P.O. Box 735
Westville, IN 46391
(219) 785-4936
Last Updated:
05/10/2008 12:35 AM© 2008 ICS
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Independent Cat Society
About the Independent Cat SocietyICS Info page IndexThe Independent Cat Society is a no-kill cat shelter in Westville, Indiana. We're conveniently located about one hour east of Chicago, 2.5 hours north of Indianapolis, and only 45-minutes west of South Bend, Indiana. Since we were founded in 1977, our goal has been to find homes for homeless cats in our community. Once each cat is spayed or neutered, we focus on adopting the cat into a safe, loving and lasting home. As a not-for-profit 501(c)(3), the Independent Cat Society is funded almost entirely through membership, adoption fees, fundraising events, and the generous tax-deductible donations of caring individuals, like you. Although we have a small cleaning and medicating staff, we operate our shelter mainly with volunteers. We do not receive any government funding. Every cat admitted to our shelter is examined by a vet, is spayed or neutered, and is up-to-date on vaccines and necessary medical treatment. Our no-kill policy means we do not euthanize cats unless a veterinarian advises it to relieve suffering. Our MissionOur mission is to promote the welfare of all animals by working to: - reduce pet overpopulation
- educate the public
- prevent cruelties to animals
- promote responsible pet ownership, and
- promote more humane legislation.
Visit Us!Many people think animal shelters are a sad place to visit. Not true! The Independent Cat Society is a happy place,where the animals are well taken care of and healthy. We always feel good visiting the shelter,and we're sure you will, too. If you would like to be a part of our life-saving mission, as a donor, volunteer, or adopter, please contact us, tour the shelter and meet our "family." The Independent Cat Society is at Rt. 6 and the La Porte/Porter County Line Road, in Westville, Indiana. The shelter is open Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Sunday, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., or by appointment by calling (219) 785-4936. Click here for a map to our shelter.
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Keep them indoorsSome cat owners believe cats should be allowed to go outdoors. Allowing cats outside increases the chances of: - illness or death from airborne viruses
- injuries or death from fighting with other animals
- diseases from contact with other animals
- injury or death from cars and other vehicles
- injury or death from people who shoot, or torture and abuse, stray animals
Keep your cat alive and healthy -- keep your cat inside! |
Become a Member Join us! As a member of the Independent Cat Society, you'll receive our Mewsletter. You'll also enjoy the reward of knowing that your membership gift helps care for homeless cats. Print and complete this membership form and mail it with your membership gift to: Independent Cat Society
ATTN: Membership Committee
P.O. Box 735
Westville, IN 46391 All contributions are fully tax-deductible; please indicate “Membership gift” on your check. back to page index
Board of Directors A nine-member Board of Directors governs the Independent Cat Society. Board members hold two-year, volunteer positions. Elections are in November each year. The board meets the fourth Monday of every month. Please contact the society for the meeting location and time if you are interested in attending. See the Calendar of Events, or call the shelter, (219) 785-4936, for dates and times. | President: | Cate Amador | | Vice-President: | Susan Ogg | | Recording Secretary: | Meribeth Swartz | | Corresponding Secretary: | Beverly Overmyer | | Treasurer: | Ruth D'Ouville | | Board Members: | Linda Moore |
| Cathy Zimmerman |
| Gale Carmona |
| Connie Szawara
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Cat Care Cat care volunteers and staff make sure all shelter cats receive veterinary attention, medications and vaccinations, and are spayed and neutered. They also oversee nutrition and diet, grooming, adoptions, and housing at the shelter. When a cat or kitten is admitted to the shelter, he or she lives for a short time in our isolation building, which is separate from the main shelter. First, volunteers and staff members give vaccines and necessary medications to the new cat. Next, a veterinarian examines and spays or neuters the cat. Once the cat is given a clean bill of health, he or she can join the main shelter population and is available for adoption. Several local veterinarians generously provide discounted services to the Independent Cat Society in support of our mission. back to page index
Foster CareCats admitted to the shelter often include those who need special medical attention, are recovering from injuries, or are expecting kittens. Because these cats need frequent attention and a quiet place to recuperate, they’re cared for in the loving homes of our Foster Care volunteers. Foster Care volunteers care for these cats until they’re feeling better, or until new moms have delivered and weaned their kittens. They are then spayed and neutered, and taken to the shelter for adoption. Want to be a foster parent?Are you a work-at-home mom or professional who loves animals? An empty-nester with a spare room and love to give? A retiree looking for a volunteer project? We’re always looking for dependable people who can be temporary foster parents for pregnant cats, newborns and orphaned kittens, or cats who can’t live at the shelter because of an illness or injury. We also need permanent foster homes for cats with chronic diseases like diabetes and kidney failure. Foster care parents should have a car to transport the cats to veterinary appointments when necessary. Expenses, like medications and veterinary care, are handled by the Independent Cat Society. If you’d like to foster, but have pets of your own, the foster cat can live in a comfortable extra room in the home until he or she is well enough to return to the shelter for adoption. If you’d like to foster, call the shelter at (219) 785-4936, and leave your name and telephone number. Or complete the Volunteer Form and mail to: Foster Care, Independent Cat Society, P.O. Box 735, Westville, IN, 46391. The foster care coordinator will contact you for an interview and possible home visit.
