Cooties Rescued Cuties

08/25/2026

Is anyone available to bring a chainsaw to the house behind Austin’s bar (3328 Phillips)to cut this branch?? Brownie points if you’re available now. Trying to rescue a pregnant mom and 2 very sick kittens from the area.

08/24/2026

08/24/2026

 A Desperate Plea for Our Cats & Kittens

We are doing everything we can to save as many cats and kittens from the streets as possible—but we cannot do this alone.

Every kitten we have recently rescued is sick. Many are suffering from severe upper respiratory infections, with eyes so badly infected and crusted that they can barely open them. Many are also experiencing persistent diarrhea. They need medication and veterinary care, and right now, we simply do not have the funding to provide everything they need.

This is the heartbreaking reality of rescue: wanting desperately to help an animal does not mean we have the financial resources to save them.

If we cannot secure funding, donations, sponsorships, and community support, we will eventually be forced to leave these kittens and cats on the streets to suffer and die—not because we don’t care, but because we cannot responsibly take in more animals when we cannot afford the medical care they desperately need.

I cannot stand by and watch these babies suffer. I cannot knowingly take them in and then be unable to provide the care they need.

We are asking for help with some very basic medications and preventatives right now.

🐾 Anti-diarrhea medication: approximately $210 posted
🐾 Kitten flea prevention: approximately $80 for one month for just 3 kittens
🐾 We have numerous kittens who will require monthly flea prevention.

And these are just a few of the expenses. Add food, litter, vaccines, deworming, veterinary visits, antibiotics, other medications, supplies, and emergency care, and the cost of caring for rescued animals becomes overwhelming very quickly.

Every dollar matters. Every donation matters. Every sponsorship matters. And every LIKE, SHARE, and COMMENT helps more people see our plea.

If you cannot donate, please share this post. You never know who among your friends, family, coworkers, or local businesses may be willing to help.

These kittens didn’t choose the streets. They didn’t choose to become sick. They deserve a chance to live healthy, safe lives—and we are fighting to give them that chance.

❤️ Please help us continue saving them.
🐾 Please donate if you can.
📢 Please share if you cannot.

We cannot save them without you.

Cooties Rescued Cuties
Zelle
708-250-7117

PayPal
https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/cootiesrescuedcuties?country.x=US&locale.x=en_

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/321S9R9O0HY1L?ref_=wl_share

08/24/2026

We have a cancellation appt for TNR tomorrow?? Who has a cat and can get it to me before 530pm?? I am working on a pregnant feral cat right now, but if I am unable to trap her, I can take in another feral cat. You must have the money when you drop the cat off to me or your feral cat will not be going in for surgery. 
Drop off at the Rescue with your name on the trap and the exact location the cat came from. Drop off address is 3100 Hopkins Street Steger, IL 60475 or you can text me 7082507117 for more information. 

08/23/2026

It’s been 3 days since ANY of the cats have been seen or come to eat at the colony in South Heights. The food bowls are still full and so are the water bowls. The mayor of South Heights had told me and other people that he wanted all of the strays and feral animals in his town killed and we have video evidence of the gentleman who lives in the alley saying that he was killing the cats and Kittens from this colony so I’m assuming they didn’t just move out to a different area since they’ve been here for 30+ years.

08/23/2026

📣 Join the movement for stronger animal protection laws in Illinois 🙏

Every day, animal rescue organizations work tirelessly to save animals from abuse, neglect and abandonment. But rescue often happens after the suffering has already occurred.

Real, lasting change requires stronger laws.
The Shelly's Law Coalition was created through a partnership between SAYv Animal Organization and Garrido Stray Rescue Foundation to advocate for meaningful animal cruelty law reform in Illinois.

The coalition is named in honor of the five kittens that Thomas Martel tortured and killed. According to court records, each kitten was given the same name — Shelly. We carry that name to honor their lives and to represent every animal whose suffering deserves justice.

The Thomas Martel case exposed significant gaps in Illinois law. Although Martel admitted to animal torture and was sentenced to 4½ years in prison, he received more than 1,000 days of credit for time spent on pretrial home electronic monitoring. As a result, he entered prison and was released the very same day.

The case also highlighted another concern. Although investigators identified five kitten victims, the case ultimately resulted in a guilty plea involving only one of them. Four victims were never accounted for in the final conviction.

We believe Illinois can do better.

The Shelly's Law Coalition is working to strengthen Illinois' animal cruelty laws through education, public awareness, grassroots advocacy, and legislative reform.

Our initial priorities include:
1. Ending prison sentence credit for pretrial home electronic monitoring in felony animal torture cases.
2. Strengthening sentencing laws to better recognize each animal victim in cases involving multiple victims.

