10,000 more reasons to say thank you

That’s not a typo! Even though COVID-19 has stopped normal life as we know it, the pandemic is not stopping our volunteers and board members. The Unilever Federal Credit Union, with funds provided by the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York (FHLBNY), recently granted CPAW NJ $10,000. At $55 per surgery, the grant covers spay/neuter for 182 cats. Ameowzing!

New Board Members Bring Renewed Dedication to #CompassionWithAPurrpose

Michelle Brodbeck comes to CPAW NJ with a strong background in community cat programming, TNVR, and community engagement. Michelle currently serves as People for Animals’ (PFA) Community Cat Manager. PFA is the largest nonprofit spay/neuter organization in NJ. The Asbury Park resident started in animal welfare as a foster and adoptions counselor volunteer and worked for several years with Best Friends Animal Society as a Community Cat Program Coordinator on projects based in Philadelphia and Jefferson Parish Louisiana.

Amy Rabinowitz has always had a love for animals and co-founded a 501(c)3 not for profit called For Animals Inc., which is still thriving today. Similar to CPAW NJ, the main focus is to TNVR stray cats and reduce the overpopulation that leads to so many tragic deaths. The Bloomfield resident will serve as treasurer and volunteer coordinator and hopes to recruit new volunteers to support CPAW NJ’s work for outdoor cats.

Michael Ogushwitz is a life-long cat lover. The Bloomfield resident has been active with CPAW NJ for three years, helping to stock local pet-food drives and build shelters for feral cats. He and his partner Aja have fostered, socialized and found permanent homes for several kittens. Michael has an accredited product safety industry background and loves designing and building just about anything. In addition to being elected as board secretary, Michael will be managing CPAW NJ’s trap bank, finalizing our first ever procedure manual, and adding his expertise to streamline and improve our current operations.

While CPAW NJ welcomes three new board members, it also bids farewell to MarieChristine Lochot of Montclair, co-founder and treasurer of the organization, and Kay Sherwood, secretary and grant writer. The Clifton resident was also first chair of Montclair’s Animal Welfare Advisory Committee. Their dedication and service to CPAW NJ’s mission was invaluable and they will both be deeply missed.

Support the Thank you Karen Fundraiser

If you’re signed up for this newsletter, Karen Shinevar has probably helped you personally. Please join us in wishing her well as she begins the next part of her adventure. Karen is moving back home to Michigan. Don’t worry, she’ll still be CPAW NJ President. She’ll oversee day-to-day operations, but it won’t be the same without her here.

COVID-19 has brought on an unprecedented economic crisis, and our neighbors are suffering. Pets are being surrendered to local shelters or abandoned in hopes that they’ll survive on the streets somehow. Let’s do what Karen has always done through CPAW NJ and work to keep families together and cats off the streets!

Our goal is to raise $500 for cat food to be given to a local food pantry in Karen’s honor. Any amount you can give will bring her joy. Be sure to leave her a message with your donation! Donate here.

A message from Karen:

While I will be physically in MI, I’m still just a cpawnj@gmail.com email away! Family duties called and I sped up my plan to move back home. I’m still President and excited to have a wonderful new board. CPAW NJ is just beginning a new phase with increased education and public awareness. I’ll have more time for individual counseling, training sessions via zoom, research and advocacy to increase acceptance and support of TNVR in north Jersey. I can’t wait to see how many more cats can be helped as we increase outreach and education. Meowy thanks for being part of the CPAW NJ team. We need paws on the ground now more than ever! 

Raise your paw if Community Cats call your neighborhood or workplace home. We’re taking requests within our service area of Bloomfield, Caldwell, Cedar Grove, Glen Ridge, Montclair, Nutley and Verona. And if you find kittens, there’s always a mom to spay!

As COVID-19 restrictions begin to relax, outreach events will be BACK! If you’re able to sit at a table and talk about CPAW NJ, we need you to help us spread the word! 

AUGUST RESULTS

Community Cats: 38

Females: 16

Males: 22

Companion Cats: 4

1,395 Since April 1, 2017