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2014 ANNUAL REPORT February 2015

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LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE In 2014, Toronto Cat Rescue (TCR) celebrated its 20th anniversary. The TCR executive was excited to make 2014

our best year yet by rescuing and adopting out more cats than ever before. In addition, we chose 2014 to be the

year that we made big changes to our rescue philosophy and, as a result, the way we operate.

TCR made the commitment to rescue through Toronto Animal Services (TAS) to reduce the number of cats

euthanized in City of Toronto shelters and to help make Toronto a no-kill city. Prior to this decision, TCR rescued

cats from all over the city - colonies, owners, backyards, shelters, and independent rescuers. We chose to

streamline our rescuing in 2014 focusing on Toronto shelters to reduce duplication of efforts and to make a real

impact in our city. By helping to strengthen our city shelter system, more cats can be rescued into forever

homes. We hope to do the same in the Kitchener-Waterloo area.

Because we had so much support from our foster homes and other volunteers (both new and existing), we also

had the capacity for two major rescues. In late 2013, we rescued 120 cats from a 700 square foot

apartment. Our foster homes stepped up, took these scared, attention-starved cats and rehabilitated them into

wonderful, trusting pets that were adopted into loving homes. In late 2014, we were approached by Humane

Society International (HSI) to take 60 cats from another overcrowding situation into our program. Again, our

volunteers accepted the challenge of helping these timid cats find their second chance.

In 2014, TCR rescued 2,317 cats needing help across the GTA and Kitchener-Waterloo. We adopted out 2,163

cats - just 37 adoptions shy of our ambitious 2,200 adoption goal. A quarter of our cats were adopted through

adoptathon events last year! Not to mention, we now have over 800 volunteers. It is because we have many

dedicated foster homes who care for the cats in our program, a passionate team of adoption counsellors who

diligently screen potential adopters for our foster cats, and a core group of volunteers who work tirelessly in our

partner stores, field post-adoption issues, and manage vet appointments that we have this kind of success. Our

intake and adoption numbers and volunteer base are huge compared to other grassroots organizations and

shelters across Canada.

The TCR executive is tremendously proud to work with such caring and engaged volunteers. We hope for just as

much success in 2015! -Kyra Augustyn, on behalf of the TCR Executive

CONTENTS Letter From The Executive 1 Our Mission 2 Annual Statistics 3 Foster Homes 4 Volunteers 5 Rescue Stories 7 TAS Partnership 9 Kitchener-Waterloo 10 Major Fundraisers 11 Adopt-a-thons 12 Testimonials 13 Social Media 15 Sponsors 16

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Toronto Cat Rescue is a registered, no-kill charity run by volunteers.

Our mission is to rescue and find homes for abandoned, sick or injured cats from situations of

abuse, neglect or imminent euthanasia.

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ANNUAL STATISTICS

480 485

667

1413

1665 1586

1786 1590

2163

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Annual Adoptions

39%

30%

12%

6%

5%

3% 2% 2% 1% Intake Toronto Animal Services

Stray*

Hillside Kennels

Owner/Surrenders

Born in Care

TAS Feral Cat Recovery Center

Returns

Humane Society International

K/W Humane Society

In the GTA we rescue primarily from

Toronto Animal Services (TAS). In the

KW area, we rescue strays from

Hillside Kennels, and the KW Humane

Society.

TCR also has the Owner/ Surrender

program where owners can put their

pets up for adoption.

All of these cats are part of the TCR

adoption program. We accept any

TCR cat returned to the program.

*Strays were primarily rescued in Kitchener-Waterloo and the surrounding area.

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TCR does not have a shelter. We have a network of loving foster homes. Our

cats are placed in our volunteer foster homes to await their adoption, which is

why foster homes are such an important part of TCR’s program. Each foster

home space that we have available represents one more cat that we can rescue.

Our foster homes are always full because there is an endless need for them!

Thank you to each and every one of our wonderful foster homes.

Without your commitment we could not save so many lives each year!

