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| Laura Clement� | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interview Essay | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Oct. 30, 2001 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interview with Cat Corner Owner, Martha Nickolson | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� Cat Corner is a small yellow house located in the heart of Hampton, Va. Martha Nickolson established it 21 years ago. Its purpose is to help as many animals as possible but mainly felines. Located in the small building are over seventy cats and two dogs. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� Cat Corner is run strictly on a volunteer basis. Volunteers do such chores as clean cages and litter boxes, grooming, and feeding. All of the volunteers will also just sit and play with the felines. The cats appreciate the love and care the volunteers give each and everyday. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� Volunteers are recruited through many sources but mainly through word of mouth. The Daily Press also posts two pictures of cats a month along opportunities of volunteering. Fort Monroe also publishes volunteer opportunities in their daily newsletter, The Case Mate. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� Funding comes only from private donations. Many neighbors of the Cat Corner will bring food, toys, and other necessities for the Cat Corner to operate. Local businesses give financial donations at key points throughout the year.. All donations are non-refundable | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cat Corner has a rather large impact in the local community. It helps get cats off the streets and keep them off the streets. Unfortunately, Cat Corner cannot take all the cats that have become homeless, but at least Mrs. Nicholson tries to find alternative shelter for themincluding other shelters and foster families. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� Cat Corner will always have financial problems. Since they run solely on private donations, at certain times throughout the year, Cat Corner may not have the money to provide for the numerous cats housed there. They are also running into a problem concerning room. The Cat Corner has enough cages for about 50 cats, but they have increased their number of cats to around 70. This means that some cats roam freely throughout the development. The last problem that keeps occurring at Cat Corner is the need for dependable volunteers. Volunteers are needed to work at least one day a week until around 3pm. Many volunteers will work for short time then move on. Cat Corner is always recruiting new volunteers. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� When adopting a cat from Cat Corner, a prospective owner will be interviewed. If it has been proven that an adequate home will be provided for the cat, then the new owner will have to sign a contract stating that if for some reason the animal cannot be cared for anymore, then the cat must be returned to Cat Corner. Each cat is tested for Feline Leukemia and AIDS, along with being spayed or neutered and given their shots prior to being considered for adoption. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� Cat Corner has proven to be essential for the feline community in Hampton Roads. With the help of its neighbors, Cat Corner will hopefully be around for another 21 years.� | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Back to English Table of Contents | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Works Cited | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Back to Home Page | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nicholson, Martha. Personal Interview, 29 Oct. 2001. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||