The bond between cats and the humans who care for them takes us to the heart of the question of love and power. To whom does the world belong: to the healer or the destroyer? Is it kindness that holds the world together or ruthless power? The stray, lost and hurt cats of Chautauqua County in western New York State and the people who look out for them would answer: it is love and hope that sustain us. In the face of daily reminders of human cruelty towards the weak and defenseless, these feline rescuers and advocates hold on to the values of compassion, caring and wisdom. And the cats respond with trust, putting the traumas they have been through behind them, bringing happiness and grace with them to their forever homes.

This is essentially a book of cat stories, of rescues funny, tragic and heroic, of the planning and care that goes into running a shelter, and the indomitable spirit of the people and the cats. Helpers and Healers. A book of cat rescues is a tribute to the hard work and kindness of a group of cat rescue and advocates in western New York. In the end, the answers are very simple. We've even known them for a long time. What's difficult is the doing. It takes kindness, but also courage and wisdom.

A portion of the royalties from this book will be used to support cat shelters and advocacy efforts