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No-Kill Cat Shelter Saves Hundreds Of Feline Lives

REDWOOD CITY (KPIX 5) Remember Smurf, the abused purple kitten? He recovered from his injuries and has a new adoptive home because of a Redwood City animal shelter. Its founder is this week's Jefferson Award winner.

Smurf was dyed purple and covered with bite marks when he came to the 9 Lives Foundation, the nonprofit founded by veterinarian Dr. Monica Rudiger.

"He made it through two months of rehab, now he's no longer purple," Rudiger reported. "All his wounds are healed."

The 13-year-old Redwood City shelter is one of the only no-kill cat shelters in the Bay Area. It adopted out about 1700 cats last year.

"Our first mission is to rescue cats from high kill shelters and from at risk situations," Rudiger explained.

Nine Lives has space for 400 cats, but often finds room for more.

Rudiger said, "Our second mission is to help prevent the cats from getting into shelters in the first place and do that by encouraging spay-neuter."

Kris Maccubin needed help to trap and neuter several cats in her neighborhood. She says other organizations gave her the cold shoulder, but not Dr. Rudiger.

"She totally made it easy," Maccubin said. "And she seems very caring and very dedicated."

Rudiger started 9 Lives in 2003 while working for another animal shelter. She began rescuing cats scheduled to be euthanized. She started housing the cats in her own boarding facility and finding them permanent homes, so the next thing she knew, 9 Lives Foundation was born.

Today, Nine Lives cares for cats deemed unadoptable because they test positive for feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus.

Board member Carol Scola says not only does Rudiger adopt them out, but she also offers medical care for their lifetime.

"These cats mean everything to her," Scola said. "She knows she's needed."

Recently, Dr. Rudiger has had to cut back her hours. She's contracted a bacterial disease from cat fleas and suffers from severe headaches and memory loss.

So for saving countless lives at the 9 Lives Foundation, this week's Jefferson Award in the Bay Area goes to Dr. Monica Rudiger.

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