FOSTER HOMES

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VOLUNTEERS

TCR is 100% volunteer-run. Here’s a snapshot of what our volunteers do: advertising, adopt-a-thons, bottle feeding, communicating, coordinating, driving, designing, e-mailing, events,

fostering, feeding in colonies, fundraising, grooming, giving medicine to helping the public, jumping for joy with

each adoption, laundry, liaising, listening, answering and asking medical questions, naming kittens, organizing

events, PR, pamphlets, paying bills, paperwork, phoning, questioning potential adopters, rescuing, recovery,

spay/neuter booking, sub-Q, screening adopters and new foster homes, taking pictures, tax receipts, trapping,

updating lists, vet appointments, x-rays, yawning at midnight, & zipping around the GTA!

The time, effort, resources, and support provided by our network of volunteers

is phenomenal – THANK YOU!

Cynthia Ashkar, Pet Valu Kingsway Store Coordinator

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ADDITIONAL VOLUNTEER ROLES

TORONTO CAT RESCUE VOLUNTEERS

ADOPTION COUNSELLORS: When a member of the public is interested in

adopting a TCR cat, they first speak with an Adoption Counsellor to be screened and approved for

adoption. These volunteers make sure that all cats are adopted into safe and loving homes that will fit

their needs and personalities. Post-Adoption Counsellors make sure that cats are settling in well to the

new homes once they have been adopted.

DRIVERS: Our Driver Volunteers are instrumental in helping cats get from point A to point B –

often making trips to Toronto Animal Services, foster homes throughout the city, pet stores,

veterinarian offices, or adoptathons. We are always looking for more volunteers to assist with drives.

FOSTER COORDINATORS: Jenn, Kyra, & Sarah are the three amazing Foster

Coordinators who liaise with all our foster homes. Their knowledge, dedication, and on-going

commitment ensures all foster parents feel supported in their roles.

FOSTER HOMES: With over 300 foster homes, the cats we rescue are able to receive

the necessary medical attention, socialization, and care they need to make sure they are ready to be

adopted into their forever homes. Foster homes are essential to the success of TCR!

FOSTER SCREENERS: These patient, dedicated volunteers help screen potential

foster homes to ensure all cats will be placed in a loving & safe foster home while they await adoption.

STORE COORDINATORS: Store Coordinators help manage the team of

volunteers who care for the cats placed temporarily in our partner pet stores.

STORE VOLUNTEERS: Occasionally, cats will be placed in one of our twelve partner

pet stores to give them extra exposure, increasing their chances of adoption. Store Volunteers make

sure the cats are taken care of each day they spend in the stores.

Community Outreach Coordinator

Database Administrator

Donations Coordinator

Driver Coordinator

Feral Colony Coordinator

Finance Coordinator

Fundraising Coordinator

Intake Coordinator

Kitchener Chapter Coordinator

Newsletter Coordinator

Social Media Coordinator

Stray Rescue Coordinator

Storage Coordinator

Third Party Fundraising Coordinator

Vet Clinic Coordinator

Website Coordinator

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OVERCROWDING SITUATION: 120 CATS RESCUE

In late November 2013, Toronto Cat Rescue volunteers came together to rescue a record number of

cats from an incredibly overcrowded Toronto home. When TCR volunteers first visited the home, they

counted 90 cats and kittens. Many of the kittens were underweight and malnourished, and most of

the adult cats were terrified of people. They needed loving foster and adoptive families who could

help them adjust to the trauma of being uprooted from the only isolated existence they had ever

known.

Despite the daunting number of cats that needed care, we decided to commit to rescuing all of these

cats to give them a chance at finding a forever home where they could each be the centre of attention

and love, where they no longer had to fight to survive in a stressful, overcrowded living environment.

We couldn’t have been more humbled by the outpouring of support. Over the holidays we placed the

majority of the cats, and continued to rescue those that remained in January. By the time we had

rescued them all, we realized our original count was wrong.

A startling 120 cats and kittens had been squeezed into a living space of just 700 square feet. The

owners had been doing their best to keep the cats fed but there just wasn’t enough to go around, and

many kittens were severely malnourished.

Many of these cats came into foster care

terrified of people, but they soon started to

blossom in foster care. Many of their foster

homes fell in love and adopted their foster

cats, and the rest of the cats were

gradually adopted by loving adoptive

families.

A year after we first discovered these cats,

all but two have been adopted. Thank you

to all of our volunteers, foster parents, and

adopters for making such an incredible

difference in lives of these cats. They

needed help when no one else could

provide it, and thanks to you, they are now

living like every cat should.

