Although at 75 it's unlikely Violet Winegarden is about to don tights and scale walls in search of bad guys, she still personifies Cat Woman for Gibsons and, indeed, the entire Sunshine Coast.
Winegarden is the founder of Happy Cat Haven. The sanctuary for forlorn felines at 760 School Road in Gibsons has been the salvation for over 4,000 cats in the 12 years of its existence. Visiting the cat sanctuary leaves one with a spiritual feeling. The love and respect for the animals tended at Happy Cat Haven is palpable. And it says a lot for Winegarden and the facility that many of the volunteers who were part of the Haven at the beginning are still there today - a fact that makes Winegarden shake her head in wonder.
"I was talking to a woman who runs a similar organization in Prince George, and she said they have a hard time keeping volunteers," Winegarden said. "We don't have that problem."
She shows a list of seven volunteers who have been with the Haven since day one.
"Without them we couldn't operate," she said. A tour of the facility with the soft-spoken senior makes the loyalty easy to understand.
Every inch of her home is dedicated to the care and well being of cats. And the friendly woman considers no job connected with the animals beneath her dignity. In a world where people seldom lead by example, Winegarden does just that.
When you come to the door it's not unusual to be greeted by Winegarden with a litter pan in her hand. And while the Haven is open to the public for adoptions from 1 to 4 p.m. Friday to Sunday, her heart and the home are open to orphans almost any time. The only time she tries to carve out for herself is Wednesday afternoons.
"I have to have a few hours of private time, otherwise I'm afraid I'm going to turn into a shrew," she laughs.
Twice Winegarden has been honoured for her work with strays. This spring she was chosen as Gibsons Volunteer of the Year, and in 1999 the sharing senior was designated Gibsons Citizen of the Year.
But lest anyone think Winegarden is a paragon of virtue, she's quick to point out her one main "fault" - her language. As colourful as the fur of her charges, the mild, unassuming woman has shocked more than one visitor.
Happy Cat Haven is part of a loose network of cat sanctuaries in B.C. The home helps similar organizations through the province. Right now the volunteers at Happy Cat Haven are waiting for an influx of kittens from the North. And in the past when there have been too many cats to place for adoption here, cats have been relocated to the Lower Mainland.
Winegarden is fussy about where the cats go from here.
"Mostly [the cats] go to veterinary hospitals where the vets themselves make sure the animals will be well cared for in their new homes," she explains.
Right now the Haven is home to 60 cats. Some are permanent residents, including the 11 senior cats who rate the nicest room in the house. The oldest, 21, lies in state in front of the gas fireplace.
"They have a lovely life. They never have to worry about anything," Winegarden said.
Not all the cats at the sanctuary are healthy. Two have FIV, the feline equivalent of HIV in humans. Another poor critter has a mysterious autoimmune disease. His head and ears bear the brunt of the disorder. The treatment involves applying vitamin E to the affected areas eight times a day. Because many cat lovers are unable to have their own pet, Happy Cat Haven also has a foster program. For $10 a month the foster parent is assigned his or her own cat. About once every two months, the parent receives a letter from the cat. The foster parents take their role seriously. When Winegarden announced a tuna party for the cats to celebrate New Year's Eve, she received enough tuna to celebrate every special day up to and including Easter.
Money is a never-ending issue for Happy Cat Haven. This year, for the first time, the Great Coast Cat Walk will be the major fundraiser for the facility. Folks are urged to get pledges for the walk, May 22, which will start and end at Sunshine Coast Storage Unit beside Cross-Trainers Health & Fitness Club in Gibsons. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. Receipts will be given for donations over $20. Call 604-886-5905 for more details.
In a perfect world, Winegarden says, a patron saint of cats would come forward to give Happy Cat Haven the funds to build a new shelter. In the meantime, if you want to talk to the current saint, call 604-886-2407.
