Help Me Care for feeding, fixing, healing, and rehoming feral and sick cats in the Sierra Foothills

My name is Candy Heron. I’m a retired nurse practitioner, and homeopath and longtime animal advocate now living on a fixed income from Social Security. For the past two years, I’ve been feeding and caring for about 30 feral cats across four locations in Sonora and Jamestown, spending over $450 a month just on food. I also cover the cost of spaying/neutering, vaccinations, medications, and vet care — when I can trap them and afford it. So far, I’ve managed to fix and vaccinate seven and treat countless others with whatever resources I can gather.

Lately, the need has grown even more urgent. You may have seen my posts about Sophie, an extremely sick little cat I rescued from the MJC campus, and Mimi, a disabled kitten from a feral colony, who is unable to bear weight on her rear legs. (see my Facebook posts of 6/29 and 7/12). Between the two of them, I’ve spent over $4,000 in vet visits, medications, and supplies over the past few weeks — and Sophie still needs major dental surgery for abscessed teeth and an oral infection. I’m also caring for two more indoor rescues, and trying to find homes for a sweet mama cat (Shiva, who’s now in my home), and three of her kittens still living outdoors.

Unfortunately, our local rescue agencies — FOAC (Friends of the Animal Community) and Sonora Cat Rescue — are completely tapped out and overwhelmed. They’ve done so much for this community, but right now, they simply can’t take on more. That means it’s up to us — the individuals in the community who care — to step in.

I’ve poured everything I have into helping these innocent animals. Being the caregiver that I am by nature, it’s very difficult for me to ask for help but I am tapped out financially… (my credit card is nearing its limit) and emotionally. I know many people care deeply about animals but don’t have the time, space, or means to help directly. That’s where you come in.

If you’re moved by this work, please consider a one-time or monthly donation in any amount. Your support will go toward food, medical care, transportation, and spay/neuter efforts for the most vulnerable cats in our area.

❤️This is your chance to help — and I’ll do the hard work on your behalf.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart… And on behalf of Sophie, Mimi, Shiva, and all the others who can’t speak for themselves

(included are some photos of:

1) Sophie, then and now—-she still has a long way to go,

2) of Mimi— the little grey one who can’t walk—, 3) one of her littermates—-the little tux who is feral and still needs a home along with her two other siblings about 3 1/2 months old, and

4) of their mother, Shiva)