Donors Pay $4,000 Bill for Cat Caretaker

Last Friday, Doris Romeo’s veterinary bill was almost $4,000. But Romeo, who rescues abused and abandoned cats--by the hundreds--and provides them with a home in a two-bedroom house in Van Nuys, didn’t have the money to pay it.

By Monday, Romeo’s balance was zero, said Jan Crivier, a manager at the Sherman Oaks Veterinary Group.

Crivier said three separate donors paid off Romeo’s bill after reading about her unusual cat shelter in a story in Saturday’s Times.

“We received two separate checks, for $1,000 each,” Crivier said, “and then a third check that took care of the balance. It’s been wonderful. She’s bringing some more cats in to us today, as a matter of fact.”

Veterinarians at the clinic reluctantly told Romeo a few weeks ago that she must begin paying her bill or stop bringing in the cats.

Romeo and her assistant, Charyne Anderson, trap feral, starving and homeless cats, have them spayed or neutered, and let them prowl around in comfort in a house in an industrial section of Van Nuys.

Though some of the cats eventually are adopted, the shelter has been overloaded for several months, and Romeo has been running short of funds.

After the article was published, Romeo said she received about 30 calls from people offering assistance.

“It has just been terrific; everyone who called has been wonderful,” said Romeo.

“People are sending checks; some people came by to adopt some of the cats; some other people want to volunteer on weekends to help us clean. I can’t believe it. Anything that anybody can do is appreciated.”

For information on how to help Pets For Life, call (310) 289-7831, or write: Pets For Life, P.O. Box 10124, Beverly Hills 90213.