FFRC BLOG

FFRC Blog Week Ending March 21, 2026

It's SPRING!!! WOOHOO!!!

Last week we celebrated St. Patrick's Day and the First Day of Spring---What I missed was Saint Gertrude of Nivelles' Feast Day also celebrated on 3/17.

Saint Gertrude is known as the patron saint of cats, travelers, and those in need of comfort. It’s said that she watched over both people and animals, offering kindness where it was needed most—especially to the small, the unwanted, and the forgotten.

If she were here today, I think she’d be sitting beside the scared feral, the sick kitten, the ones the world looks past… reminding them they matter.

And maybe that’s what rescue really is—being a little bit like Gertrude.

Showing up.

Loving anyway.

Caring for the ones no one else will.

So tonight, hug your kitties a little closer—especially the shy ones, the broken ones, the ones still learning to trust. They are so worthy of love.

And if you’re out there feeding a feral colony, trapping to help, or opening your home to one who needed a chance… know this: you are doing sacred work.

Taken from "For the Love of a Feral's Post.

Adoptions:

We had an adoption this last week!! Our beautiful girl, STARLIGHT, was adopted on Friday! Starlight has the softest bunny-like fur. She appeared one day in our parking lot and is now about 11 months old. Her new daddy looked at a lot of cats on Friday, but Starlight picked him. She said, "You are taking me home! No need to look at any other kitties!" At this time, Starlight will be keeping her name.

Holds:

Our beautiful floofy girl MARY LOU is on hold. More details to follow.

Intakes:

No intakes this week.

Health Updates:

BOWIE is doing much better. His mouth ulcers and swelling have improved. He will make a great addition to someone's home.

MR. ROGERS has gained some more weight! He is up to 9 lbs. 2 ozs. He no longer is a boney boy.

We noticed that CHANDLER was not feeling all that great this last week. We started treating him for toxoplasmosis which is an infection caused by a parasite which can be transmitted by undercooked meat or contact with cat feces. Chander is one of the kitties that came from the Humane Case House. He got a bit better, but not as quickly as we would like, so he visited Dr. Darcy who is not really sure what the issue is. Because Toxoplasmosis and FIP have similar symptoms, we started him on FIP treatment. He was pretty down because we had isolated him from his sister, LUCKY. Because he was so sad, we opened up his and Lucky's condo and put them back together. There was an immediate change! They are both playing and are much happier. Now, we wait and see how they both are. FFRC records have been changed, and these two kitties are now listed as a Bonded Pair. They will live together for the rest of their lives.

CHANDLER is the black and white boy and LUCKY is his calico sister. (Not really sure if they are siblings, but based on their age, it is very likely).

All other kitties are doing great!

Center Kitties & Others:

Ever wonder what happens in the Kabana on a warm, sunny day? Wonder no more!

We have equipped the GOATS with their colored collars and now can easily identify them:

JOLENE, light green collar - mom to Spade and sister to Charlene.

PEANUT, dark green collar.

LUCKY, blue collar - mom to Peanut.

SPADE, pink collar.

CHARLENE, purple collar - mom to Lucky, grandma to Peanut and sister to Jolene.

We also still have LUCY and SUNSHINE, our full-size goats (mom and daughter).

Adopted Kitties:

Do you all remember EILEEN?? She was a kitty that was returned February 10, 2025, and returned to us in a terrible state. Severe flea infestation and very dehydrated and underweight.

She was again adopted on July 3, 2025, by a wonderful family who love her very much. Here she is today!

Events:

Our next Fash Sale will be held at 11am on 3/25. Exciting Spring Items!

