STORY TOOLS

• E-mail story
• Comments
• iPod friendly
• Printer friendly

More Latest News

• Report: UCF players tell of intense workout, coach cursing before Plancher's death
• Traffic enforcement locations for Collier, Lee
• Traffic enforcement locations for Collier, Lee

Share and Enjoy [?]

More than 140 humans attended For the Love of Cats Inc.’s largest annual fundraiser, Hairball 2007, on Sunday at Sale E Pepe’s in the Marco Ocean Beach Resort on Marco Island.

There was something for everyone at the fundraiser. There were more than 100 items at the silent auction — ranging from $5 to $1500 — a fabulous buffet, music by Stephen Purciello and even a fortune teller, said For the Love of Cats Inc. President Jan Rich.

“I think I bid on five things,” said Michelle Harris, who adopted her cat Sasha from For the Love of Cats Inc., Marco’s only no-kill cat-rescue shelter. “I bid on a cat basket full of goodies, a picture of a dolphin — anything having to do with animals. There’s a darling cat planter that holds animal treats. The girlfriend I’m with saw an attorney’s offer and she needs one — so she bid on that. Of course, the TV, iPod, home-theater system — pictures, photographs, there’s so many beautiful things!”

Peggy Parton said, “I volunteered last year. Now I keep in touch and donate once in a while. They’re great people, and it’s a wonderful organization.”

Guests at the Hairball and the people who work with For the Love of Cats are passionate about maintaining a healthy animal population on Marco Island. “It’s heartbreaking, but it’s also gratifying,” said Ruth Tobie, who serves as a full-time director for For the Love of Cats Inc. and takes care of five of the colonies’ feeding stations.

“We focus on what we call TNR — trap, neuter and return,” said Karina Paape, who uses Have A Heart traps to catch the feral cats before having them spayed and neutered and returning them to their colonies. “A lot of the residents fall in love with the cats and help keep them fed. It’s amazing how involved some of the residents are.”

She added, “And if the cats are old enough, or too old to be socialized, I tell them, ‘Don’t worry, I’m bringing them back.’ If they’re young enough, we try to socialize them every day and then they’re adopted through For the Love of Cats Inc. and PetSmart.”

Marie McIntosh and Dianne Troester greeted guests as they arrived in the foyer of Sale e Pepe’s, while a third-generation clairvoyant, Lisa Coderre of Cape Coral, offered guests tarot-card readings or the Coderre’s oracle card — which could offer “yes” or “no” answers to various questions.

“I think it’s a beautiful venue,” said Sue Murphy and Bonnie Piringer, who help clean For the Love of Cats Inc.’s shelter. “The menu tonight is extraordinary and the hotel has been very kind to us and is helping us set up for the event. The business people have made a special effort — they have donated incredible items for the auction.”

Shelter Director Linda Levine added, “I never knew how many cats were on Marco Island before I got involved with For the Love of Cats Inc. I think there’s about 2,600 feral cats on the Island. And its a lot of work to keep them spayed and neutered, and keep all the cats healthy and less aggressive without killing them.”

For the Love of Cats Inc. was founded five years ago by Jim and Jan Rich of Marco Island. According to many of the Hairball’s guests, they are wonderful people and this was a spectacular evening benefiting For the Love of Cats Inc. and Marco Island’s feline population.