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HUMANE SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL: 60 CATS RESCUE

On December 13, 2014, Torontonians stepped up and joined the Toronto Cat Rescue team, offering

temporary homes for fifty cats rescued in Quebec by the Humane Society International (HSI). An

additional ten cats were placed by HSI, so all sixty cats are now settling into homes while they await

their forever families to adopt them.

No cat was left behind. Cats with FIV, dental problems, allergies and ongoing medical needs were

placed in Toronto Cat Rescue foster homes, and we will do whatever it takes to ensure they have a

promising future.

To everyone who has helped with this amazing rescue so far, thank you! These cats were denied the

most basic care and many were visibly sick when HSI seized them from deplorable conditions and

brought them to their temporary, emergency shelter. After many months of care and recovery in the

emergency shelter, the cats were ready for their journey to Toronto to be placed in foster homes.

These cats will be cared for in foster homes until they are ready to be adopted in 2015.

The first ‘60 Lives Adoptathon’ took place in early January 2015 at Pet Valu Kingsway, where 8 of

these cats were adopted, two of whom were FIV+!

CBC: 60 rescue cats from Quebec

arrive safely in Toronto

City News: Torontonians open their

homes to 60 rescue cats

Now Toronto: A truckload of

Quebecois cats need a forever

home

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PARTNERSHIP WITH TORONTO ANIMAL SERVICES

On January 1, 2014, Toronto Cat

Rescue and Toronto Animal Services

officially partnered to reduce the

number of cats facing possible

euthanasia in our city shelters.

Through this partnership, cats that

were ill, injured, orphaned, geriatric,

FIV+, scared, shy and under-

socialized were transferred from TAS

shelters to Toronto Cat Rescue

foster homes.

Our incredible foster homes opened

their hearts and homes to physically

and emotionally rehabilitate these

cats and prepare them for adoption.

We were astounded and humbled

with the incredible response to this

partnership, both from our

volunteers and from the public.

We would like to express our

gratitude to the tireless and

dedicated staff at TAS and to our

amazing foster parents for coming

together and being a hero to over

900 of the city’s most vulnerable

cats.

We hope to reach our goal of 1500 transfers in 2015.

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KITCHENER-WATERLOO

Kitchener Waterloo Community Cats (KWCC)

This year a group of caring volunteers in the Kitchener area formed a coalition called

Kitchener Waterloo Community Cats. This group’s mission is to reduce and manage homeless

cats in the community through a Trap, Neuter, Return, Manage (TNRM) program. KWCC

operates as a TNR project of Toronto Cat Rescue.

KW Spay/Neuter Clinic for Homeless Cats

This year marked the beginning of a new and exciting partnership between Kitchener Waterloo

Humane Society (KWHS) and TCR. Work has been done in partnership with KWHS, KWCC, and

with a generous public donation a free spay/neuter clinic has been opened for homeless cats for

one year. The clinic operates out of the KWHS one day a week with the ability to spay/neuter 20

cats per clinic day. The first clinic day was November 5, 2014. KWCC reaches out to the public to

educate about the merits of TNRM and organizes the spay/neuter appointments for feral or

homeless cats. We are very hopeful that this initiative will make a difference in the number of cats

living on the streets and in barns.

KWCC has also been accepting cats that have been deemed "unadoptable" by KWHS. These cats

are transferred to KWCC and are either socialized if potential is seen or sent to barn homes that

KWCC locates and sets up. This program is saving the lives of many cats who otherwise would

have been euthanized.

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10TH ANNUAL BOWL-A-THON FUNDRAISER

On Saturday, May 31, 2014, TCR supporters gathered

for a fun day of bowling, pizza, and prizes. The 10th

Annual Bowl-a-thon was great fun, and together

we raised $10,500 for the cats!

Congratulations to our top bowler, Michelle M., who

individually raised over $2,000! A huge thank you also

goes out to our sponsors, especially to our presenting

sponsor Minuk Construction & Engineering Co., and

our silver kitten sponsors Annex Animal Hospital,

Durham Fasteners, & Pet Valu Maple.

This event would not have been possible without the hard work of our organizers: Heather D., Sarah

M., and Wendy S., as well as everyone who participated, volunteered, and donated prizes and pledges.