Results of our Easter Fundraiser:

Sold 54 tickets for $270

Winner: Darla W
Consolation Prize of two kitchen towels

Winner: Mojha MC

Sold 140 tickets for $700

Winner: Susan SMO
Consolation Prize of three kitchen towels

Winner: Christine P

Sold 69 tickets for $345

Winner: Tamara S
Consolation Prize of Easter flag and sign

Winner: Richard R for Kim

Sold 94 tickets for $470

Winner: Robin and Kirsty
Consolation Prize of bunny and sign

Winner: Gillian H

Sold 100 tickets for $500

Winner: Darla W
Consolation Prize of two bunnies

Winner: Jessie PAR

Sold 54 tickets for $270

Winner: Jeff B (Ron)
Consolation Prize of two bunnies

Winner: Christine FA

Sold 71 tickets for $355

Winner: Taylor R
Consolation Prize of an Easter bag with bunnies

Winner: Kerry WOO

Sold 63 tickets for $315

Winner: Michelle HO
Consolation Prize of 3 wooden bunnies

Winner: Greg RE

An additional consolation prize of a fuzzy blanket was won by Sophia SD

The total raised from the sale of 645 tickets was $3,225. Additional bump ups brought the total up to $5,500. This included a donation from Eagle Watcher (Beth). She volunteered to pick up FIP medication and also paid for it.

Thanks so much to:

Donators, Mike & Lola

Participants

Bumper Uppers

FFRC Staff and Volunteers

AND a special thanks to the Kitties that keep us all watching!

Current Needs:

A list is kept up to date on the Amazon Wish List found on the FFRC website.

Other:

We continue to receive very touching memorial tributes for ALMA and MAGIC. Thank you for providing these and showing the depth of your love for these two residents.

The Valentine's Day videos are still being worked on. We will get them sent out soon.

FFRC has applied for their first grant. It is for $2,000. Some of the conditions of the grant are that there has to be a match of the $2,000 and that the money be used for Community Spay/Neuter. More details to follow.

Megan, Debbie, Gem and Dawn all were able to visit with the Kitten Lady in Ft. Wayne on 3/19. They learned some new ideas about kitten care and shared their experiences with CH kitties. They may try a new formula and also try bottle feeding, as opposed to syringe feeding.

On a sad note, Megan lost her dog, HAGRID, on Friday 3/13. "He was just the bestest boy. Always smiling and just happy napping in all his dog beds. We didn't have him long but will love him a lifetime's worth." Gizmo is now an only child.

Do you live in the Defiance, OH area? Are you handy?

We are looking for a reliable, hands-on part-time farm helper to assist with daily animal care, maintenance, and general property upkeep.
Responsibilities include:
Caring for goats and fowl (feeding, watering, basic care), General maintenance and repairs, Yard work and property upkeep, Painting and small repair projects
Operating equipment such as:
Riding mower, Weedwacker, Chainsaw
Requirements:
-Ability to lift up to 50 lbs
-Comfortable working outdoors in varying weather
-Experience using basic farm and lawn equipment
-Willingness to get dirty and tackle hands-on tasks
-Love for animals is a must
-Dependable, self-motivated, and safety-minded
Schedule:
Monday to Friday - Part-time hours
Flexible scheduling (details discussed during interview)
If you enjoy physical work, being outdoors, and working around animals, this could be a great fit!

FFRC is also looking for kitty volunteers. Candidates need to be at least 18 years old and have transportation to get here. Volunteers work set shifts and have assigned tasks, which include cleaning, feeding and providing other care for cats. Please contact Megan if you would like to help.

If you haven't looked at our Instagram page, please do!! There are great pictures of our center's kitties. Thanks so much!

Please make sure that you have a plan for your pets in the event that you are no longer able to take care of them. The best plan is to have both a primary and a secondary backup.

2026 Calendars are still available and are being offered in two sizes: 8 1/2 x 12 or 8 1/2 x 14. Orders for calendars will be through the FFRC Store and also on the FFRC website. We are unable to take orders via the phone or e-mail. I've received mine, how about you?

Photos by Dawn and friends.

------------

"Nothing is so beautiful as Spring."

Gerard Manley Hopkins

"Spring adds new life and new beauty to all that is."

