Dear ICS Family,

McCrisis! Days before Thanksgiving, we were told of a tiny cat family living in the drainage ditch by the McDonald’s drive-through in Portage. Although an unwelcoming spot, a mom and kittens had been living there, waiting each day for the cover of dark to hunt for food. Alternately hiding and showing up for whatever anyone would toss their way, mom cat and her kittens were truly in danger. McDonald’s employees told us that try as they might, they could not get near the little ones without having them dart off into the darkness.
Big Mac, Ronald, Nugget, Mama McFlurry

After talking to McDonalds’ managers, ICS developed a plan to rescue all. It took several nights of monitoring a feeding station and sitting watchfully in the cold. We saw that each time Mom would come to the food first; then, as if by magic, each tiny kitten would appear by her side, each from a different direction. One came from the dumpster,
Cookie one from a tree, one from the water-and-ice-filled ditch. Under the security lights of the busy parking lot, the shadows of this little family made us vow that whatever it took, nights of watching and waiting, we had to help. The Tuesday night before Thanksgiving, we set covered traps with tuna, then gave our best meow impressions. We waited out of sight. Mom sniffed, but did not go into the humane trap. Kitten number one cautiously approached. The smell of the tuna proved to be too much for this little guy, later named Big Mac: he walked right in and the trap door snapped shut, assuring he would be safe. The other two kittens followed their brother, but Mom was still very wary. Eventually, the smell of tuna and the lure of her kittens tempted Mom into the trap. Success! On that cold winter night, just one day before the celebration of Thanksgiving, with the McDonalds crew we celebrated the safety of the little ones.

But wait!—days after the rescue of Mom and Kittens, reports came in that an elusive and seldom-seen fourth kitten had been left in the cold to fend for itself. So, back we went to save the little straggler, only to find her very hungry and scared to have been alone for those days: her hunger led her into the trap within 15 minutes.

Mama and babies are now safe and together, out of the traffic, the cold, and the threat of predators. McFlurry, Big Mac, Nugget, Ronald, and Cookie, once begging for food and on the edge of survival, are now learning what it means to be safe and warm: to have enough food, to play, and to trust. The rescue itself was amazing but it was only the beginning. The real labor of love for this little McKitten family is the journey they will take through our system: Mama and her kittens will be fostered, wormed, vaccinated, and spay/neutered so they will all be ready to go to forever homes. All of this takes time, care, and ICS dedication. And of course, money.

Can you be part of this rescue? Cats and kittens who have had no say in how they find themselves homeless or living in the danger and cold of a Northwest Indiana winter cannot speak for themselves. Often new arrivals have medical needs that require extra care beyond the usual expenses. In addition to dramatic rescues, we cannot forget the many loving, trusting shelter cats who depend on us for everything until they are lucky enough to find homes of their own, or especially those few who will never know that blessing, but who also deserve a safe haven. Not everybody is able to spend the evening with humane traps in dark,cold parking lots, but we believe that all of our donors and ICS patrons support us and by virtue of this support are the true heroes who allow our lifesaving work to continue.

Desi and Farfalla
(Longtime ICS Residents)It is our privilege at ICS to be on the front lines when people and pets need a helping hand. This rescue took teamwork, resolve, and belief that it COULD be done. It is pure joy to see what many working together at ICS can accomplish. Please join us in any way you can and help with the effort to make our corner of Northwest Indiana a little brighter, a little safer, a little more humane. Your help and support matter!

We here at ICS hope that this letter finds you, your family, and your loved ones safe and well this holiday season. We welcome the year 2011 and embrace its opportunitiesand challenges.

Sincerely,

The Independent Cat Society

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