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 During
the years of the Great Depression, my family lived in Lincoln,
Nebraska. Out of financial necessity, my grandparents, who
lived a few blocks from the University of Nebraska, converted
their home into a boarding house for students. I lived, for
the most part, with my grandmother and great grandmother.
In Lincoln, as well as in other cities throughout the United
States, it was a time when homeless and hungry people roamed
the streets and neighborhoods. People would come to our door
and beg for food in exchange for menial work. My great grandmother
would prepare a plate of food, but she always had chores for
them before eating.
 The
meals were consumed on the back steps, in all kinds of weather.
Many times the men would appear with groups of dogs that were
also hungry. There always seemed to be a shortage of food
when it came to the dogs. The cats in the neighborhoods fared
even worse. They were afraid to come close enough to eat as
many had been abused and chased away. This was a very sad
experience for me, especially when I witnessed the inhumane
disposal of many kittens. The older cats were usually left
to starve or scavenge for what little food was available for
them. My great grandmother said there was not enough food
for the people, let alone the animals.
I decided I could do something about the dogs, as they would
come close enough for help. My great grandmother always made
a lunch for me to take to school. In the mornings on my way
to school I called the dogs and they would appear. We would
go into the bushes where I  would
spread out my lunch on the ground. The ravenous dogs ate everything,
including the apple and the waxed paper. It was never enough.
After several weeks of not having lunch, the school phoned
my Grandmother to see if she wanted to put me on the special
lunch program. I was then forbidden to feed the dogs my lunch,
so I took food from the refrigerator and the garbage. I managed
to feed them a small amount each day. If I got caught, it
would be hell to pay.
 Those
years were a sad time in my life and I became very introspective.
I wondered what I could do to help and what was going to happen
to everyone. My grandmother said that I worried too much.
The events of those years, as well as the people and animals
who experienced hunger and suffering, were vividly etched
upon my young mind. Later in my life, I was able to reach
into that special place in my heart and use it to help others.
 During
my stay with Aunt Faye in South Dakota, she began formally
teaching me much about the sacredness of animal life. Several
years later she moved to San Leandro, California for a new
teaching assignment, and it was then that her long-term commitment
to animal welfare took form. The schoolchildren brought her
cats and kittens they found, and as a result, Aunt Faye began
caring for large numbers of cats and kittens that were abandoned
and homeless. She arranged for them to be spayed and neutered.
They were also given whatever was available for their continued
good health. Several puppies also found sanctuary, along with
a few dogs.
Her home was large with a big garage. Groups of cats and kittens
were placed in various locations, depending upon their immediate
needs and personalities. Most lived indoors and Aunt Faye
watched over them with compassion and dedication. The responsible
and loving manner in which she cared for her cats, along with
an occasional blind or handicapped dog, had an indelible effect
upon me. She would explain to me in detail the many mysteries
of caring for animals and I was always fascinated by her knowledge
and stories.
By the time she retired and moved to Lake Havasu City, Arizona,
she had 56 cats and 10 dogs. Quite remarkable, considering
she had found homes for hundreds of animals during her 50
years of teaching school. She arranged them for transport
in a house trailer and they moved to their new home. A large
sunny room attached to the house was specifically built for
them. Each cat had its own bed. The outdoor arrangement was
coyote-proof and beautiful to behold, especially if you were
a cat. Her life revolved around her animals and she made no
excuses for this. They were her beloved ones. If any derogatory
comments were made, it was rarely to her face. She was a fearless
and strong individual who knew that what she was doing was
right and honorable.
One day in April l997, while attending a class at a large
industrial park in Los Angeles, California, my life opened
into world that had profound implications. It was raining
hard and I had to park my car a considerable distance from
the entrance of the building where the class was being held.
The building was still under construction and this was to
be our only visit until its completion in December. Our teacher
wanted the class to see the progress that had been made and
also to experience our new location.