Jessica Harrelson

FFRC Blog Week Ending March 14, 2026

The week started with losing an hour due to "Spring Ahead, Fall Back" and towards the end of the week we had a Friday the 13th! For those wondering, if a month begins on a Sunday, that month will also have a Friday the 13th! It's kind of a Math/Science thing!

This next week, many of us celebrate St. Patrick's Day. In the US, this is the day we all become a wee bit Irish!

Adoptions:

There were no adoptions this week.

Holds:

Mary Lou, our wonderful grey floofy kitty is on hold.

Intakes:

This week, we continued monitoring the Humane Call Case that stated last week. On Saturday, March 7th, we captured an orange American Shorthair boy. This was a kitty that we were not aware of being in the house. He tested negative and is a bit under a year old. He was already neutered when we captured him.

We set another trap and hoped to capture the buff and white kitty that we had originally noticed in the house. Unfortunately, the trap was not set correctly, so when we checked it on Sunday, we found that the food was eaten, but no kitty was in the trap. We reset the trap and checked it on Monday, and HURRAY, we caught the buff and white boy. At that time, we were ALMOST sure that we had all of the kitties in the house. The buff and white boy is about 6 years old and also neutered.

We reset the trap again, just in case. When the trap was checked on Tuesday, we had caught another kitty. This boy is white with grey tiger stripes and has severe mouth ulcers. He is between 5 and 7 years old. Well, darn! Now what? We were so sure that we had all of the kitties, we hadn't even brought another trap to set. This kitty has been named BOWIE. The name was submitted to the Name a Cat Program by SonJa and won with 48% of the votes. The other two names were Gumby (31%) and Katmando (21%). 212 votes!! Bowie is looking much better since he has been taking meds for the ulcers. His treatment includes antibiotics and steroids. He thoroughly enjoyed his massage from Lynnette after his bath.

Lynnette set two traps on Tuesday afternoon, which were checked on Wednesday. Two more cats were captured, but unfortunately, these two were in very bad shape and had to be euthanized. This was the last act of kindness that could be given to these kitties.

The friend that was allowing us access to the house has asked that we no longer continue to set traps. We have done as much as we have been allowed.

To recall, the first bunch of cats captured include an all-black female that is approximately 2-3 years old. Her name is CLARICE. Also captured was CHANDLER, a black and white male that is about 3 1/2 months old. He is most likely a sibling to LUCKY, the last of the first cats that were captured and held at FFRC. She is a beautiful calico. An additional orange cat was also captured and is currently with the Defiance County Humane Society.

Chandler and Lucky are now sharing a double condo in Back Thumpers Room.

Because FFRC is "above capacity", Megan reached out to see if any other local shelters would be able to help take on some of the Humane Case Kitties. Luck was on her side. When the Williams County Humane Society said that they had room for 2 to 3 kitties, Megan was overjoyed!!! This meant that decisions had to be made on which kitties would leave FFRC. Clarice and the two un-named kitties (orange and buff/white) would be transferred to them. We are especially thankful for our partners in Williams County.

What is a Humane Call Case? This is when a governmental agency has stepped in due to inhumane living conditions. This could be due to hoarding, abuse, neglect, or a home in a deplorable condition. It is a bad situation for all involved. FFRC is not able to provide any additional information about this situation.

Health Updates:

FAISY is feeling much better. She is now in the main room.

FINNEY's last day of FIP treatment is coming up. His last treatment will be on April 15th.

Five kitties were sent to Dr. Darcy's on Monday, March 9th. This included CLARICE (now transferred to Williams County) LUCKY and JENNY for their spays. It also included CHANDLER for his neuter.

MR. ROGERS also was in this group. He had all teeth on one side to be removed. Mr. Rogers is still a little slobbery due to his missing teeth. The great news about Mr. Rogers is that his weight is now 8.4 pounds and he is eating very well.

On Wednesday, LUCIE was also taken to Dr. Darcy' office. She was in for a overall check-up since she was feeling a bit yucky! She came back that afternoon and only has a bit of a cold.

Overall, all kitties are doing great!

