Saved by Zade helps protect hundreds of cats through neutering and rehoming – Press and Guide

Mozzie is one of the many cats introduced by Saved by Zade in 2024. (Photo courtesy of Saved by Zade)

Through its partnership with PetSmart Charities, Lansing-area nonprofit Saved by Zade has continued its mission to control cat overpopulation and alleviate the suffering that comes with it by finding new homes for hundreds of feline friends through in-store adoptions.

When Saved by Zade started, it focused on bottle-feeding stray cats and transitioning to TNVR work, which stands for catch/neuter/vaccinate/return, according to the organization’s website. Many of the strays at the time were friendly and adoptable, which led the group to create a foster and adoption program in 2018 and partner with PetSmart Charities.

Saved by Zade was founded in 2017 and has grown by “leaps and bounds” since then, said Alyssa Draper, a longtime volunteer with the organization. Draper, a veteran volunteer with other organizations since 2012, joined Saved by Zade in 2018 at the beginning of its foster and adoption program, she said. Draper is also president of Zade’s Anatomy, a sister organization founded to address high-risk medical issues, with plans to operate a spay-and-neuter clinic in the future.

“Zade” doesn’t refer to a specific person, but the organization likes to say that the “Spirit of Zade” represents the community’s inspiration to address cat overpopulation problems, Draper said.

“When we really went for it, PetSmart became our first major platform for adoptions,” Draper said.

Today, Saved by Zade operates cat adoption centers at two PetSmart locations in West Lansing and Okemos and also hosts regular adoption events there, Draper said. Saved by Zade has adopted out a total of 235 cats through PetSmart so far in 2024 and is on track to reach 919 adoptions in 2023 and 686 in 2022, she said.

According to Draper, Saved by Zade has seen a decline in adoptions that coincides with rising inflation. But those numbers appear to be recovering after a spike during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“In addition to the public events, we ask volunteers to be there as often as possible when people walk by so we can hopefully make a connection and find the right cat at the right home at the right time,” she said.

The most obvious benefit of Saved by Zade’s partnership with PetSmart is having a physical platform and presence in those stores, so shoppers can learn more about the organization and know where to go if they want to adopt a cat, Draper said. PetSmart Charities’ adoption incentive program has been “lifesaving, literally” for Saved by Zade’s cats, because the grants allow the organization to recoup the cost of veterinary care, Draper said.

Draper’s favorite Saved by Zade adoption story involves Cher, a cat she previously had in her home. After undergoing surgery to remove intestinal blockages, Cher was adopted in January 2019. However, she returned to the shelter after her owner went into a nursing home and couldn’t take her, Draper said. Cher went back into foster care and was able to find a new forever home, where she’s already bonding with her new sibling, Draper said.

“My favorite thing about being a Saved by Zade cat is that you are a Saved by Zade cat for life. We will move earth and mountains to make sure that a cat that is part of our program gets what they need,” Draper said. “It’s just amazing to know that not only did she get her happy ending in the first round, but we were there to make sure she got it in the second round.”

Despite Saved by Zade helping about 2,000 cats a year, overpopulation remains a pressing problem and appears to be getting worse over time, Draper said. The organization must carefully use its limited resources and funds to address as many needs as possible, she said.

“We’re full and we’re always going to be full,” Draper said. “I think that’s just the reality of the overcrowding problem, and hopefully if we keep chipping away we can see some progress.”

For more information, visit savedbyzade.com.