Our Mission
The heart of our mission is to keep diabetic cats in their original, loving homes, regardless of the income level of their caregivers. We support diabetic cats in their original, adoptive, shelter, and rescue homes; help to rehome unwanted diabetic cats; and help to educate caregivers on the appropriate treatment of diabetic cats. DCIN is a Maine nonprofit corporation and recognized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization by the US Internal Revenue Service. DCIN's Employer ID Number (EIN) is 45-4519681.
DCIN has a core value of transparency in its programs and finances. Toward this objective, DCIN participates in the GuideStar Exchange.
Our Activities
DCIN is an all-volunteer, internet-based rescue/assistance group for diabetic cats. DCIN does not have shelters, and it has ceased its foster program. What DCIN has are powerful communication methods; access to a large number of current and former diabetic cat caregivers; and a passionate, devoted volunteer staff. Many of our contacts have learned how easy it is to treat feline diabetes. Usually, the health problems that arise with these cats are because they are older and develop other diseases.
The primary participants in DCIN's programs are those who have contacted DCIN through its Facebook page. DCIN is financed primarily by donations from individuals and certain "sales" fundraisers, such as an annual calendar and mismatched socks. DCIN also generates some advertising revenue through its Amazon Associate Programs (see the links in the upper right column of this page. This page lists the diabetic cats that DCIN has helped.
Financial Assistance for Diabetic Cats
DCIN helps with the insulin and other diabetic supply costs of certain cats, both to help facilitate their rehoming and to help them stay in their original homes. On occasion, DCIN may help with treatment costs when cats have diabetes-related health problems that require veterinary care. The financial program currently accepting applications is the Compassionate Assistance Program, described on this page.
Rehoming Unwanted Diabetic Cats
DCIN helps to rehome diabetic cats throughout the US and Canada. Our method for doing that is to encourage shelters, rescues, and individuals to list their adoptable diabetic cats on our Facebook page using the instructions here.
DCIN will help with transporting cats to their new homes, either via ground (car) or plane (United Pet Safe Cargo program). We do expect both the sending and receiving parties of a cat traveling by air to make contributions to the YouCaring fundraiser we will use to raise funds for the kitty's transportation costs.
Shelter/Rescue Program
DCIN has a shelter/rescue program to promote for those groups the diabetic cats they have for adoption. We also offer diabetic supplies and education to those organizations. This page has information about that program.
Mailing Address
Diabetic Cats in Need
P.O. Box 21
Minot, ME 04258-0021
Our Team Members
Jenna Marie Watts
Executive Director and Board Member
Virginia
Email: Jenna@dcin.info
Private message: PumpkinsMom on FDMB, DCC, DCH and DCI
Phone: email for phone number
Background with diabetic cats: My cat, Pumpkin, was diagnosed with diabetes after a life-threatening bout of pancreatitis. I have two diabetic DCIN foster cats, Tucker and Sunshine. I have experience treating diabetic cats with Humulin N, Lantus, Levemir, U100 PZI, and U40 PZI.
Amy Sikes
Deputy Director
Development Director, Supplies Manager, Ground Transport Coordinator, and Board Member
Acting Social Media Director
Virginia
Email: Amy@dcin.info
Private message: matya13 on DCC, DCH, DCI, and FDMB
Phone: email for phone number
Background with diabetic cats: I fostered two precious diabetic cats, Jibbit and Sunshine. Both came to me completely unregulated. Once they got on insulin, they both improved enormously. 18 YO Jibbit crossed the Bridge in July 2013. Sunshine has finally found her forever home and is doing wonderfully!
Susan Luhrs
Treasurer and Board Member
Maine
Email: Treasurer@dcin.info
Phone: email for phone number
Background with diabetic cats: My Max, aged 13, was diagnosed diabetic in early 2007 and prescribed an oral anti-diabetic drug and Purina dry DM food. After discovering all the excellent information online, I switched Max to Lantus, got him off of dry food, and started testing him at home. My vet worked with me and I got Max into diabetic remission in just a few months. Unfortunately, Max, who LIVED to hunt, went missing that summer. Since then, I have continued my interest in assisting other extra-sweet kitties, including those at nearby HART of Maine.