Center Kitties & Others:

BUTTERBEAN, ANGELIQUE, HAYDEN, BEBOP, JENNY and CRACKERS all in a meeting with ERIC:

MR. ROGERS with his beautiful green eyes and a bit of a slobbery smile:

And who doesn't want to see RAISIN and WIBBLES?

Adopted Kitties:

We have heard from a number of adoptees! Of course, JUDE is living the dream--you could say that he HIT THE JACKPOT with his new life in Las Vegas.

JELLY is now named OLIVE. This girl is sometimes a wee bit naughty. She has gotten stuck behind the washing machine not once, but twice. Can anyone see Jelly, I mean, Olive?

We have also heard from JACCI and HEINZ. Jacci is now sleeping with her mommy and has zoomies every evening. Afterwards, she rubs on her daddy.

Events:

Ros will be hosting a virtual St. Patrick's Day party on 3/17 at 5:00 FFRC time! Tune in and bring a snack to share!

Easter Fundraiser:

A Little Extra Info:

Current Needs:

A list is kept up to date on the Amazon Wish List found on the FFRC website. Due to the Humane Case, additional PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) is needed. Mostly masks, booties and medium size gloves.

Other:

On Box Day, we received some very touching memorial tributes for ALMA and MAGIC. Thank you for providing these and showing the depth of your love for these two residents.

Also on Box Day, we received a box of cute colored collars for our goats. We will be working to get names and collars matched to the goats. We hope to have a small fashion show when this has been done.

Megan was off for much needed R & R on Wednesday and Thursday of last week.

The Valentine's Day videos are still being worked on. We will get them sent out soon.

On Friday, right after Q & A, we intended to name our last kitty from the Humane Case, but the wind was so fierce, we kept losing YouTube and power connectivity. During the windstorm, we lost one of our empty sheds. It was flipped completely over and crumpled like aluminum foil. We also lost a couple of trees on the property. No animals or humans were injured. Another storm is due on Sunday, March 15th. YIKES!

Also on Friday, Tony and Stephanie stopped by with a 50-pound donation of IAMS cat food. They stuck around and brought many kitties to the camera.

The Kitten Lady is coming to Ft. Wayne on March 19. Megan and Team are looking forward to attending the event and learning more about kitten care and also sharing their information on CH cats with her.

Megan put together a couple of short tour videos of the Center. Please check them out when you have a chance.

If you haven't looked at our Instagram page, please do!! There are great pictures of our center's kitties. Thanks so much!

FFRC is looking for volunteers. Candidates need to be at least 18 years old and have transportation to get here. Volunteers work set shifts and have assigned tasks, which include cleaning, feeding and other caring for cats. Please contact Megan if you would like to help.

Please make sure that you have a plan for your pets in the event that you are no longer able to take care of them. The best plan is to have both a primary and a secondary backup.

Photos by Dawn and friends.

------------

"If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion."

Dalai Lama

"A warm smile is the universal language of kindness"

William Arthur Ward

FFRC Blog Week Ending March 7, 2026

March came in like a LION, but now it feels like Spring! Hopefully, all of that yucky white stuff that falls from the sky is done until next Winter!!!

Don't forget to Spring Ahead for Daylight Savings Time on Sunday, March 8th!

Adoptions:

There were no adoptions this week.

Holds:

There are no kitties currently on hold.

Intakes:

On Friday, 2/27, we were approached to help with a Humane Call Case involving local law enforcement and the Humane Society. The situation in the home is horrendous. We were able to see that there were at least five cats that needed immediate removal. We set live traps and were able to get two cats pretty quickly. We took in one, a female calico that is about 3 1/2 months old. Her name is LUCKY and received 53% of the votes from the Name a Cat program. The name was submitted by Angela G. The other names were Hiccup (24%) and Babita (23%). The other cat was taken in by the Humane Society. We have been checking the live traps all week and on Friday, another two cats were captured.

The first is an all-black female that is approximately 2-3 years old. Her name is CLARICE with 54% of the votes, which was submitted by Michelle H. Other cat names were Dana Scully (18%) and Lemon (28%). 152 votes were submitted.

