Support Precious Cat Rescue

In March of this year (2023), I took in a one-day-old, abandoned runt kitten. I named him Precious. His mother was not even one year old, and he was found in a puddle. Animal Control's only advice was to leave him where he was, wait for his mama to come back, and let him pass away. This was unacceptable to me, so after I was certain mama would not be coming back for him, I took him in myself. He was in bad shape. While he showed some signs of improvement, tragically, he didn't make it through his first night in this world, despite expert medical care. I wasn't able to continue work for some time due to the grief - the grief of losing this baby I had known only a few hours. I even opened a small credit card to get him cremated.

If his mama had had a safe place to go, Precious could have had a fighting chance.

I decided that Precious's tiny life had to mean something more than the few hours I got to spend with him. Though his remains would hardly fill a teaspoon, he meant so much to me and took up so much of my heart. I decided to try to take the pain of the loss and turn it into the courage and determination to make a difference. Every time I get overwhelmed and want to give up, I think of his sweet little face, his heavy little head, or his teensy weensy footprints. And thanks to him, here you are, reading this! Thank you, little Precious. You are going to save so many lives.

-Precious Cat Rescue will be a 501c3 nonprofit, no-kill, cage-free shelter

-We will welcome both adoptable and UN-adoptable stray cats from Orange County

-The space will become a cat cafe to raise more funds

-Merchandise will be hand-made by disabled or other minority individuals

-The space will become a venue for the performing and visual arts, featuring disabled and minority individuals

-We will employ mostly or exclusively disabled and minority individuals

-We will be located in a populous and accessible place

-Kitties will receive all medical care, enrichment, living supplies, and ultimately a loving home!

(for more detailed information, see below)

As a multiply-disabled and mentally-ill individual, I understand how important, yet difficult, it is to find purpose in life. Therefore, Precious Cat Rescue will, as early as possible, employ exclusively minority, disabled, and/or mentally ill individuals. We do not intend to be a volunteer-only organization. (Please note that all funds other than salaries will still be tax-deductible.) Caring for cats is a full-time job with a huge emotional commitment! It is worth reasonable compensation under section 501c3.

My biggest dream is to revolutionize the way the world looks at animal shelters by incentivizing communities to get involved in an even bigger way than volunteering. Imagine if you could make a living at a cat shelter! Maybe our rescue can inspire a new wave of businesses that value the precious lives of ALL living creatures. YOU can personally help me get started RIGHT NOW with a small donation! What are you waiting for? Let's make Precious' tiny life as meaningful as possible.

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Where will your money go?

ALL your money goes directly to the care of cats. Nothing else. Simple! All receipts are available immediately upon request at [email redacted]

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Excerpt from Narrative Description of Events for our 501c3 tax-exempt application:

Our goal is to save as many cat lives as possible via four main avenues:

-Fundraising

-Cat care

-Empowering minorities

-Building community

1. Fundraising (35% of time and resources)

In order to save cat lives and provide cat care, we will first and foremost need resources, both financial and in-kind. The main ways we will fundraise may include, but are not limited to:

-Drives (i.e. car washes, lemonade stands, cat supply collections)

-Performances (i.e. classical, jazz, open mic)

-Events (i.e. fashion shows, drag shows, cat care education classes)

-Work/study rentals (i.e. meetings, writing groups, social clubs)

-Art showcases (i.e. visual arts on shelter walls, digital art, commissioned portraits)

-Coffee shop sales (i.e. keurig pods, espresso drinks, tea, pre-packaged snacks)

-Merchandise sales (i.e. cat products, jewelry, shirts, keychains)

-Donations (i.e. financial or in-kind, from individuals, organizations, etc.)

-Grants (filed by volunteers, board members, or paid employees)

-Benefactors (i.e. recurring pledge donors)

-Adoption fees (will aim higher than market value)

2. Cat care (35% of time and resources)

The main mechanism for rescuing cats will be providing them with a full range of care. Our main focus will be on feral and other homeless cats, because they have the best chances of living in community and are the highest-contributing factor in the overpopulation, accident death, and euthanasia of cats.

The main forms of care we will provide for cats may include, but are not limited to:

-Boarding (basic needs, i.e. beds, food, litter, toys, scratchers, collars)

-Facilities (i.e. communal rooms, cages, quarantine rooms, catios)

-Veterinary care (i.e. routine and emergency care with local vets and/or vet techs)

-Cleaning and bathing (i.e. flea treatment, dry shampoo, tooth care, claw trims)

-Fosters (organizing and aiding the funding of safe foster homes to extend reach)

-Trap-Neuter-Release (service provided to help rescue cats community-wide)

-Adoption (forever homes, the main destination of most of our cats)

-Training (i.e. leash training, clicker training, litter training)

-Rehabilitation (i.e. injury or illness recovery time, socialization, trust building)

3. Empowering Minorities (15% of time and resources)

Minorities, such as the disabled, BIPOC, LGBTQIA/GSM, and the mentally ill are a key resource to tap into for the care of animals. With the proper vetting process, these can be not only the most valuable and loving source of animal care, but can also benefit the most from taking care of animals. Our ultimate goal is to provide livable wages for the marginalized individuals in our society.

As a neurodivergent, mentally ill, low-income, LGBT former artist, I can personally express firsthand how life-changing animal caretaking can be. As someone who is prone to suicidal ideation, depression, dysregulation, gender dysphoria, and panic attacks, animal caretaking is one of my reasons to stay on this planet and in this society. I often feel like I cannot contribute to society, because it is so incredibly difficult for me to maintain any type of job, let alone a full-time job. I am not usually valued for the skills I can provide to society. And I know there are countless others out there who experience this as well.

Precious Cat Rescue will be a place of welcome to anyone who feels they do not fit into society. Whether they would prefer to volunteer, become one of our select few eventual employees, or showcase their art or skills for a portion of proceeds, we will fill the rescue with those society traditionally deems “less-useful.”

This goal of Precious Cat Rescue will also aim to save local government resources where citizen rehabilitation, OC Animal Control, and government disability support might be concerned. Reducing the spread of animal disease, spaying and neutering cats, unburdening other local animal rescues, and giving disabled individuals a viable career option will help the government itself to expend fewer resources.

A.04. Building Community (15% of time and resources)

Most of the fundraising, empowering, and education efforts of Precious Cat Rescue will inevitably bring together the community/communities of Orange County. Fundraising drives, events, work/study spaces, classes, field trips, outreach programs, charitable giving, TNR efforts, visitation hours, the rescuing/fostering/adopting of cats, volunteer opportunities, connecting with minorities, employing the disabled - all of these goals will strengthen and bring together Orange County in community.