Join us virtually for Benny's 3rd Birthday Party!

We are celebrating Benny’s 3^rd Birthday! Join us via Zoom on Monday, August 24 at 7pm and Support Helen Sanders CatPAWS and Wise Place while we celebrate Benny & support survivors of abuse and domestic violence.

Benny’s kittenhood was filled with terror and pain. When a family member finally took him to the shelter, fearful that his abuser would eventually kill him, he was suffering from the latest attack which had broken his jaw and fractured his pelvis, but examination revealed injuries old and new. His ribs had been broken, skull fractured and more, and had not received any medical care. Held as evidence for 10 months, he could not walk and shelter medical staff worked diligently to stabilize him and make him comfortable. Once available for release, Helen Sanders CatPAWS, took him in and he underwent another surgery to help him walk more comfortably. He was adopted by his loving foster care provider, Beverly, who nursed him through surgery and took him to his many medical appointments.

Following a lengthy and diligent investigation, a determination was made, for a variety of reasons, not to prosecute his abuser.

Despite the horror he endured, the assaults on his tiny kitten body, Benny was one of the lucky ones. The sad fact is that many domestic violence survivors report that their pets were harmed or killed by their abusers before they eventually sought help to save themselves, and that fear of leaving a pet delayed their decision to leave. Nearly 50% of domestic violence victims have delayed leaving their abuser out of fear of harm to their animals. 71% of pet-owning women entering women's shelters reported that their batterer had injured, maimed, killed, or threatened family pets for revenge or to psychologically control victims.

This year, we are celebrating Benny & raising awareness about an important topic: domestic violence. It is estimated by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence that nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. During one year, this equates to more than 10 million women and men. On a typical day there are more than 20,000 phone calls to domestic abuse hotlines.

Wise Place in Orange County provides women with safe transitional and emergency shelter, counseling and mental health services, case management and addiction recovery, and employment assistance to help rebuild their lives. Nearly 60% of women that come through Wise Place have experienced domestic violence.

For Benny’s birthday, we are asking that you donate to Helen Sanders CatPAWS, in whatever denomination you can, and participate in Benny’s online birthday party!  Our goal is to raise $2500. A portion of the funds that we raise for CatPAWS will also be donated to Wise Place to bring awareness to this important issue. All donors that participate in our party will be eligible to win a $100 AMEX gift card. Petique will also be donating a Tippy Peak Cat House valued at $35. Check out their other products at: https://www.petique.com/. We will also raffle a "Justice for Benny the Cat" t-shirt and lapel pin during our party.

Along with our other speakers, Red Rover and the Purple Leash Project will speak about the work they do that helps people and animals escape abuse together. Once registered for our event, you'll receive an event confirmation email with the Zoom party instructions. 

Register for Benny’s birthday party today!

Birthday party program
7pm- Benny’s mom, Beverly Leiferr, will give us an update on “Justice for Benny the Cat” and how he has overcome his specific challenges.
7:20- Petique will discuss their wonderful products!
7:30- Wise Place & Development Director, Elizabeth Hendershot, will join us.
7:40- Red Rover will share information about the Purple Leash Project
7:50- We’ll all sing Benny Happy Birthday!
7:50- Q&A With Benny
8pm- Event Concludes