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East End Neighborhood Prepares Celebration “Foreclosure Cat” house saved, cats rescued, national art project helps raise funds, and community garden thrives  Cincinnati,
Ohio, August
28, 2007 – It’s
just one of
those humble
little streets
that veer down
toward the river
from the street
they used to
call Eastern
Avenue, now
Riverside Drive.
But the people
who live on
Strader Street
have much to
celebrate. This
small East End
neighborhood
boasts several
newly renovated
houses, and a
community garden
nearly a block
long. It is also
the site of the
recent
successful
rescue of more
than 60
“foreclosure”
cats and kittens
who were found
abandoned, sick
and starving at
251 Strader
after their
owner was
evicted. This Thursday, August 30, Strader Street neighbors, gardeners, rescuers and veterinarians will gather to celebrate the saving of the “Foreclosure Cat House,” the installation of a new water line for the adjacent East End Veteran’s Memorial Garden, the rescue of all the cats, a fund-raising project by nationally known artists creating multi-media portraits of the cats, and the launch of a new adoption website at www.ForeclosureCats.org . Saving the Foreclosure Cat house The house was so nearly destroyed by neglect and by the overwhelming number of sick animals, it was featured in a Business Week story about “foreclosure’s filthy aftermath.” Neighbors speculated that demolition was the only option. “I had quotes from three wrecking companies,” said Michael Bolan, who purchased the house from Fannie Mae after a bank foreclosure, and is hosting the celebration. “While the condition of the house was sound, the smell was horrific, and I thought it would be impossible to eliminate it.” But Bolan, who is fond of houses that are close to urban centers, with open vistas such as the river affords, found a Cincinnati-based company, OdorXit, whose products are designed for such challenges. Now, Bolan says, the house has been saved and, with planned renovations, can be inhabited. A neighborhood blight is prevented The rescue operation began when the cats were discovered by a rescuer in early May, apparently weeks after the evicted man walked away from his home without telling anyone about the cats and kittens trapped inside, many sick or injured, without food, water or medical attention. The bank was scheduled to clear out the house, which would have scattered the cats and kittens, resulting in a blight of sick and injured animals, suffering and populating for years, in the neighborhood. Instead, several small rescue groups joined together to organize a community rescue effort. A website, www.ForeclosureCats.org, was created to solicit donations, volunteers, and to accept foster and adopter applications. National art project will help raise funds and awareness More than 40 “foreclosure” cats and kittens are still looking for homes, and well-known artists around the country have stepped up to help. From Disney animators to greeting card artists and children’s book illustrators, they are creating portraits of all of the foreclosure cats, and donating the work to raise funds and help find foster homes and adopters. The portraits and artists are featured on the newly revamped www.ForeclosureCats.org , along with photos of the cats, each of their stories, adoption and foster applications and a donations link. Since the cats are with foster families and therefore not available in one location for public visits, it is hoped that the new website will enable more people to meet the cats and kittens who are still looking for homes. “Some of the cats are running out of time with their current foster families,” said Gail Silver, of Silver Bells Rescue, “so we desperately need more foster families as well as adopters.” The East End Veteran’s Memorial Garden Organized and sponsored by the Civic Garden Center of Greater Cincinnati, the East End Veteran’s Memorial Garden is the pride of the Strader Street neighborhood. Joe Corcoran, who lives on the block, and his wife Beth, do most of the work to maintain the garden, including the recent installation of a city water line and freeze-proof faucet that makes care and upkeep significantly easier and more efficient. The water tap was installed two months ago, just in time to allow the vegetation to thrive during the long summer drought and heat. The garden is dedicated to the memory of Steve Corcoran, Joe’s brother and a Vietnam vet, and to all other East End veterans. According to Corcoran, Strader Street is a neighborhood where people walk a lot, and know each other and what is happening on the street. “Most folks I’ve talked with are pretty relieved that all those cats were saved--and surprised and pleased that now the house is saved, too. With all that, and the garden thriving and beautiful, we have a lot to celebrate.” |
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