At Work: Tabby's Place: Cat Sanctuary Name: Tabby's Place: Cat Sanctuary Type of business: Shelter for cats Address: 1100 US Highway 202, Ringoes Telephone: (908) 237-5300, ext. 226 Website: www.tabbysplace.org Number of employees: 10 part-time paid employees,
100 active volunteers Founded: November 1999 Top officer: Jonathan Rosenberg How would you describe your business? "Our mission is to take cats from hopeless situations, take care of them and try to
adopt them out," said Jonathan Rosenberg, founder and president of Tabby's Place. "We get the vast majority of our cats from other shelters. They were cats that were
scheduled to be euthanized. Most of our cats come from New Jersey, but we get cats from all over -- New York, West
Virginia, and North Carolina. We get cats of all types-- young, healthy cats to those with all sorts of diseases.
"Our facility is located on eight acres in Hunterdon County, and includes four open cat
suites filled with cat toys, scratching posts, climbing ledges, and cubbies to sleep in. There is an on-site
veterinary facility, adoption rooms, outside solariums for the cats to enjoy fresh air and sunshine, isolation
areas for kittens, and an apartment for one staff member to live on-site. To date, the site has taken in 500 cats
and adopted out approximately 350. "We charge a $125 fee to adopt a cat. The fee includes a thorough veterinarian exam,
including testing for FeLV and FIV, spaying or neutering, fully vaccinating and microchipping for the cat. "In addition to fees for adoption, we rely on donations to continue the work of
Tabby's Place." What makes your business special? "Our venture is unique because we don't cage the cats here-- they live in open rooms
after our veterinarian examines them. One third of our cats at any time have some kind of special need-- either a
disease or behavioral problem. "We take hopeless cases. Our criteria is that the cat must be in a desperate situation
or sickness that won't contaminate other cats. For instance, if a cat has heart disease, cancer, or diabetes, they
can live their entire lives at Tabby's Place. Since we opened, we've lost between 40 -50 to cancer. We don't take
feral cats. They are not happy being here. The cat must fit our criteria -- the cat must be in a desperate situation.
"We employ our own on-site veterinarian, who is here 10 to 20 hours weekly. "We also developed the Guardian Angels cat pre-pay program for owners who
themselves become disabled and no longer can care for their cat. If the cat tests negative for FeLV and FIV,
doesn't require a special diet and is able to be examined without sedation, it will receive immediate acceptance to
Tabby's Place, where it will receive lifetime care with daily play time and cuddle sessions with staff and
volunteers." What goals do you have for the business? "I'd like to expand. I'd like to put up two more buildings on the property." How has your business changed? "There have been lots of little changes as we learned the best way to control disease,
because the cats live in open rooms here." What was your most important deal? "I'm not sure how to answer that question. The hardest thing was getting the building
open. It took four and a half years to do that. From the time I started with the purchase of the property, it took
that long for the permitting, engineering, and construction." What changes do you expect in your business in the next 10 years? "We expect to construct another two buildings. In the next five years, we plan to [start]
construction on the second building on our eight-acre property. The township has approved it. Most of the excavation,
except for the foundation, has been done. "We also expect we will have a full-time veterinarian on the site when the new building
is built." What is the most important thing you've learned in your business? "I used to work with computers, and working with cats is not as orderly. It's messy
living with cats compared to computers. There are lots of supplies to consider-- we go through 3,000 pounds of cat
litter a month. But it's very fulfilling working here about 40 hours a week." What advice would you give to someone considering your line of work? "I often get calls from people. But the main thing is you have got to know your limits in
terms of time and money and don't go over your head. It takes good business sense and a desire to do something with
your money, time and skill. "After my cat, Tabby, was diagnosed with cancer in 1999, I wanted to help cats and left
my position as chief technology officer for CNET, an internet company. I began volunteering at the Somerset Regional
Animal Shelter in Bridgewater to find out if I wanted to be with the cats. I spent three years visiting shelters,
volunteering, and acquiring ideas for the type of refuge to build." Is there anything else you would rather be doing? "No, I can't imagine doing anything else."
By Libby Barsky
Special to The Jewish State
