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Rescue Kitties Deserve Fun Too

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By JESSICA BAIR, The Suncoast News

Published: October 19, 2007

TRINITY - One hundred or so homeless and wild cats are getting giddy thanks to Operation Happy Socks and local Girl Scouts.

The Girl Scouts of West Central Florida Troop 957 and Brownie Troop 563 recently delivered handmade catnip socks to the adoption center run by RaeAnna Saks, founder of The Little Cats' Rescue, inside a PetSmart on Little Road.

'It's all part of the Girl Scouts helping to make the world a better place,' Brownie troop leader Jill White said.

The project also is part of their efforts to earn a service badge.

Saks said she's grateful to receive the donations for the cats being housed at the pet store, the TLC Rescue sanctuary in New Port Richey and in foster homes.

'We desperately need funds and volunteers,' she said of the no-kill shelter she operates with 12 part-time volunteers.

To help reduce the stray cat population and to match those animals with loving owners, the nonprofit group needs double that number of responsible helpers, said Saks, who started the shelter four years ago.

She works with the Humane Society of Tampa Bay to get adoptable cats tested and sterilized. Little Cats' averages about 20 adoptions per month but has no paid staff and gets funding from a few reliable benefactors.

'I think we could do a lot more and we would love to have our own facility, but it just can't be done right now,' said Saks, who also lives at the sanctuary.

All donations go to pay veterinary bills, buy food and other necessities, and provide shelter and care for the cats.

Similar to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and other humane shelters, the cats are neutered, have microchips implanted and are up-to-date with vaccinations.

'It breaks my heart when I can't take in a cat because of space or funds,' said Saks, who began rescuing animals in 1989.

'When I think I can't take it anymore, I pray to God,' she said. 'Then something always comes in the post office box, like $200, to keep me moving.'

Saks expects it will be at least January before she has the time, money, space and volunteers to take in any more felines.

To learn more, call Saks at (727) 815-0772 or go online to www.thelittlecatsrescue.com.

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