Feral Paws Rescue
Saving Feral Cats
Mary Loyche (Volunteer) 
Avenal State Prison staff Mary Loyche carried a trap used to capture cats so they can be tagged and spayed or neutered."We're probably the poster child for (treating) feral cats. It makes me feel good," said medical technician Mary Loyche, an 15-year Department of Corrections employee, who was once written up for feeding prison cats. Was facing action from the department of corrections to be fired over feeding of the feral cats on prison grounds. Other staff were facing the same actions by the department. Once Warden Huskey came on as the Warden at Avenal State Prison and started the TNR cat program. Warden Huskey removed all charges against Loyche, and other staff for feeding the cats on prison grounds.
With charges pending against Loyche, she didn't stop from feeding and caring for the cats. Loyche stood behind what she believe to be the right thing to do. In over seeing that feral cats on prison grounds. Were being cared for and had something to eat.
Security is so tight at the prison 70 miles southwest of Fresno that not even rodents can dig into it, and every electric fence bird-kill is reported to the Department of Corrections in Sacramento.
Because the cats are stuck inside, the prison administration has been setting eight Havahart cage traps. ("Wet food. That's the secret. Wet, smelly food," Loyche said.)
Trapped cats are taken to veterinarians in Fresno, Lemoore and Coalinga (Fresno County), spayed or neutered, their right ears clipped for identification and then sent back to prison. The one that are too wild to be adopted as pets are returned to the prison and released. Cats that can be tamed are adpoted out to loving homes. Since the cat program began we have had so many requests from staff at the prison to adpot these cats. Prior to the cat program at Avenal State Prison staff were to scared to ask for a cat from the prison. In fear that they would be fired for taken a cat off of prison grounds. Memos coming out of the wardens office prior to the cat program. Was that any staff removing a cat from prison grounds would be fired!
Maddie's Fund, a $200 million animal welfare foundation in Alameda, pays for the surgery. Food and water dispensers are donated. After the Maddie Program stopped. We were then faced with getting donations and veterinarians in Fresno, Lemoore and Coalinga to donate their time to help us keep the cat program going. It was agreed on with Warden Huskey that the cat program wouldn't cost the State of California nothing to run this program at the prison. So we began to get donations for food and other supplies needed for the feral cats.
Since the cat program in 2000 began and stopped at the orders of Warden Kathy Mendoza-Powers in 2006 Loyche and others still are helping to fight for the cats at Avenal State Prison! Loyche still takes in rescued cats from the prison and placing them into loving home. Loyche stated "Maybe we can't save them all! But we are thankful for the ones we are able to save! As long as their are cats on prison grounds this fight isn't over"
Loyche stated " Of course their are staff at the prison against the cat program. They make the remarks to kill all the cats. But most of the staff stand behind the fight for the feral cats on prison grounds. They call me the Cat Lady. That is a name I am proud to be called. I am doing what I believe in my heart is right to save these cats from being killed!"
