Denise Duchaine was doing something good by working as the director of a low-cost veterinary clinic in the San Antonio area. But one day, she realized she had to do more.
“The clinic was part of animal control,” she remembers, “and I was sending a lot of animals back to the shelter, most likely to be euthanized. I couldn’t stand it anymore.”
So she didn’t. Denise and her husband Glenn took action and founded Stray Cat Adoptions of Texas—SCAT for short.
Working Tirelessly for the Cats - And It’s All Worth It
Since November 2000, SCAT has been focusing on one thing: helping felines. “There are so many of them in this area,” Denise says. “It’s so warm for so long, and cats reproduce very quickly. Plus there are all the cats that are surrendered to shelters for various reasons.”
When they get a call about a cat in need, SCAT goes into action fast. Denise and her team get the cat, give it any necessary medical care and grooming, and the cat is at a PetSmart adoption event within days. “We do this seven days a week, and we have events at four PetSmart stores—it’s a lot of running around!” Denise admits. “At this point, I’m an expert at getting cats into carriers.”
When Denise’s rescues need some extra care, she’s there to give it. “We had one cat that refused to eat and needed to be put on a feeding tube,” she says. “There was nothing medically wrong with her; she was just depressed after being abandoned by her owners, and she wouldn’t eat.” Denise made sure she was taken care of, and then worked overtime to find her a new loving home.
“And she was adopted!” Denise says triumphantly. “The woman who took her visited her every day at the veterinary office until she could bring her home. She didn’t want her to feel abandoned again.”
Using ‘Every Cent They Get’
PetSmart District Leader Lance Runnels was charged with finding an animal rescue to receive a PetSmart Charities grant. Knowing that money for veterinary care is vital to any pet rescue, he looked for an organization that would make the most of a grant.
“Stray Cat Adoptions of Texas uses every cent they get,” he says. “You can see the care they put into their cats, from the time they get them to the time they’re adopted, and even afterward if necessary. One of my own team members has adopted three cats from Denise! That speaks volumes.”
Denise, Glen, and their team of 23 volunteers are proof that one small decision can make a huge difference. “When I came to this district nine years ago, almost 20,000 pets were being euthanized each year,” says Lance. “Thanks to the work we can do with PetSmart Charities funding, we’ve cut that down by 25 percent—that’s almost 5,000 animals being saved every year.
“I’m passionate about saving animals, and Denise is there for all the cats,” he says. “She’s one of those people you root for.”
SOCIAL:
You can make a difference! Thanks to Stray Cat Adoptions of Texas and PetSmart Charities funding, cat euthanasia has gone down 25 percent in the San Antonio, Texas, area.
Stray Cat Adoptions of Texas is crazy for kitties! They’ve been saving thousands of lives for over 18 years, and they’re still going strong—with funding help from PetSmart Charities.