A Mad Dash to Save Cats

She’ll go just about anywhere and brave just about any situation.

That’s what it takes sometimes to save what Marnie Wolk calls “street cats,” or strays that are discovered wandering about the area and in need of a loving home.

From late afternoon trips to North Philadelphia’s Hunting Park section or a visit to one of the few, though undisclosed,  colony locations, Wolk has made it her mission to save abandoned cats.

“I don’t care about rescuing 10 a month, 20 a month,” she added. “I care about the faces of rescue.”

In this case, it’s usually cats, which can be found at Newtown’s Petsmart on Eagle Road every day. There, cats are kept well-fed, groomed and ready for adoption thanks to Wolk’s organization, Save the Cats, Inc.

“We have a philosophy that if we rescue an animal, it’s our responsibility to the end,” said Wolk, who will be honored for her work at the American Red Cross’ Lower Bucks County Chapter Real Heroes Breakfast Mar. 24. According to Wolk, a Newtown resident, she will be the first recipient of the award in Bucks for animal rescue causes.

Wolk has spread her passion to about 40 volunteers who help with the cause.

Wolk, a mother of two and a third-grade teacher in the Centennial School District, runs Save the Cats in her spare time. All told, she’s rescued over 5,000 cats and other animals, including a lost pot-bellied pig right in Newtown that was returned to its owner. She’s also spent thousands of dollars -- some of it donated funds, some of it right out of her own pocket.

The responsibilities of saving a cat in need go well beyond finding the felines. Once they’re found, they need foster homes, something Wolk and at least six others take on during the week. At one point, Wolk has had up to 20 cats in her home.

About 100 cats are available for adoption at any given time, Wolk said. Some stay in the store all week, while others pay a visit on Saturdays to be viewed, petted and, hopefully, brought home by a new family.

Saturday is the best day to go, as volunteers including foster parents and students are standing by to show prospective adopters a cat of their choice from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

“We try to do what we can,” said Denise Ostrowki, one of the organization’s foster family volunteers. She and her husband, Jim, are dedicated to visiting one of the cat colonies in Newtown, where animals that have lived in the wild are fed and cared for.

“We haven’t missed a night at the colony [since Aug. 17],” she said.

Cats of all varieties and ages are available for adoption.

To adopt, Save the Cats requires an application process, which includes veterinary records, if available, and references. Cats that have received shots are available for an $85 donation, or $130 for shots and prior spaying/neutering. All donations are tax-deductible, with applications available at the store or onsite at www.savethecatsinc.com.

The organization, which has been incorporated since 2001, is part of Petsmart Charities and is affiliated with Petfinder.com.

Save the Cats will also bring cats to homes for those interested in adoption and welcomes additional foster families and volunteers. With kitten season coming up, the more that can be adopted now, the better, Wolk said.

“Give each animal a chance to have a happier life,” Wolk said. “We’re on a mad dash to find homes for the ones we already have.”