We’ve started this column to give you insight into what’s happening behind the scenes: a look at the work we’re doing to support our mission moving forward, and where Nine Lives stands on certain issues.
Changes
We’ve heard some rumors. Some of you may have, too. Either way, we want to address them for everyone — things like “Nine Lives is facing financial trouble” or “It’s not the same place.”
Well, one of those is true. Nine Lives is not the same place, nor should it be. We’re building on a hard-fought foundation and trying to keep and improve on what worked. The old ways aren’t always the best; the newer ways aren’t always bad — they’re just different.
To remain vital, no organization can stand still. It’s possible to embrace progress without letting go of the heart of what makes Nine Lives the only organization in the Bay Area dedicated to offering low-cost spay/neuter services and rescuing at-risk cats.
Finances
Now let’s talk finances. Nine Lives is NOT in financial trouble. For three years now, Nine Lives has worked hard to pay its backlog of debts/bills, to institute stricter financial controls, to collect payments way in arrears for the services we provide... in essence, to account for and manage every penny. This was no small effort.
And while it is not as compelling a story as those we bring you about the cats that come through our doors, we couldn’t help those cats without a sound financial footing that keeps the doors open, the lights on, the supplies stocked, and the clinical and administrative staff on board. As our longtime, respected Board President mentioned at many board meetings and before his planned departure in May, Nine Lives has never been in better financial shape.
Does that mean we don’t need donations? Of course not! Nine Lives relies on the generosity of its supporters, and always will, to care for cats and ultimately find them forever homes.
But it’s time we expand that to incorporate other sources of funding — like grants — and we’ll have some exciting news to report to you on that front soon. And we’re excited to have a special event this October — COVID willing. More details to come on that front, too.
Foster Program
We're currently asking people to step forward and apply to foster specific, special-needs cats (like Trill, who we highlighted above!). Before we more broadly expand our foster program — which we want to do! — certain situations must be resolved.
For example, we have to determine how many Nine Lives cats are currently in foster homes, particularly our long-term ones (e.g., FeLV+ cats). Many cats were placed in foster homes with good intentions over the years, but we know there are likely some with no paperwork on file.
Next, we are rolling out a new system that will accept online foster volunteer applications (and adoption applications), and that information must be reviewed before a foster volunteer can be matched with a special-needs cat.
Our veterinarians will work with foster applicants on a case-by-case basis to ensure there is a good match for the cat and the foster volunteer. Again, these seem like small administrative details, but they matter.
In essence, we need a dedicated foster coordinator to address these and other issues. In the end, we have to ensure we have the veterinary resources to care for these foster cats when they need it — potentially for the rest of their lives — as well as the administrative resources in place behind the scenes for each cat placed in foster homes. We appreciate your patience as we do so and will keep you up to date with developments in this area.
