Creating a Cat Sanctuary

Hi, my name is Heather Ailie and I’m trying to raise money to create a safe haven for unhoused cats. The increasing rate of homeless cats in the United States is alarming and they need our help NOW. Animal shelters are full and are forced to euthanize healthy cats every day. Rescues are trying desperately to make ends meet while the demand to help is never ending. Where is the solution? The answer really relies on ALL of us and we want to do our part to end their suffering.

Our organization is called Marley Meadows Animal Sanctuary and our focus is providing lifelong care and advocacy for farmed animals and unhoused cats. We started out in 2017 rescuing abused farmed animals and advocating for their rights. As we grew in resident population we needed a bigger place to establish our roots and start a solid foundation. In the summer of 2020 we relocated the sanctuary just 90 minutes west of its original location in southern New Jersey. We were no longer situated anywhere close to a city and the potential to provide protection to the animals for a long time was almost limitless.

Truthfully we knew very little about this historic small town but we never imagined it would be so overrun with feral felines! Not only was there cats and kittens around every corner but the town’s latest solution to control the cat population was to trap and KILL. We were shocked and appalled by this and knew we had to help. In fact, our new property came with kitty residents right from the very beginning and felt strongly that this was a sign to help their species.

Fast forward to 2023 and we have rescued, vetted, and provided homes to over 50 fantastic felines. We have helped them bond and build cat communities throughout our 8 acre property but we need help to continue providing protection. We not only have natural animal predators as a threat here but also human predators as well. In fact one of our previously feral cats, Halsey, was shot with a pellet gun fracturing her back leg. Thankfully she recovered just fine and even became tame (mostly!). She now lives in the caretaker house with 20+ other cats and we need to provide all of them with more living space. This is where we need your help! Our dream is to build an enormous cat community where they are all safe, healthy, and unconditional loved. This requires a huge catio and the entire property to be fenced in. We are already partially there! We acquired the fencing and tools to install the property fence but we still need the posts. We are also going to need the supplies (lumber, chicken wire, screws and nails, etc.) to create a large catio for the current resident cats and for future rescues as well. The labor is being donated by cofounder Steven Podolsky and dedicated volunteers so we can cut cost and provide personal details.

Please help us provide an excellent life for these forgotten felines by donating towards our mission. We are a government approved 501c3 nonprofit charity and every penny donated goes directly to helping the animals here while providing public education to the local community.