No adorable kittens in this letter like the McKitties, so we hope nobody is disappointed.  Instead, may we present our esteemed elder statesman, Boy George? At almost 18, he is the oldest cat in the shelter. Boy George’s formerly bright eyes are cloudy and his vibrant orange coat has faded to a soft gold, but he is still quite the character.  Far from retiring and taking it easy, Boy George can almost always be found at the desk, greeting visitors as well as assisting with any paperwork.  He’ll inspect all food, too.  Above all, Boy George spends his days doling out endless doses of love to anybody close enough for a head butt.

So why Boy George?  Because he is a perfect example of the lifelong commitment ICS makes to each and every one of our cats. Boy George has been adopted and returned three times for various reasons throughout his life, but he is our cat and will always have a home at ICS.  An ICS cat is ours forever, no matter what.

Would you believe that currently we have 28 cats at the shelter that have been returned?  Some of them came back to us after years with a much-loved companion who died, and others because a baby joined the family.  Most of them returned for reasons that had little or nothing to do with them. Sometimes the returnees are sick or traumatized, and almost always depressed and frightened to find themselves in a place they don’t remember and without their loved ones. Every one of these cats is welcomed back with love and cared for with compassion- that’s what we do.  And while we are sad to see a cat come back, we are hopeful because many of them have gone on to find new homes and new happiness.  We have so many stories of happy endings!

Most our adopted cats are beloved companions for life, but when that falls through, we are still here for them.  That’s our commitment to the cats and to you, our donors.   Can you help us keep that promise?  Any amount helps, and lets us know you share our commitment. In return, we pledge to care for our cats when they need us throughout their lives.  We always need support, but right now a few factors make it more pressing: the spring weather has not been kind for fundraisers (the severe storm during the Spring Yard Sale literally crushed our tents beyond repair), and the price of medications has skyrocketed.  And of course the economy has kept donations down for some time, while causing more people and their pets to need help.

All of us at ICS deeply appreciate the generosity of our supporters who are such a crucial part of our work.  None more than George, who would love the opportunity to thank you, up close and personally!

ICS Welcome Back Video

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