Jillian Rosile
Director of Case Management and Board Member
Colorado
Email: Jillian@dcin.info
Phone: email for phone number
Background with diabetic cats: In 2012, I started fostering Deer, who was adopted out in early 2013. He was returned in May 2014 due to being diagnosed as diabetic. I took him back in to foster and quickly had to learn everything I could about feline diabetes. We adopted him shortly thereafter, and he went into remission after five months of being very difficult to regulate (on Lantus, Levemir, then Vetsulin). Since then, I have fostered diabetics Dewey, Aladdin, and Shadow, and been active on the Diabetic Cat Help forums under username HelpingDeer. I became a Case Manager with DCIN in April 2016.
Chris Ronkoski
Case Manager
Missouri
Email: Chris@dcin.info
Phone: email for phone number
Claudia Keating
Air Transport Coordinator
Ohio
Email: Transport@dcin.info
Phone: Email for phone number
Background with diabetic cats: We rescued tiny shy kitten Charlie in 2001 and he grew into a large vocal lap cat. He was diagnosed with diabetes in 2010 and because of his large insulin doses was tested for and found to have Acromegaly. I am experienced with ProZinc and Levemir insulins. Because of Charlie's Acromegaly, I also am experienced with treating pancreatitis, cardiomyopathy, inflammatory bowel disease, megacolon, diabetic ketoacidosis, and chronic kidney disease. We lost Charlie in June 2015.
Eva McDowell
Case Manager
Ontario, Canada
Email: Eva@DCIN.info
Private message: Eva m on DCC, DCH, and FDMB
Phone: email for phone number
Background with diabetic cats: Pumpkin was diagnosed with FD in 2008. I am experienced with Caninsulin and Lantus insulins. Pumpkin was well regulated but sadly disappeared in August 2010. I fostered unregulated and obese Flash starting in 2008 and have since adopted him. After five months on a tight regulation protocol with, Flash went into diabetic remission.
Wendy Panaro
Case Manager
Wisconsin
Email: Wendy@dcin.info
Phone: email for phone number
Background with diabetic cats: I learned of DCIN in 2012 when we adopted our first diabetic, Nelson. I knew nothing about feline diabetes but was willing to learn and I soon found all sorts of resources. My husband and I have since adopted three other diabetic cats--Piper, Oscar, and Leo--all from promotions on the DCIN Facebook page and all in long-distance adoptions. Only Leo is still with us. I am experienced with hometesting and Lantus insulin, and even before joining the DCIN Team I helped local caregivers learn how to care for their newly diagnosed cats. I joined the Team because of my passion for helping even more feline diabetics.
Lisa Sorini
Shelter Assistance Coordinator
California
Email: Lisa@dcin.info
Private message: Lisa and Merlyn (GA) on FDMB
Phone: email for phone number
Background with diabetic cats: My Merlyn was diagnosed in April of 2004, on FDMB by July. He started with glipizide, then PZI from Idexx, then Lantus. By May of 2005 he was in diabetic remission (OTJ) and stayed that way until he passed in 2009. At the end of 2005 I took home diabetic foster Carly. She was only on insulin for a week before going OTJ. I adopted her in April 2007. In 2012, I had lost 2 non-diabetic cats and was recruited by a vet's office to adopt another diabetic from his family. He had asthma and megacolon and passed away in diabetic ketoacidosis due to his megacolon (intestines stopped working). After losing DCIN adoptees Bear and Sarjenka so close together, I needed another kitty to love and am now Mom to DCIN adopted foster cat Sunshine!
Phoebe Basso
Ground Transport Assistant
Michigan
Email: Transport@dcin.info
Phone: Email for phone number
Background with diabetic cats: My first diabetic cat, Norton, was diagnosed in 2006. We used Humulin N first and then PZI for him, dosing BID and TID with a custom sliding scale. We found FDMB, and realized that Norton had Acromegaly. After losing him to cancer, we adopted Tiggy in 2009 through FDMB just as DCIN was being formed. Tiggy is on Levemir. We help with transports and teaching local caregivers how to help their newly diagnosed cats.
Updated August 26, 2017