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"Won't you be my foster mom?"Please call us at the shelter, (219) 785-4936, if you can foster any of these wonderful cats. 
FelixHandsome Felix has a history of urinary crystals. To help this problem, this 13-year-old must eat only a special canned food -- no dry food. He also has early stage kidney disease, so he must see the vet yearly. Felix had a tendonectomy from previous owners, so he must have regular nail trims. He would do best in a home with no cats. |
Purrfect PartnersThe health and emotional benefits of pets are well-documented, yet many seniors don’t feel that they can share their homes with a pet. Some are worried about who will care for the pet in the event that they can’t, and others may not be able to transport them to the vet when needed. Our older and special needs cats yearn for a warm lap and a human to cuddle but many may never have that chance. Though older cats are often calm and loving, most people looking to adopt are interested in kittens or younger cats. The Independent Cat Society has a win-win solution—seniors can partner with senior or special needs cats for the benefit of both! Here’s how it works: - ICS will place a Purrfect Partner cat in permanent foster care with qualified seniors at no cost.
- Participants can choose their Purrfect Partner from a book of available cats.
- ICS will be responsible for all costs associated with veterinary care an transportation to the vet as needed.
- A Purrfect Partner Counselor will come to your home once a month to trim nails and do a health checkup. Counselors will also be available by phone incase of problems or questions.
Should it ever become necessary, the cats will return to the ICS. Do you or someone you know have a spot on your lap for a good friend just waiting for somebody to love? Give us a call at 219-785-4936 and leave a message for the Purrfect Partners Program Coordinator. Click here for the flyer in PDF. |
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How can you volunteer? Volunteers are critical to the operation of the shelter. Because we are a small non-profit shelter, we rely on our volunteers to help us keep the shelter clean and the cats well-loved. Please let us know if you'd like to join us! Here's a list of our volunteer "jobs:" Social hour. Would you rather talk to cats than to people? Then this job is for you! Our cats need loving interaction with people. When you sit, pet, and talk to them, you help them become more comfortable with people and improve their chances for adoption. Playtime. Do you enjoy watching cats run and leap? Cats need a chance to play and exercise. We have balls, furry mice, laser lights and other toys at the shelter for your play dates! Grooming. Always dreamed of being a hairdresser? Regular brushing and combing is important. We have a variety of brushes and combs. Please disinfect them after each use. (Manicures not included! Do not cut the cats’ nails without permission from and supervision by a member of the Cat Care Committee.) Cleaning. You’ll never get bored at the shelter if you like to clean! If this is your cup of tea, we have lots for you to do. Litter boxes, plastic hoods, room furniture, plexiglas, windows, floors, and laundry! Transportation. Our vet transporters drive cats to their daytime veterinary appointments. Many volunteers like the flexibility of this “job” and find it rewarding. Medicating and Feeding. Many of our cats receive medications and supplements. If you’d like to learn to give medications or vaccinations, please contact a member of the Cat Care Committee to arrange training. Fundraising. Enjoy meeting people and raising money? We need volunteers to help organize fundraising events, make crafts, bake for events, or distribute flyers for events. Foster Care. Do you have a quiet home, a spare room, a car, and lots of love to give? Foster Care might be for you. It's a richly rewarding experience. You may fill in our online volunteer form,
or
print the volunteer form, indicate how you'd like to volunteer, and mail to: Independent Cat Society, Inc.
ATTN: Volunteer Program
P.O. Box 735
Westville, IN 46391 A member of the Independent Cat Society will contact you with more information. Our volunteer coordinator may be contacted via email at
 Also see these opportunities on our home page: Foster Care Chairperson
and
Helping Hands to Assist the Evening Medicating Staff back to page index
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