 As
I pulled into the parking space, a sight I had never imagined
came into view in the form of starving, soaked, and debilitated
cats and kittens. Mothers were attempting to nurse their young
on the rain soaked asphalt with cars and trucks racing by,
splashing water over and over onto their little bodies. Mud
and grime covered the area that vegetation had once covered.
Cats were sitting in the mud or seeking shelter from the rain
by staying under the cars. There were about 30 in view. I
sat in my car, frozen in the moment, overwhelmed by feelings
of sadness, helplessness and anger. The realization of their
suffering and struggle for survival deeply touched a familiar
place within me and my life was forever changed. Sitting there
in the car seeing lives so precious and fragile that they
could pass without help, I was moved to a place, so profoundly
personal, it cannot be described. I knew my purpose. The awe
and gratitude for knowing this never leaves me. I draw upon
that memory in times of great need and stress, always receiving
reaffirmation of why I am here.
Much of my professional life involved working with prominent
physicians and surgeons in administrative and management capacities.
During the 30 years that I worked with patients who were ill
or having surgery, and perhaps facing terminal illness, I
understood the importance of compassion, patience, dedication
and responsibility. However, I did not realize at the time
how the experiences of my profession would become so vital
in my caring for feral cats and kittens.
During the course of becoming a feral cat caretaker I dedicated
myself to understanding and learning just what that means.
The task was fraught with heartache and required great endurance
and commitment. I had taken on the care and responsibility
of approximately 100 plus cats and kittens scattered over
a very large area with no population control. Over the years,
the management of the property and tenants had disposed of
numerous cats and kittens in a most inhumane manner. My deep
concern was met with overt hostility and I was ordered not
to feed them. Not one to be easily intimidated and knowing
what I was doing was right and humane, I persevered. I continued
feeding them and began trapping, spaying, neutering and vaccinating
the cats and quietly returning them. I endured threats of
all kinds, including continual destruction of feeding areas
along with removal and disposal of the equipment I had purchased.
I clearly remember that particular day while being threatened
from all sides, standing by my car with a bag of food and
sobbing my eyes out at the absolute injustice of what was
taking place, the vision for the Feral Cat Caretakers’
Coalition began to take form.
 I
understood, first hand, how important it was to educate the
public, caretakers, community and civic leaders or anyone
who might come into contact with a feral cat or kitten. I
started by writing informative letters and creating educational
documents to address the circumstances. I sent them to the
property manager as the situation was so emotionally charged
that face-to-face communication was useless. I continued doing
my caretaking. Gradually, a transformation took place. Most
of the cats were spayed or neutered. Whenever possible, kittens
were taken from the area and adopted. The population was managed
and healthy. All of the feeding and water containers remained
untouched. The cats were thriving and none were being harmed.
People began coming up to me with donations. I was being told
how wonderfully conditions had changed under my care. The
impossible situation had turned to respect and appreciation.
For me, it was a miracle.
 The
urgent need for support of the feral cat caretakers in this
arduous and faithful work became all too clear. They are generally
unsupported and unrecognized due to a gross lack of interest
and commitment from the community at large. I envision the
Feral Cat Caretakers’ Coalition as a group of unified,
trained and dedicated individuals who could look toward a
brighter future with their heads held high and their needs
met. As the caretakers continue to learn and implement humane
population control measures for feral cats and kittens, they
will be making an important statement that will impact our
society in countless positive ways for years to come.
As we enter the 21st Century, the streets are once again overflowing
with abandoned, forgotten and ignored homeless cats, dogs
and humans. Many homeless persons feed and care for the homeless
cats and dogs from their meager fare, under the most challenging
conditions.
I believe that we can grow and work together for the enrichment
of one another and those we touch. Each life saved and nurtured
can move us closer to an awareness of the significance of
our contribution. Maybe someday, in the not too distant future,
we can all experience what it means to care for and respect
one another. It could begin with a feral cat or kitten.
Dona Cosgrove Baker, Founder and President, Feral Cat Caretakers’
Coalition
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