Morris the Cat births regional rescue mission |
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Denise Sinico, founder of the non-profit Westfield Homeless Cat Project, looks at a picture of Morris the Cat, the animal who prompted her to give up her job of 18 years and devote her life to helping abandoned cats.
Reminder Publications photo by Katelyn Gendron
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May, 19, 2010.
By Katelyn Gendron
Reminder Assistant Editor
WESTFIELD -- A large black and white photo of Morris the Cat reminds volunteers why they dedicate their time to the Westfield Homeless Cat Project. His eyes follow volunteers as they pace up and down the rows of crated cats.
Denise Sinico cried as she stood in front of the photo last week, recalling how she met Morris and a colony of feral cats at the Department of Public Works more than 10 years ago.
"Let this picture of Morris be a reminder to us, so we can understand why we do what we do," she read from the inscription on the photo. Morris was ill and didn't survive long after he met Sinico but thousands since have been rescued, nursed back to health and given proper homes thanks to her non-profit, the Westfield Homeless Cat Project, founded in 2006.
Her rescue, which she operates out of her home on East Mountain Road, has become so large that volunteers are seeking donations to help expand the shelter within Sinico's garage. Currently she has three rows of large double-stacked crates housing the cats but approximately 50 more in foster care and 30 more throughout the region are on a waiting list.
"These cats have just been thrown out and left to die. It's disgusting!" Sinico said.
She explained that the influx of feral and abandoned cats quickly became a full-time job for her.
"It takes up your whole life. I quit my job of 18 years to do this," Sinico recalled. "How can you say no to somebody standing on your doorstep with a box of kittens? It's probably the saddest job that anybody can do."
Sinico and volunteers work through the pain each day to ensure all cats entering the rescue are spayed or neutered, de-wormed, rid of fleas and properly vaccinated. She noted some cats could cost her non-profit up to $3,000 in medical fees but that she still keeps her adoption fee at $90 for every cat.
"We don't ever quit on a cat," Sinico said, adding that her rescue operates on a no-kill philosophy. Some cats require intravenous medications or other life-saving measures daily.
"There are people here 8 a.m. to 8 or 9 p.m. everyday," she explained as she bottle fed a two-week old kitten whose mother was run over by a car.
"I have three hours at a time to go anywhere," she added, noting that is the time allotted between feedings.
Donna Cipriani, a volunteer, recalled that one look into the faces of these cats and she knew she was meant to dedicate her time to the rescue.
Volunteer Desta Krupa echoed Cipriani's sentiments, adding that she's taken four into her home.
Sinico noted that despite the 3,000 cats rescued and adopted there are still many more in need of her services.
She's asking for donations including dry wall, plywood, nails and screws, dry wall tape and compound, large windows, screening, doors, shelves, office supplies, scatter rugs, cat furniture, cat beds, flooring, plastic storage bins, a telephone and a computer.
For more information about the Westfield Homeless Cat Project, volunteer or adoption opportunities or to a make donation, contact Sinico at 568-6964 or e-mail her at denisesinico@hotmail.com.
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