After the Sampson family of Delmar lost their 15-year-old cat Copper, their neighbor told them about Kitten Angels, a local kitten rescue organization that helps find loving owners for those they save.
Nora Sampson, 8, knew immediately that she wanted her family to serve as a foster home for rescued kittens. Her mother was on board, but Dad needed some coaxing.
“He wasn’t sure at first, but I begged. Then he said ‘OK,’” said Nora.
Wendy Sampson, Nora’s mother, said they began by fostering four kittens. After they were all adopted, they took on seven more. Three of those have been adopted out, and one kitten they adopted themselves.
The kittens have their own room to live in when the family is at work and school for the day. The rest of the time they have free reign of the house.
“They are very funny to watch,” said Wendy, adding that having the kittens has helped teach Nora responsibility, as it is her job to feed them, take care of their litter and play with them.
Judie Janco began Kitten Angels in Delmar nearly 11 years ago. The organization works through animal control and the watchful eye of residents. Any wild cats that are found within Bethlehem with kittens are rescued by the group, which pays for medical bills of the kittens and mother.
Typically, the mother is released back into the wild, but the group will try to find a home for it first if they can. Janco said the focus is kept on the kittens, because they are often more adoptable.
“I started Kitten Angels because there was no organization in the region that just catered to kittens,” she said. “I belong to SCRUFF, a trap, neuter and release organization, and they leave the kittens. But then you have to trap them all over again in the future and that doesn’t make sense.”
Janco estimates her organization rescues 600 to 800 kittens each year within Bethlehem. She works with dozens of foster families and has placed thousands of kittens into loving homes.
The organization basically runs on donations of time, money and supplies. High school students often do their community service with Kitten Angels and youth offenders from both the town and county are sent Janco’s way. The foster homes are also essential for the program to work, especially since the group lost its adoption space when the Delmar Pet Supply Store closed in August.
“We ask for a donation when we come to pick up cats from the person who called us. We also ask if you can foster them, until they are adopted,” said Janco. “Usually if you can’t foster them, we can’t take them.”
Janco said the group is in desperate need of more foster homes for kittens and a new space to hold adoption clinics. For now, they are holding them on Saturdays at the Delmar Farmers Market.
“Fostering is a great way to give back, especially if you’re unsure if you’re ready to own a cat,” said Sampson. “Cats can have very different personalities, so it’s a way to know what type of pet you want.”
Recently, both Nora Sampson and another local girl, Cameron Conway, asked their friends to forego presents at their birthday parties. Instead, they asked for donations of cat supplies to be donated to Kitten Angels.
“She got really into it,” said Cameron’s mother, Laurie. “She’s not really into material things, like a lot of toys.”
Cameron said she felt good taking all of the supplies she got as presents to Judie and getting to spend some time playing with the kittens. She is amazed by the work that is being done at the organization, and at times has spent hours watching the cats play. Someday she would like to start volunteering, and she may use the opportunity to turn her love for animals into a future career.
“I really love cats and I thought (the party) was a great idea because one of my friends did something similar for dogs,” she said.
Sampson said she casually made the same suggestion to Nora, because there wasn’t anything her daughter really needed for her birthday. She felt it was a good opportunity to teach a lesson about giving back to one’s community.
“I know I have too much stuff, and it’s better to donate it to someone or something that needs it more,” said Nora.
Janco said she admires the girls for their support of her organization, especially giving up their birthday presents. “They are very special little girls,” she said.
To learn more about Kitten Angels or to donate, visit kittenangels.org or call 573-9906.