Temporary housing

WASILLA — Rhonda Weinrick doesn’t pussyfoot around when it comes to caring for homeless cats. A volunteer for Mat Valley Kitties Rescue, Weinrick is one of a small group who fosters stray or injured cats until they can find good homes.

The program started about 10 years ago when Susan Helmericks would find herself taking in strays and finding homes for them.

“I used to live on Bogard Road, and I would find these pets — or pets would find me,” Helmericks said. “They were dumped, so I started taking them in. I would take them, get them healthy, then place an ad in the paper to get them homes. … I started out with one pregnant cat in my spare bedroom, and it just kind-of grew from there.”

Now, Mat Valley Kitties Rescue has about five foster families, and have had as many as 15 at certain times, she said. The program doesn’t receive grants or donations, but does charge an adoption fee, which covers most costs, but not all.

Most of the pets that go through the program “are very sweet, very tame, very well-cared-for pets that have either got lost or been abandoned,” Helmericks said. “In today’s economy, unfortunately, there are more being abandoned.”

Weinrick took some time Monday evening to talk about fostering wayward pets.

Frontiersman: How long have you fostered animals and what keeps you motivated to continue?

Weinrick: I have been in animal rescue for over 30 years. It’s the animals. It wasn’t their choice they got here. People don’t spay or neuter their pets, and we have too many.

F: Do you get emotionally attached to the animals? If so, how do you deal with having them leave to be with new families?

W: To some of them you do. I get more attached to some than others. How I get over that separation anxiety is to make sure I adopt them to as good a family as I can. I’m very picky about who I’ll let an animal go home with.

F: How many pets would you estimate you’ve fostered over the years? Any stick out as being especially memorable?

W: Oh, wow. A lot. I know I fostered over 200 puppies for Alaska Dog and Puppy Rescue. I couldn’t even guestimate; 30 years is a long time. I’ve had a few feral kittens everyone thought would be too wild to tame, and they got good homes.

F: The rescue charges an adoption fee, but how much of the day-to-day care and feeding of the animals is paid for out of your own pocket?

W: Susan reimburses me for the cat food, the cat litter and gets medications for them. My husband bought all the tall cages and he built a garage we can put our cars in (because their first garage houses the rescued cats).

F: Do you also have pets of your own? If so, how do your personal pets get along with the other animals?

W: I have cats and dogs. My dogs kennel out here with the (foster) cats, so all the cats who get adopted from here are used to (being around dogs).

F: Have you ever fostered a cat then decided to adopt it yourself? How strong is that temptation sometimes?

W: My two dogs were fosters. … Gus was a 3-day-old puppy I had to bottle feed. They told me he was probably going to pass. Now, he’ll be 2 years old this month. … As for the temptation, reality kicks in, but sometimes your emotions get over the reality part.

F: Cats have a reputation for being feisty. Have you ever been bitten or injured by a pet you were fostering?

W: Three weeks ago. I had a half-feral momma kitty I was trying to get into a crate to be spayed and she didn’t want to go.

F: Have you ever had an animal you knew wouldn’t make a good pet? What do you do in that situation?

W: We do rescue some animals that are feral and are unadoptable. There are some places you can place them with … but not families.

F: What advice do you have for someone who may consider fostering pets in his or her home?

W: Fostering pets is great. It’s a great way for people who are transitioning in their lives. If they’re not ready for a full-time commitment — and a pet is a commitment — they should try fostering.

Contact Greg Johnson at greg.johnson@frontiersman.com or 352-2269.

LEARN MORE

For more information about fostering pets or Mat Valley Kitties Rescue, contact Susan Helmericks at 841-7711 or visit home.gci.net/~kitties.