Thank you everyone! We look forward to seeing you next year at our next Bowl-a-thon!

On Sunday, October 19, 2014, an amazing team of

supporters participated in the Scotiabank Toronto

Waterfront Marathon in support of TCR cats.

In 2014, we had an incredible team of 57 runners and walkers who together raised $27,400 for the cats!

We couldn't be more thankful for the dedication and

hard work of this year's team. Many months were

spent not only fundraising, but in many cases, training

to run the 5k, half-marathon and even the full

marathon. Get ready to run/walk again in 2015!

TORONTO WATERFRONT MARATHON

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Adopt-a-thons are often held in some of our

partner pet stores, such as Pet Valu & PetSmart.

This helps connect potential adopters with a variety

of cats to choose from, and often helps find homes

for many cats in a short period of time.

In 2014 we held 19 adopt-a-thons.

At the beginning of July 2014, the first-ever Mega

Pet Adoptathon was held in the city of Toronto.

Hosted by PetSmart & PetSmart Charities, this

event helped find homes for over 585 cats and

dogs. Toronto Cat Rescue was one of several

groups in attendance, and we had an astounding

112 TCR cats adopted over the 3-day weekend!

ADOPT-A-THONS

26%

74%

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ADOPTER TESTIMONIALS

-Paula S.

-Mike G.

-Sabrina L.

-Amanda G.

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Letter to a TCR Adoption Counsellor:

I am very happy to say that Jack is flourishing and has grown SO much, despite his

unknown illness. He is almost 9 months and we couldn't picture life without him!

Rambo loves his new brother very much and is very protective over him. They like to

wrestle, chase each other, cuddle and LOVE to clean/sleep with each other!

Jack is a different type of cat - he plays with the vacuum, loves when we renovate and

make lots of noise, and LOVES to join me in the shower (he loves running water

because he chases the droplets). He also follows me around when I am cleaning the

house...it’s hilarious and GREAT company! He enjoys lots of cuddles and LOTS of rubs.

As soon as I walk in the door from work, he’s there waiting for me purring and rolling

over with his belly fully exposed... He makes me laugh. He is so friendly and so loving to

absolutely everyone who comes over to our house.

ADOPTION SUCCESS STORY

He has been nothing less than

amazing and I wouldn't trade

him for anything in the world. He

has brought so much love and

happiness to my boyfriend,

Rambo and I, and he truly is part

of the family.

Thank you again for helping me

find this little guy. It’s incredible

how loved he is! As you can

probably tell, I am a proud mom!

Marisa T.

Adopted Jack (previously named

Kwame) in 2014

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Toronto Cat Rescue has 4 active social media channels: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

The support from the public is amazing, and allows us to find forever homes for countless cats, raise

much needed donations, fill volunteer roles, and help us educate others on cat-related issues.

Our highest reaching Facebook post was about a kitten named Minou who has a grade 5 heart

murmur and was seeking a home. Our August post was seen by over 23,000 people from our

supporters "liking" or "sharing" his story before he was adopted. On Twitter we average 56 re-tweets

per day.

In June one of our Instagram photos (C.C) received 429 likes after the highly renowned "Cats Of

Instagram" liked the photo, and started following our account.

Our customized YouTube channel was launched in June, with our most successful video having over

1,000 views.

Social Media Statistics as of January 1, 2015:

Facebook.com/TorontoCatRescue

Twitter.com/TorontoCatRescu

Instagram.com/TorontoCatRescu

YouTube.com/TorontoCatRescue

SOCIAL MEDIA

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TCR does not receive any government funding. We rely solely on adoption fees,

fundraising, grants, and generous donors to keep our program running. In addition to

every individual who donates to TCR, we thank the following corporate sponsors for

their contribution to our cause.

471652 Ontario Ltd.

AAA Air Conditioning Inc.

Annex Veterinary Hospital

B+N Lifestyle

Boston Pizza

Conway Photography

Deutsche Bank

Flat Roof Manor

Intact insurance

Jane Animal Hospital

Minuk Construction

Ontario Power

PetSmart

Pet Valu

Random House

RBC

Telus

TD Bank

The Little Grape That Could

Sun Life Financial

SPONSORS

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