Feline Heartworm Page 2

Ask Trapper John Page 2

And They Lived Happily Ever After Page 3

Spay/Neuter Update Page 3

President's Message Page 5

Featured Feline Page 5

FFR Update Page 5

Christy Drewry

By Shirley Brown

All our Folsom Feline Rescue volunteers are remarkable, interesting people and Christy Drewry is no exception!

While interviewing Christy for this article, I found out she has changed careers many times and has held positions in many different fields. She has been a white water rafting guide, a firefighter, an Emergency Medical Technician, and a school nurse. She has held jobs in the high tech field and in neutral particle beam research and she has served active duty in the Air Force. She has an associate degree in electronics, a black belt in martial arts, and she is an accomplished Toastmaster.

Christy currently attends college working on a degree in English so that she can teach at the college level. She also enjoys writing fiction and would like to be a published writer of short stories and a novel some day. At this time, Christy has a pet sitting business that she started when she moved here. Her business has grown in just 2 short years and as she puts it, "I have enough to keep me busy."

When I asked her why she switched out of high tech and went back to school, she said, "I decided not to be laid off again." She said she was in too many positions where the economy changed or funding dried up and she was out of a job.

And with all her many accomplishments and job changes, Christy has maintained her interest in and love of cats. She currently helps Folsom Feline Rescue by staffing adoption events every other week at the Petco in Fair Oaks. She also fosters and she participates in humane trapping of ferals. "I like trapping with the group on trapping nights," she said, "It's the most adventurous. You're figuring things out as you go -- where to put the trap, etc. and I feel that it's helping the cats the most by putting a dent in the population." She went on to say, "I just have a hard time releasing the ferals. It's hard for me to let them go, knowing all the dangers outside. If they can be worked with and acclimated, I do my best to do that so they don't have to be released."

I asked Christy how she first came into contact with FFR. "I was frantically looking for help," she said, "when 3 pregnant females were dropped on my corner. That was in the spring of 2003. I called all the numbers I could find for rescue groups and nobody was able to help me, but FFR. They were the only ones who held out any hope for me."

Christy further went on to say that she didn't have any experience with rescue groups, but with these 3 homeless cats, she had to do something and with the group's expertise and veterinary medical help, the strays were helped. All 3 females were spayed after they had their kittens. And all kittens were altered. Two of the mama cats were re-released as they were feral and Christy kept one.

Christy is an advocate of having cats tested for feline communicable diseases. She recommends that before any cat is integrated into your household and exposed to your pets, it be tested at a Veterinary Clinic. "I encourage everyone to test," she said. "There are deadly feline viruses out there that you don't want your healthy cats to pick up."

I asked Christy about Folsom Feline Rescue and why she volunteers for the group. "They are the most professional," she said. "When I needed help with the strays in my neighborhood, they called me back right away." She went on, "And, they have credibility with the public. Because of their organizational structure and the way they are managed, they will be a substantial presence in the community, and they will continue to expand."

As for volunteer Christy Drewry, I believe she will continue to grow and learn new things and she will always be committed to cat rescue and to educating the public about cats.

Pet Trust Plans

By Laurie Rich

Most people who have children take the time for estate planning, such as writing wills and establishing trusts. It's an important part of ensuring that your loved ones will be taken care of should you be unable to care for them yourself.

However, what would become of your other family members -- your beloved pets -- if you became unable to care for them due to death or disability? It is estimated that as many as 500,000 pets are euthanized in U.S. shelters each year because their human caregivers have predeceased them.

Fortunately, focus is now beginning to be placed on a new estate planning component -- the pet trust plan. A pet trust is a legal arrangement providing for the care of one or more companion animals if a pet owner dies or becomes disabled. A designated trustee holds property in trust and makes regular payments to a designated caregiver who provides the pets with care as specified in the trust.

Pet trust plans generally include:

• A detailed pet trust document that serves as a supplement to existing estate plans
• A cost analysis to help you determine how much to set aside for your pets
• Complete pet care instructions to give to anyone who might temporarily or permanently care for your pets

Although you can work with your own estate planning lawyer to develop a pet trust plan, many lawyers don't have the necessary experience in this area to create a comprehensive plan.

One organization specializing in the development of pet trust plans is the PetGuardian Pet Trust Program. PetGuardian's founder, Amy Shever, has worked closely with Best Friends Animal Society, estate planners, and animal care professionals to develop the plan.

To find out more about PetGuardian, or to complete a pet trust online, visit www.petguardian.com.

A pet trust plan will provide you with peace of mind and the assurance that your companion animals will be cared for the rest of their lives.

< PREVIOUS PAGE . . . . NEXT PAGE >