Felines in distress rescued by Saint John cat-lovers

Tricia Doyle loves cats. 

So much so that she's dedicated nearly all of her spare time to rescuing them. 

Doyle took over what was formerly known as Rescue Meow in Saint John in January along with her partner Debbie Macfarlane. 

Now known as Helping Hearts Cat Rescue, they catch abandoned cats, have the animals spayed or neutered, then help find them loving homes.

"I love cats, and I obviously can't have 20 of my own, so this was a way to have cats in my home all the time, but also be able to give back," said Doyle. 

In the last few weeks, she said they have caught about 15 cats who were left behind by previous owners. And since January, they've spayed or neutered 40 cats, and found new homes for even more.

Stray cat strut

Doyle said stray and feral cats are pretty common in the area, often because owners leave their pets behind when they move away, and the animals aren't able to fend for themselves. That's why finding them homes and reducing the population through spaying and neutering is so important. 

"What happens is they get into colonies, they're not fixed, and they're living outside so they're able to populate very quickly, and it becomes a problem," Doyle said.   

Before taking on the cat rescue program, Doyle said she fostered cats for 10 years. 

The most challenging part of operating a rescue is not being able to help all the felines out there, said Doyle.

Her fostering services are often at capacity and that often leaves feral cats, who tend to be aggressive and fend for themselves, on their own.

Helping Hearts works closely with Stoneybrook Veterinary Services in Fairfield to offer spay and neuter services. 

"We're extremely fortunate, they're incredible," said Doyle.

They also have a low-cost program to help families and people in need spay or neuter their cats at a reduced rate. 

 A community effort

Doyle said support from the community has been "overwhelming." 

A local man named Bob Gould collects bottles around the area to redeem and donates all that he earns to the program. 

Doyle said people in the community will now donate their bottles to his initiative. 

"It's honestly one of the main sources of our funding," she said.