Grant to help seniors who adopt cats

Working to achieve a time when homeless pets are not killed in shelters, the No More Homeless Pets Network supplies resources and opportunities to help our partners save more animals’ lives in their communities. In the first quarter of 2012, Best Friends Lifesaving Grants, in partnership with PetSmart Charities, awarded $127,000 to 18 qualified partners.

The Ten Lives Club in Western New York is one of the innovative organizations to receive a $7,500 grant. The cat rescue celebrated 11 strong years in February. They have facilitated over 12,000 adoptions and over 3,000 spays/neuters.

Helping the most at-risk cats and kittens

The Ten Lives Club rescues cats and kittens who are not considered "highly adoptable." They specialize in FIV+ cats who come to their shelter from all around the country. They also care for cats with treatable ailments, such as ringworm, who would be put down in many high-volume open-admission shelters. They work closely with local city shelters and rescues to help Erie County become no-kill by 2014.

Lifesaving Grant to help cats and seniors

Marie Edwards, founder and president of the organization, has been working harder and smarter to save as many cats as possible. She continues to push the boundaries to do more. When the economy took a downturn, she came up with a brilliant plan to help the homeless pets and people of her community: Pay the pet security deposits for senior citizens living in government assisted-living complexes.

"Senior homes are a great place for cats to live," says Marie. "The cats are well cared for and many seniors find the cats a great comfort to have in their care."

Marie negotiates with landlords on behalf of adopters to make sure landlords understand that the cat will be cared for no matter what happens. If the person is unable to take care of the cat due to life changes, the Ten Lives Club will take the cat back. As Marie says, "Once a Ten Lives Club cat, always a Ten Lives Club cat."

"This grant will allow us to tap into a market that’s out there and bring our cats to these wonderful homes, which is of course better for the cats, better for the senior citizens, and will allow us to rescue even more cats," says Marie.

Ellen Gilmore, manager of the No More Homeless Pets Network, is thrilled with their work and adds, "Ten Lives Club's project definitely targets cats who are most at-risk for euthanasia and provides an innovative solution to get them adopted. It's a great example of the kind of project that addresses the goals of our Lifesaving Grants program."

Additional info

Love cats? Check out the Ten Lives Club for ways to get involved.