Each morning, in south Chino Hills, Patty Hancock wakes up and drives down the street to care for her pets. Patty feeds and cares for at least three "feral cats". Over the years they have come to trust her. In the summer, she treats them with flea treatments. She has captured many of them and had them neutered or spayed at various Chino Hills Veterinarians through special programs and with help from non-profit groups. She feels that what she does is the most humane way to control the feral cat population in Chino Hills.
Patty Takes Care of these Beautiful Animals
I met Patty early this morning to do an interview. As I arrived she was walking down the steep street on her way from feeding Hope, the shyest of her "litter" (Patty likes to think of herself as their mom). We went back up the street to try to get a look at Hope. Patty found her right away. She has an ability to see right through their natural camouflage. At first, all I could see was a bush, but then, just like those old posters from the 70s, a beautiful Calico colored cat appeared, sitting calmly on the wall and looking right at me. She was there the whole time, just camouflaged by the foliage. She never moved, just stared at us as we talked.
About then, Luke, the friendliest of the bunch, appeared back down the street from behind the bushes. We walked down and after a little coaxing; Patty was able to hold Luke for a picture. I could tell that he was anxious about me being there though.
Patty told me "They are very sensitive. If I put lotion on or any kind of perfume, they won't come near me. Luke will let me pet him, but he notices everything. One time I tried to take a picture of him and he went bonkers". There are others. Job, who lives on the other side of the street, wasn't out this morning. Luke is Hope's brother but nowadays they stay completely apart, sometimes just watching each other from a distance.
Patty used to work for a local school district. After three bouts with carpal tunnel and back surgery she had to retire early. It was very depressing and it took her a long time to get over it. After a while though, she began taking walks and noticed that she had an affinity for animals. She would often bring them home. One time she found some kids teasing a small abandoned dog. She captured it and found it to be very ill and completely infested with worms and fleas. She had to have him euthanized because of the severity of his illness and infestation. She finds animals all the time, even once bringing home a Shetland pony that got loose from a nearby ranch. She had it for about three hours while the police sorted out who its real owner was.
Over a period of time Patty came to know a wild cat that she called Baby and started to feed her. Patty felt sorry for Baby because she didn't have a home and was very scared of most people. Baby would never let anyone pick her up, but over time, began trusting Patty. Then one day, Baby showed up with five kittens! What a surprise. Back then, Patty didn't even know about ferals. Today, she's an expert. She named three of the kittens Luke, Angel, and Hope. Over the years, she has had them spayed and neutered. The other kittens, including Angel and Baby, eventually disappeared, most likely by the jowls of a coyote.
While we talked, Patty spotted Job across the street. Once again I couldn't see anything, but after a moment he magically appeared from between the bushes. Patty has an eye for these cats that is quite amazing. She can pick them out from between the bushes and in their little hiding places. Job was a little more friendly and allowed Patty to pick him up for a picture. He walked tentatively towards her and allowed her to pet him and hold him for just a little. His head was huge. Patty told me that this is common in feral cats because many of them get ear mites and this is a natural reaction. He was uncommonly friendly today. Job was hit by a car some years ago but he's managed to heal and stay alive and avoid the coyotes. This Chino Hills morning was a busy one for these cats. While petting Job, we spied Luke who reappeared across the street and began watching everything going on.
Most people are very supportive of Patty and many of them wave to her each morning on their way to work, but she has had a complaint or two over the years.
"Some people don't understand that this helps to keep the population of feral cats down in the most humane way possible because of the spaying and neutering. Feeding them once a day in the morning keeps the cats out of the garbage cans and people's back yards."
A brochure that Patty showed me confirmed that neutered cats make better neighbors, less howling, fighting, and no more litters of kittens. Our view is that this is a compassionate program that works.
Alley Cat Allies, an organization that supports programs to care for feral cats states, "Feral cats are different than stray cats. A stray cat is one who has been abandoned or who has strayed from home or become lost. They can usually be re-socialized and adopted. A feral cat usually cannot be socialized and won't adjust to living indoors or with a human family. Rather than attempting to tame one or a few feral cats, your time is better spent sterilizing many feral cats to break the cycle of reproduction. Millions of feral cats are killed in shelters each year because they are unadoptable". They state that there are many myths about feral cats and that trapping, neutering, and returning them to the wild (TNR) is the best way to control feral cat populations. Feral cats can survive in the wild and often live as long as domestic cats. They are generally healthy and shun human and other animal contact.
If Patty catches them she takes them to the Payne Ranch Vet in Chino Hills. At one time, the county gave vouchers to people who brought in feral cats to help pay for spaying and neutering. Patty confesses though, that she has paid for many of these expenses herself. If her husband complains all she has to do is say four letters: g-o-l-f.
While we are talking, Patty noticed that Job was crossing the street towards Luke's side so she ran towards him to chase him back. She knows exactly what these cats are thinking. There was going to be a territorial battle. Sure enough as Job ran away, Luke chased him back and they dashed off into the bushes to stare each other down and establish their territorial rights.
Patty knows a few others that take care of the ferals in their neighborhoods. She thinks that more people should get involved and help to keep the wild cat population in control. There are many organizations near Chino Hills that help to fund the spaying and neutering if you call them. Patty told me that if you go to the Payne Ranch Vet on Peyton in Chino Hills and tell them that you would like to get a cat spayed or neutered under the "Cat Love" program, they will give you a discount.
Other Cat Resources to Check on in Southern California:
Cat Love: 909 591 7200
Cats in Need: 909 622 0121
www.alleycat.org
Actors and Others for Animals: 818 755 6045
CARE: 818 779 0865
Cat Connection: 818 776 0655
Cat Crossing: 818 759 6554
Kitty Rescue: 818 347 3037
http://www.kittenrescue.org
http://www.petfinder.com
Mercy Crusade: 818 597 2926
Pet Orphans: 818 901 0190
www.petorphans.org
Purrfect Solutions: 818 784 4297
Valley Cats; 818 883 5252
http://www.ivhsspca.org/index.php
Veterinarians in Chino & Chino Hills
Chino
Canyon Hills Animal Hospital
Dr. Gill Chung
14656 Pipeline Ave.
Chino, CA 91710
909-597-4881
Chino Hills Small Animal Hospital
Dr. R. Wayne Clark
3415 Chino Ave.
Chino, CA 91710
909-591-1805
Chino Veterinary Hospital
Dr. Robert Hill
12578 Central Ave.
Chino, CA 91710
909-628-5155
Country Animal Clinic
Dr. Gene Metzger
6691 Riverside Drive
Chino, CA 91710
909-627-3561
Francis Animal Hospital
Dr. Jae Hyun Choi
5284 Francis Ave.
Chino, CA 91710
909-627-0951
Chino Hills
Chino Hills Parkway Veterinary Hospital
Dr. Singh
4040 Chino Hills Parkway
Chino Hills, CA 91709
909-606-8900
Payne Ranch Veterinary Clinic
Dr. M.A. Chaudhry
Dr. Joan Hamaguchi
13890 Peyton Drive
Chino Hills, CA 91709
909-465-0044
and is not a part of nor affiliated with the City of Chino Hills.