CocoaKitties, a Hershey-based nonprofit cat rescue, has a cute name and a clear mission - to find permanent homes for unwanted and abandoned cats and kittens.
The new rescue was founded by Kendra Daub, who has been volunteering with rescue groups for 28 years. "I joined a rescue based out of Virginia called Operation Paws for Homes, (which started) in 2010. (The rescued pets) came from Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania, and they do a lot of pulling from Southern shelters," she explained. "They were a dog rescue, but in 2017, they allowed me to start a cat program for them. I have a lot of experience doing this."
Daub decided to start her own rescue by utilizing foster homes to shelter and care for cats and kittens until they are adopted. "This past April, I went out on my own to help more locally," she said. "Fosters are friends and friends of friends. We probably have about 10 to 12 foster homes. I personally am fostering 23 kittens. (Cats have) litters of kittens, so every foster has several."
She noted that some of the rescued kittens come from Derry Township Community Cats, which offers trap/neuter/return (TNR) and vaccination services for outdoor stray cats. "I partner with Derry Township Community Cats. Sometimes they come upon kitties, so I will take them," Daub said. "Our town is my No. 1 priority, but a lot of kitties come from TNR programs. Occasionally, we will take older surrenders if we have room."
CocoaKitties is in need of volunteers and additional fosters to help care for the incoming kittens, as well as adopters to provide loving homes for the cats and kittens in need. "We investigate (potential adopters). We talk to their vet and check references," Daub said.
The rescue is also in need of supplies, including dry food, wet food, paper towels and kitty litter. Monetary donations are also needed to pay for the cats' medical expenses.
Daub reported that since the organization's formation in April, there have been 33 adoptions. Right now, more than 90 cats and kittens are being fostered by volunteers.
"We will grow as we add fosters. We can only take on what we have people available to take on," she said. "We have a half a dozen to a dozen calls a day to take animals. Currently, we can't," she said. "We have some medical cases, (including) a sick orange adult kitty that we just got in and a kitty that had heatstroke. We are a foster-base rescue, but we would like to have a building someday."
For more information about CocoaKitties, to donate or to view adoptable cats and kittens, visit http://www.facebook.com/CocoaKittiesCatRescue or http://www.cocoakitties.org. Those interested in fostering or volunteering may contact Daub at kendra@cocoakitties.org.
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