The other cat is a black and white male that also is about 3 1/2 months old. Most likely a sibling to LUCKY. His name is CHANDLER with 49% of the votes and was submitted by SonJa. Other cat names were Chewie (34%) and Dustin (17%). 179 votes were submitted.

The fifth cat that we saw is a buff and white cat that has not yet been captured. This cat will also come to FFRC. Isn't FFRC full? Yes, it is however, in humane cases like this we do our best to take in cats that if we did not intervene, would have no future.

LUCKY has settled in and is a little ray of sunshine. She is now playing with toys and is very happy. Isn't she cute?

In addition to the Humane Call kitties, we also took in a fluffy gray and white female. She was found roaming around. Her photo was posted on a local page and FFRC was able to bring her in. She has been named MARY LOU. Her name came from the Name a Cat program and was submitted by Ruth S. She is about as floofy as a kitty can be. She looks to be about a year old and weighs 7 1/2 pounds. Move over EGYPT and MISS JEWEL, you have met your floofy match!

None of the kitties have been spayed/neutered. We will be taking care of this on the next Humane Ohio run (or sooner), which is scheduled to be March 17th! Let's welcome all of the new kitties to FFRC!!!

Health Updates:

FAISY had a bit of a stomach issue that started the end of last week. She had runny stool and was in some pain. We put her on meds to help her, but on 3/1, they didn't appear to be working as quickly as we would like. We switched her meds and within a couple of days, she was feeling much better. She really doesn't like being in a pen, so as soon as she is all clear, she will be back in the main room!

All other kitties are in good shape. This week, we weighed and cleaned ears for many of the Center's kitties. All did great.

Center Kitties & Others:

BARNACLE FARNSWORTH III is now an outside kitty and is really liking his freedom. He has settled in with the Barn & Porchie kitties.

BETTY is still inside, but with the nicer weather, she will also be moving outside. She no longer is wearing the "Cone of Shame" and her fur is growing in.

TIPPY and MILEY are doing great! They are very grateful that Stacy and Kat rescued them. Tippy is still a little scared, but Miley is helping with the transition. This picture is from FFRC Chatters and was posted by Stacy.

MISS JEWEL still is one of the top fluffiest kitties ever. She is enjoying the open tunnel that came in on Tuesday's Box Day.

OTTER also likes the new open tunnel--or is it just the feather?

JENNY is looking for her next meal! Her eyes are still being watched, but as long as she is doing good, we don't foresee any surgery soon. She is a bit of a rascal!

PUDDIN AND SQUIZZLE are enjoying the TV in the Kabana.

Events:!

Ros will be hosting a virtual St. Patrick's Day party on 3/17 at 5:00 FFRC time! Tune in and bring a snack to share!

A Little Extra Info:

How do you show your cat that you care? (From The Pet Collective)

Current Needs:

A list is kept up to date on the Amazon Wish List found on the FFRC website.

Other:

The Valentine's Day videos are still being worked on. We will get them sent out soon.

Special thanks to Wayne and Carol. They sent in pizza last Box Day. It was really appreciated.

Our new Saturday afternoon volunteer, Christy, has been accompanied by her daughter, Adelle. Great to have them!

Mrs. Yack's 5th grade class sent in a very touching tribute to Magic. It was signed by her entire class.

On Box Day, Mark G also sent in some beautiful artwork. I know that we all enjoy seeing his pictures on Facebook!

If you haven't looked at our Instagram page, please do!! There are great pictures of our center's kitties. Thanks so much!

Please make sure that you have a plan for your pets in the event that you are no longer able to take care of them. The best plan is to have both a primary and a secondary backup.

Photos by Dawn and friends.

------------

"When Spring came, even the false spring, there were no problems except where to be happiest."

Ernest Hemingway

"The beautiful spring came; and when Nature resumes her loveliness, the human soul is apt to revive also."

Harriet Ann Jacobs