But we can't do this alone.
Here's how you can help today:

1️⃣ SIGN THE PETITION
Sign the petition to show Illinois lawmakers there is widespread public support for strengthening our animal cruelty laws.
🔗 https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/shellyslaw

2️⃣ EXPLORE OUR WEBSITE
Explore our website to learn more about the issues, the legislative process, and how you can become an advocate in your own community. We will continue to add resources to the site.
🔗 shellyslaw.org

3️⃣ JOIN US AT THE LAUNCH RALLY EVENT
More details here: 8.8.26 Shelly’s Law Coalition launch event

4️⃣ SHARE OUR MISSION
Share our mission with your friends, family, and fellow animal lovers to help build a statewide movement.

5️⃣ STAY CONNECTED
Our volunteer application will be launching soon, giving supporters new opportunities to help with outreach, community education, petition drives, legislative advocacy, events, and more.

Meaningful legislative change happens when people come together and make their voices heard.

Every signature sends a message that animals deserve stronger protections, meaningful accountability for those who commit acts of cruelty, and laws that recognize every victim.

Together, we can help create a safer future for animals across Illinois.

Justice for every Shelly. Stronger protections for every animal.

08/23/2026

THIS is why Shelly’s Law matters.

You may look at this photo and see a man. We see the face of a coward. A face attached to a case that shocked our community.

Thomas Martel was accused of torturing and murdering multiple kittens. And despite the horrific allegations, he spent just ONE DAY in prison due to “time served” on home electronic monitoring 🤬.

One day.

One day for multiple alleged animal victims, all of whom he reportedly gave the same name: Shelly.

That is not justice.

And it is exactly why we are fighting for Shelly’s Law.

Shelly’s Law would address critical gaps in Illinois law by:
1️⃣ Ending prison sentence credit for pretrial home electronic monitoring in felony animal torture cases
2️⃣ Strengthening sentencing when multiple animals are victims of a crime

Animals cannot speak for themselves. They cannot tell a judge what happened to them. They cannot ask for justice.

We have to do it for them.

We cannot change what happened to the animals in this case. But we can fight to make sure the laws meant to protect animals actually do.

This is bigger than one case. This is about changing the law 👏👏.

Follow the Shelly’s Law Coalition, sign the petition, share our message, and help us demand meaningful accountability for animal cruelty in Illinois.

📍MORE INFO: shellyslaw.org
📍PETITION: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/shellyslaw
📍RESOURCES (and more coming soon): shellyslaw.org/resources



PS. Please note that we need to use word “allegedly” when referencing multiple kitten victims because Martel plead guilty to charges associated with one kitten (despite there being proof of multiple victims). We need to use the correct language to be effective in our campaign goals. The fact that he was allowed to plead guilty to charges associated with ONE kitten is exactly why this coalition was created. ❤️

08/22/2026

Releasing Cats After TNR
In good weather, most male and female cats can be released the following day. Because feral cats experience significant stress while in captivity, they should not be held longer than necessary.

During extreme cold weather, or if there have been surgical complications, a cat may need to be held for an additional day or two before release.

One important note about cold temperatures: The longer a cat is held in colder temperatures, the more their body may respond by shedding its winter coat, similar to the natural shedding that occurs in spring.

Returning the Cat to the Trapping Location
When you are ready to release the cat at the same location where they were trapped, position the carrier or trap so the exit is facing an area the cat will recognize.

Uncover the exit door. Most cats will immediately recognize their surroundings and be ready to go home. Others may need a little more time to become aware of where they are. In those cases, uncover a little more gradually and allow the cat to take in the surroundings.

Whenever possible, position the opening toward a hole in a fence, bushes, a shelter, or another protected area. This helps prevent the cat from bolting into an unsafe area or toward traffic. Every situation is different, and you should use your best judgment based on the location.

Give Them Time
Release the cat gently. Do not shake the trap, rush the cat, or create unnecessary agitation. Extra stress can cause a cat to make a poor decision when exiting.

Back away and quietly wait for the cat to come out on their own. Keep an eye on the surrounding area, particularly for street traffic.

When a Cat Refuses to Leave
Occasionally, a cat simply will not get out.

In my experience, this can be an important clue that the cat may not actually be a feral cat accustomed to living outdoors. The cat could be lost, abandoned, or otherwise unfamiliar with life on the streets.

Pay attention to that behavior. Sometimes the cat is telling you something.

TNR is not just about trapping, surgery, and return. It is about observing the individual cat and making the safest decision possible for that cat.