kitten back to his mother and siblings. Immediately I called the Cat Network and a volunteer drove over to my condo and showed me how to capture the kittens, clean them, deworm them, and deflea them. The overal idea is to get kittens tested, vaccinated and into loving homes so they don't grow up in the streets. In that moment I learned about the plight of homeless cats and how they multiply like rabbits if they are not spayed/neutered. Sadly I learned it starts with one irresponsible pet owner not spaying/neutering their outdoor cat. One turns into 100 and many cats suffer in the streets. They are plagued with so many illnesses, diseases, and injuries growing up in the streets with no care. As a true animal lover, I could not ignore the situation. Overnight I was educated and went into action in my neighborhood. All 17 cats on my condo complex are spayed/neutered, received rabies vaccination and are happy and healthy. Thanks to Cat Network, they are a true network of strictly volunteers. There are NO paid staff, no high-paying executives, and NO facility to house the rescued cats and kittens. Each volunteer opens up their hearts, homes and wallets to care for these cats. And they are willing to teach and help others. Never have I worked with a group of nonpaying volunteers who give so much of themselves for the good of a community and receive absolutely nothing in return. I am so honored to know and work with these quiet, brave soldiers.
More Feedback
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
my own neighborhood! All 17 strays are sterilized and happy and healthy. In addition, through the "Dear Tabby" email, volunteers of Cat Network offer helpful tips and suggestion for anyone faced with an unknown or difficult situation. It's a true network!
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Add Marketing campaign to recruit more volunteers! The Cat Network is in desperate need of different types of volunteers. Those for fostering, or bottle feeding, working at the adoption centers, for fundraising, writing marketing copy...
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
Their sincerity in fulfilling their mission of helping each and every individual that calls for help with a cat situation.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
Dedicated, selfless and passionate. I've met not one, not two but MANY volunteers who give beyond the average volunteer.Many volunteers have foregone their vacations and used their vacation money to pay for the veterinary bills of sick cats.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
End homelessness of street cats! We need a NATIONAL awareness campaign equivalent to campaigns about recycling and global warming.
Ways to make it better...
I could stop crying at all the horror stories I learn about neglectful pet owners dumping their indoor cats into street or leaving kittens abandoned in a box. Sadly it's true. We need more volunteers, funding and a national campaign.
In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...
Not enough volunteers and lack of funding. While all the donations go directly to the operations of the cat mobile, most of the money to capture, pay for sterilization, and any medicines is all paid by volunteers.
One thing I'd also say is that...
I'd like to see a way for these volunteers to get reimbursed for the medical costs of the cats in their care. I believe Cat Network could attract more volunteers if there was a system in place to reimburse volunteers as vet bills also are highly expensive
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every week
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
