For 14 years, Jill Cornwell has entered Golden Gate Fields at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesdays, flashing her license to feed badge at a security guard and avoiding the early morning traffic of large hay trucks, horse trailers and tractors. Volunteers like Cornwell walk over a mile around the track to nine feeding stations for the cats, showing a daily commitment to their care. This program has operated for over 15 years, continuing even after the track's closure.
The cat population in Golden Gate Fields consists of barn cats, feral cats and cats that were abandoned by their former owners. While some cats avoided the volunteers, former volunteer Shelly Mandel recalls counting over 60 cats in the racetrack on one rainy day. Volunteers are officially licensed as cat feeders, fingerprinted, and receive clearance and badges to care for these cats.
Eight volunteers have been working morning shifts to monitor the cats since the track officially closed in June. They are actively seeking homes for the cats in barns or any property that wants to be rodent-free. Berkeley Animal Care Services (BACS) is collaborating with the volunteers to create flyers for cats that have been neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped but remain without homes.
This is a huge area in animal welfare that I think doesn't get looked at; it's these animals that aren't dangerous to anyone, but they are often overlooked in discussions about stray and feral cats. The work done by volunteers at Golden Gate Fields exemplifies the dedication to ensuring these cats are cared for and find suitable homes.
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