Network: Establishing Rescue Contacts

NETWORKING IS ABSOLUTELY VITAL. Networking with local shelters, with other local rescues (dog rescues included), with local transporters, with local veterinarians, with transport volunteers...networking with as many people as possible. This network should be established BEFORE a new rescue begins to take in cats. Rescue is a community which does share information about the activities of its members, and if you are an unknown with no reputation your rescue will not flourish and you won't be effective at saving purebred cats.

When starting your rescue program, have all your contacts in place before taking that first cat. The person in your group that is in charge of this phase needs to be someone who can clearly evaluate the skills of others and deal diplomatically with vets and shelter personnel. One once contact person should be your point of contact, especially initially.

RESCUE COORDINATOR

Ideally this is someone who is readily accessible, at the very least by phone, during the day. The coordinator needs to be knowledgeable about cat care and welfare. This person also must be patient, diplomatic, and have good phone skills. They will be the one the general public as well as the shelters will contact when a possible purebred cat needs placement. If you are rescuing from other states, it is helpful if this person has unlimited long distance calling costing a flat rate.

SHELTER LIAISON

This person is the one who will be the shelter's primary contact. They may pick the cats up and take them to your vets. The liaison needs to be able to identify all purebred cats and be willing to often make a difficult decision regarding cats that do not meet your group's criteria for rescue. They also has to be diplomatic when dealing with shelter personnel.

TRANSPORT COORDINATOR & TRANSPORTERS

You may need a transport coordinator to arrange for long distance transports using transport volunteers. It is strongly advised that this person have a cell phone and unlimited long distance calling. Their primary function is to plan transport runs and write up a "Run Sheet ".

FOSTERS

You may require a network of caring individuals who are willing to foster the cat until a permanent home can be found. It is important that you carefully screen such volunteers. educate them in your policies and procedures, monitor the foster stay, and provide mentoring, support, and acknowledgement of their efforts. Foster homes allow for assessment of the cat in home situation and increase your ability to get more cats to safety.

When you have done your basic planning, you will need to approach local shelters. When making your initial contact, don't expect to be welcomed with open arms. Most shelter personnel are overworked and have to deal daily with situations that are probably your worst nightmare. Many have been indoctrinated to believe that breeders are the cause of all their problems. Usually diplomacy and patience will win the most hardened case over. Here are three steps that will make the first contact go smoothly:

Assure your shelter contact that all cats will be altered and placed as pets. Discuss the possibility of the shelter waiving adoption fees, but don't push it. Shelters have tight budgets too! Ask if the shelter does FIV/FELV testing, vaccinations, and spay/neuter. Ask if the shelter is able to spay/neuter the cats before you take them at your expense if they don't spay/neuter routinely - not only does it resolve some of their fears, but it generally also costs less.

Once you have set up the connection, impress on your group members that good shelter relations are critical to your mission. Most shelters will work with your time schedule. Do not hesitate to ask if, for instance, they can hold a cat over the weekend until you can pick up. There may be times when your program is saturated, and you will have to tell the shelter that you are unable to take more cats at this time. Never tell the shelter that you will pick a cat up and simply not arrive, and never fail to follow up with any required paperwork.

Make yourself visible. Plan to walk through the cat room at the shelter periodically (every other week is ideal) to check for any purebreds that might have "slipped through the cracks." Be sure shelter personnel know you are there and still interested. Occasionally personnel changes occur and new employees might not be aware of your program, or know to call on you.

Ignore the occasional naysayer - the only thing important is rescuing the cats. Stay focused on the cats. Do not get into discussions of whether Purebred Rescue is "elitist"or argue about animal rights. Your focus MUST remain on the cats and getting them safe.

The vets you use are one of the most important elements of a successful rescue program. He MUST know what your groups procedures, expectations and objectives are, and that all rescue cats are to be readied for placement in pet homes.

Interview more than one veterinarian before making a decision. Here are a few suggestions: