This has been a tremendous year for DCIN with so many lows and highs, it's hard to put it all into words. Most importantly, though, let me express how thankful we are for your support and friendship. Here is an abbreviated look back at this past year, month by month.
On first day of... oops, I mean in the first month of 2012, DCIN was proud to become an affiliate in the Amazon.com Associates Program which allows for donations to be sent to DCIN when people shop at Amazon through a link on our website. There were some low points in January, though. Sadly, the husband of a dear DCIN friend became ill and later passed, a loss we all still feel. While we were pleased to be able to take in some foster kitties (some of whom are still in foster care), one unfortunately was dealing with a different kind of ailment. Sam, a beloved foster, passed away. Another adopted DCIN kitty was diagnosed with a cancer called Vaccine Associated Sarcoma (VAS) and though he is still with his family, it is unknown if after the VAS was removed, if it will come back.
During the second month of 2012, things were a little calmer. Chewy found his way to DCIN from a shelter in NC and was eventually adopted into a loving home months later, although he didn't have to go too far to find it, his foster mom fell in love. Even more kitties joined our rehoming program and financial assistance program. We also embarked on preparations to launch DCIN as a stand-alone 501(3)c.
The next few months saw more rehoming and assistance for diabetic cats. We also began some new fundraising ventures, now known as Naffles.
Sadly, though, a DCIN member lost a close friend, Rita. A beautiful memorial page was set up in Rita's honor.
Another very poignant loss was dealt the DCIN community. Our beloved spokescat Ennis left for Rainbow Bridge this past March. He was well known and loved by all of us in DCIN and will always be at the heart of organization. While no cat could fill Ennis' paws, we have proudly anointed a new spokescat. The torch has been passed from Ennis to Mikey. Mikey takes his new responsibilities very seriously and has done a wonderful job in his new capacity.
In June, DCIN truly began feeling the pressure of the recession and was forced to review some policies in order to ensure we could continue to help the many cats that rely on us. After much discussion, we implemented some changes to meet the demands of the financial assistance program and still help others who needed homes. Fortunately, these measures, along with your support, have helped us get back on track.
Over the next few months we had one rogue foster mom return a diabetic cat to the shelter that she told us was going to put him down in the first place. There was already a home and heart waiting for him through DCIN but all we can do is hope that he found a home and is being lovingly cared for. In September another dear kitty had passed, one who profoundly helped DCIN, there is no way to express how much he changed the program but to honor him we started the Kirby Kit program in his honor.
We also found a new old friend named Mark who owns ProJunk Removal in CT and Hairs Hugos Barber Shop. A dear friend to me personally who, when he learned about the diabetic kitties we helped, he did not hesitate to contribute not once, but twice, a large amount of supplies that we are constantly in need of.
A rough estimate of the number of kitties helped in just this one year is about 150 and this does not include many financial assistance kitties that were already in the program before 2012. You read 150 but what you don't see is what's behind that 150. The emails, the calls to clients, vets, other rescue contacts, the research, the sleepless nights, the others who we use as sounding boards and who help us continually grow. The hours spent by our transport team to find routes, drivers, flights and then monitor all of these things and sometimes change everything when weather becomes a factor.
While we have been able to help so many, there have been losses; we lost Charlie, Tigger, Joe, Kip and Simba who were all on our adoptable list. In rescue there are always going to be losses, but knowing that doesn't make it easier to cope with. As always, it is the love and compassion of our DCIN friends and family that make the work easier and help me to cope with those losses. I feel continually blessed to be able to help diabetic cats and their people and I know that while I can't help everyone, the ones that I can help, a difference is made and someone's world is a little easier. But it is not me who is helping those cats and those people, it is you, our DCIN friends and supporters who give us the ability to do this and I hope that in 2013 you continue to support our work and you get to know us and if you ever feel like you'd like to get to know us better, please don't hesitate to reach out to us and simply ask. We love to hear from our DCIN family and welcome your thoughts, comments and ideas.
