CATS on FIRE!
Donation protected
CATS! LOTS OF CATS! I want to help them find homes!
Can you help us stoke the embers of feline advocacy?
Hi! My name is Cindy and I am in the process of opening a cat cafe in Lakeland, Florida.
Lakeland is in Polk County and, embarrassingly, we are number one for killing cats. The county animal control center euthanizes around 66,000 cats and dogs each year. We lead the Southeast! Not a number to be proud of.
Can you help us stoke the embers of feline advocacy?
Hi! My name is Cindy and I am in the process of opening a cat cafe in Lakeland, Florida.
Lakeland is in Polk County and, embarrassingly, we are number one for killing cats. The county animal control center euthanizes around 66,000 cats and dogs each year. We lead the Southeast! Not a number to be proud of.
In July 2021 I reached out to several other owners to learn as much as I could about what it means to run a healthy and viable shelter.
So, with guidance from a mentor at the Small Business Development Council (SBDC) and the support of the Small Business Administration (SBA), I bought a building downtown to house rehome-able strays.
I brought in all the trades and city departments and sat down with a veterinarian to help make sure I was making the space safe for both kitties and humans.
The City of Lakeland fire inspector informed me about the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 150, Standard on Fire and Life Safety in Animal Housing Facilities. This covers construction, occupancy requirements, and fire protection.
It is the fire protection that brings me to you today.
The installation of a hardwired fire alarm system, complete with pull stations, signage and an extensive fire sprinkler system, is required to comply.
After seeking advice from several sprinkler companies I learned that there is much infrastructure to make this happen. The process starts with a tap into the city water main line which happens to be in the middle of the street in front of the building. A four-inch water line must be run to the building, connected to a backflow preventer and then connected to a fire line riser before being connected to the piped system in the ceiling.
So, with guidance from a mentor at the Small Business Development Council (SBDC) and the support of the Small Business Administration (SBA), I bought a building downtown to house rehome-able strays.
I brought in all the trades and city departments and sat down with a veterinarian to help make sure I was making the space safe for both kitties and humans.
The City of Lakeland fire inspector informed me about the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 150, Standard on Fire and Life Safety in Animal Housing Facilities. This covers construction, occupancy requirements, and fire protection.
It is the fire protection that brings me to you today.
The installation of a hardwired fire alarm system, complete with pull stations, signage and an extensive fire sprinkler system, is required to comply.
After seeking advice from several sprinkler companies I learned that there is much infrastructure to make this happen. The process starts with a tap into the city water main line which happens to be in the middle of the street in front of the building. A four-inch water line must be run to the building, connected to a backflow preventer and then connected to a fire line riser before being connected to the piped system in the ceiling.
This three day process will require the street to be shut down to all traffic.
Although I had done much research and sought out funding from a local bank to renovate the building, the newly required safety measures have me falling sort of the acquired monetary amount by about $50,000.
This is where I hope you will help me narrow the gap in funding.
Until this part of the journey is complete the city will not let me house any fur babies in the building much less open the doors to get them into happy laps.
Although I had done much research and sought out funding from a local bank to renovate the building, the newly required safety measures have me falling sort of the acquired monetary amount by about $50,000.
This is where I hope you will help me narrow the gap in funding.
Until this part of the journey is complete the city will not let me house any fur babies in the building much less open the doors to get them into happy laps.
There is no amount too small! Please give whatever you can!
(While we work on the hard part, here’s a bit of cute to hold you over… ENJOY!)
Organizer
Cindy Skop
Organizer
Lakeland, FL