May 2022
Minina (pictured) found her forever home at our Senior Prom 2018
Inside this issue:
- Join us for our Senior Prom on Saturday, June 11, 2022 from 12-5
- Thanks to a very generous donor, our Seniors for Seniors Program expands
- Tammy, who lost her owner due to COVID - keeps her heart healthy through our Have-A-Heart Fund
- Chico applauds Maryland as it becomes the second state in the U.S. (New York was the first) to ban declawing cats
Join us for our Senior Prom
Our Senior Prom is back and will be held on Saturday, June 11 from 12-5 at 34 Hamilton Avenue, Oyster Bay.
This adoption event with a prom-like atmosphere not only highlights our Seniors for Seniors Program, but features cats of all ages that are available for adoption. Senior citizens who adopt senior cats will receive a gift basket chock full of goodies (while supplies last) for their new companion and adopters of cats of all ages will receive a gift bag of new toys (thanks to KitNipBox) for their furry bundle of love (while supplies last).
Not looking to adopt? Join us under the tent for refreshments and/or take a tours of our newly renovated sanctuary. For the safety of everyone, we request that masks be worn while inside.
Girl Scout Jodi Yeh of Oyster Bay Troop 138 chose Seniors for Seniors as her Girl Scouts Gold Award Project. She is pictured here with Ladew adopter, Sandra Amato and senior kitty Sandy.
In addition to tours, visitors may wish to sponsor a cat to help us continue to provide housing and medical care for cats in our care. Sponsors will receive a hand-painted ornament (pictured) with your sponsee's name (or your own cat's name you like).
Potential adopters and visitors alike are welcome to stop by to visit our staff, volunteers and kitties and have some popcorn, cotton candy and water.
Newly renovated sanctuary by Square Paws
Hand-painted ornaments for sponsors
Seniors for Seniors Expands
In 2018, we started our Seniors for Seniors program in order to help more senior kitties find homes. Our Seniors for Seniors program circumvents two of the biggest barriers for senior citizens when adopting senior cats: the worry of the potential financial burden of adopting an older cat along with worry of what would happen to the cat if something happened to them.
Since the inception of our Seniors for Seniors program, the Patricia H. Ladew Foundation, Inc. (PHLF) has not only covered the reasonable future medical expenses of any senior cat (10+) adopted by an approved senior citizen (65+) only at our facility in Oyster Bay but also insured that if anything happened to the adopter, the cat can be safely returned to PHLF. With the success of over 35 senior cats benefitting from the program, we dreamed of being able to help seniors in other geographic areas.
Jordan Salvit and senior kitty Mister Cat
Thanks to a very generous donation specifically for this program from long-time Ladew supporter, Jordan Salvit, CEO and Co-Founder of KitNipBox, the subscription box for cat toys and treats, we are happy to announce our dream came true.
Mr. Salvit's significant donation has enabled us to expand our Seniors for Seniors program (now covering cats 8 years old and older) to allow participants to see participating veterinarians in other locations. As more and more veterinarians join with us, we look forward to helping more senior citizens reap the rewards of furry companionship without any of the worry.
COVID-19 turned Tammy's life upside down - with the help of a village, it's back on track
Early in the pandemic, Tammy (and her six furry roommates), lost their owner to COVID-19.
As if that wasn’t enough to contend with, the executor of her owner’s will was highly allergic to cats and wasn’t able to step in. Fortunately she found a neighbor who could take over caring for the kitties while she sorted things out — but then THAT neighbor also got COVID!
With nowhere else to turn, the administrator of the estate reached out to their veterinarian, New Hyde Park Animal Hospital. Dr. Mara DiGrazia and staff rescued Tammy and her six buddies and brought them to their hospital and eventually to us. We are happy to say that since that time, we have found all seven fur babies new homes.
Tammy
Tammy had a pre-existing heart condition known as hyper obstructive cardiomyopathy. Through our Have-A-Heart Fund, which covers the cost of echocardiograms (sonograms of the heart) and heart medicine for cats adopted with pre-existing heart conditions, Tammy’s new mom doesn’t have to worry about affording her check-ups.
Tammy was in last month for her yearly echocardiogram and all is well. There were no changes from last year and she doesn’t have to return for another year.
Dr. Mark Leleonec and Licensed Veterinary Technician, Tim Frazer-Talan
Chico thanks Maryland for becoming state #2 to ban declawing
Thanks to the efforts of The Paw Project, Maryland has become the second state in the U.S. to ban declawing. New York banned the procedure in July 2019.
Chico (pictured), was rescued through combined efforts of The Paw Project, the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals' Wheels of Hope and Patricia H. Ladew Foundation. Chico was slated for euthanasia at Animal Care Centers in Brooklyn prior to his rescue. He was four-paw declawed by his owners and left at Animal Care Centers in Brooklyn because "they had no time for him."
Chico
Chico, now nearly 19, is just one of the many cats who has suffered from this procedure. In a recent peer-reviewed journal article, it was shown that declawed cats are significantly more likely to have behavioral changes resulting from the amputations which include increased biting and inappropriate litter box use and other negative effects. Chico was adopted out twice since being with us and was returned both times for not using the litter box. Even with medical management for pain, he continues to avoid the litter box.
Chico lost his claws, his home(s) and nearly his life because of declawing.
For further information on declawing or how you can help, please visit The Paw Project.
Veterinarians Dr. Susan Whittred (Executive Director of PHLF and NY Director of the Paw Project) and Dr. Jennifer Conrad (Founder and Director of the Paw Project) celebrate Maryland becoming the 2nd state to ban declawing
