Oakley women found, run No Paws Left Behind Kitty Rescue

Robin Ryder and Julie Cook, of Oakley, are committed to helping stray cats and kittens full-time with their No Paws Left Behind Kitty Rescue, but Ryder’s passion for cats and all creatures great and small started long ago.

“When I was around 5, I watched my playmates’ parents abuse their family pets. I knew it wasn’t right, but no one would listen to me or adults chose to look the other way,” said Ryder. “I knew one day I would do what I could to make a difference.”

She started her nonprofit in 2021 with Cook, who is its vice president, and since then her team of volunteers has adopted out more than 150 cats, some of which required more than $2,000 in medical costs to save. Quite possibly a modern-day Dr. Dolittle, Ryder currently has 16 cats of her own and nine foster cats.

“I don’t sleep much anymore,” Ryder notes, saying that sleep is over-rated for her since her cats are nocturnal.

With eight full-time volunteers and more than a dozen part-timers, together they trap, neuter and release (called “TNR” in the pet-rescue world) cats in Pittsburg, Brentwood, Antioch, Oakley, Discovery Bay, Concord, Tracy, Lodi and more. Cook, who retired last month from working in special education for 21 years in Brentwood, said she volunteers her time because she’s always loved cats and now loves educating others about them.

“When I’m out in the community and teach the importance of fixing their pets and cats in their neighborhood, it’s rewarding,” Cook said. “As well as helping people when they find a new kitten and helping them understand how to take care of them.”

Concord resident Traci Cross became the nonprofit’s volunteer administrator last spring. By day, she works for Alameda County Behavioral Health Care.

“I do this on the side, among many other volunteer things,” she said.

Cross first met Ryder at Pet Food Express in Concord last January, when she adopted Sadie, a blue-eyed, light-colored kitten.

“A few weeks earlier, we had to put down our 12-year-old cat unexpectedly. We were not planning to get another cat since we already had two at home, ages 15 and 3,” said Cross.

Five months later, her family fostered six 4-week old kittens. She says adopting from a trustworthy rescue group is important.

“Robin and the team take very good care of their cats,” she said. “All cats are part of the household and socialized with their families, whether that’s kids, adults, other cats or dogs. By the time the cats are ready for adoption, they are completely socialized.”

Born in San Leandro and living in Contra Costa County since 1989, Ryder, who was in marketing before becoming a mom of two kids, talks about her long-term goal.

“My ultimate goal is to have a sanctuary,” she said. “These kitties have no voice and no rights, so I have dedicated my life to speak for them and provide all that I can — with the opportunity to have a loving home, full bellies and to be free of the abuse they face daily.”

A low birth rate is high on Ryder’s priority list for her rescue group.

“The goal is to stop the cycle of unnecessary litters from even happening, which is why my passion for TNR is strong,” she said.

Ryder noted that every year millions of cats are euthanized, millions are killed by cars and between 50 to 70 million are feral. So front-and-center on her website are the words “Don’t Shop. Adopt.”

“There is no need to shop for a cat when there are millions available to adopt,” said Ryder.

Cook stresses the importance of adopting from trusted organizations.

“People should adopt from No Paws because all of our kittens are part of our families as soon as they enter our homes,” she said. “We spend so much time with them getting to know their personalities and making sure they find their perfect matched family.”

Ryder, who does not pay herself, said her nonprofit accepts donations throughout the year and hosts two annual yard sales, in the spring and summer, to raise funds for the group.

“Not many people can afford monetary donations, but they always have stuff to donate,” Ryder said. “These sales are by far our biggest fundraisers, and all funds are used for medical care, which is about 80% of our expenses.”

Ryder advises people who want to adopt cats to protect their safety by keeping them indoors only, taking them to routine health check-ups, getting them microchipped and keep the information on the cats’ microchips current.

“Your kitty is a part of your family who relies on you for everything and is not just an animal,” said Ryder.

She offers tips for handling feral cats as well, advising that besides feeding them to contact local shelters and ask about their free TNR services.

“When you start seeing multiple cats, get help,” she said. “Waiting too long will only make things worse when kittens are being born.”

Ryder is grateful for her dedicated volunteer staff and for local pet supply stores.

“Without our fosters, who love these kitties like they’re part of their own family, we couldn’t do what we do,” she said. “Thanks to our rescue partners, PetSmart and Pet Food Express, we are able to hold weekly adoption events, where we find ‘purr-fect’ homes for the kitties in our rescue.”

For more information about No Paws Left Behind Kitty Rescue, visit nopawsleftbehindkittyrescue.com online or email rescue@nopawsleftbehindkittyrescue.com.

Charleen Earley is a freelance writer and journalism professor at Foothill and Diablo Valley colleges. Reach her at charleenbearley@gmail.com or 925-383-3072.