Today we’d like to introduce you to Kim Pierce.
Hi Kim, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Long before there was a Bush Presidential Library (opened 2013), there was University Gardens, a condominium complex next to the Southern Methodist University campus. I lived in those condominiums and fed three community cats. Even after l moved (after SMU bought us out), I continued to feed my threesome at the empty condominiums.
One day, I found the feeder moved and a note in its place. The head volunteer with the SMU campus cat program wrote “Dear Good Samaritan…” She wanted to bring my threesome into the campus program, so she was moving the feeding station gradually toward campus. I was thrilled at this and figured the least I could do was volunteer with the program.
At that time, there were close to 100 cats on campus and a tiny cadre of volunteers providing bare-bones care.
Today, it’s quite a different story. There are fewer cats due to natural attrition and a determined TNR (trap-neuter-return) effort, and more student, staff, faculty, and community volunteers to provide care. Currently, that’s about 15 part-time volunteers to feed, water, and provide shelter for about 35 cats. We also monitor for health issues, new cats on campus, and even wildlife issues. We’re known collectively as the Feral Cat Group at SMU, with our own Facebook and Instagram pages.
We have cats on the main campus and at the East Campus, which is near the Barr-McMillion Natatorium on SMU Boulevard east of North Central Expressway.
We do not publicize the program nor show exactly where the cats are located because part of our mandate is to care for the kitties discreetly. So, we keep a very low profile.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
There have been challenges. At one point, there was an effort to terminate the program and relocate the cats to farm-like setting. But this was not to be. Besides creating a public backlash – you’d be amazed how many people love and support the cats – it was determined that the cats simply couldn’t all be trapped. It was decided that the better route was to carefully monitor and manage the population.
And that’s what we’ve done since. Quietly and discreetly.
Now the biggest challenges have been feeding the cats (every night except Saturday) no matter what – from the pandemic (when the campus was on lockdown) to harrowing weather conditions. We are lucky to have volunteers who are determined to make sure there’s food and water for these animals who depend on us.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I have worked with the campus cat program throughout the 2000s during my career as a newspaper journalist – on staff and as a contributor at the Dallas Morning News and Edible Dallas & Fort Worth through 2020. I wrote extensively about farmers’ markets and other locavore trends as well as food, restaurants, and health. I like to think I helped people learn more about how their food is produced and how to support local, sustainable growers.
Lately, I am most proud of publishing my first novel last year. “My Dead True Love” is based on the true story of what happened to me when my fiancé died suddenly in 1998 (https://mydeadtruelove.com). Yes, I’m working on a sequel. And, of course, there are cats in the story: Woodward and Bernstein.
What makes you happy?
Cats! I do love cats so much. I love all animals, but felines have a special place for me. I have three at home, and they are so different but entertaining in their own ways. All-black Coco is our “clown” cat, the one most likely to counter-surf (a no-no), knock things over, and generally wreak havoc. Elder Buttercup, the buff tabby, is our Velcro cat – always wanting to cuddle and step up for meet ‘n’ greet duties. Luigi is our baby/special needs brown tabby whom I rescued as a five-week-old in the middle of a busy street – moments from death. He’s part dwarf and has some health issues. We love them all.
Besides the SMU program, I also help friends with cat issues and support Cat Behavior Solutions as well as East Lake Pet Orphanage. I love helping others with cats.
Beyond cats, I love to cook and to eat out at restaurants that do food well. I was heartbroken when Homewood closed.
I also love being at the beach – especially on Vancouver Island, Canada.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mydeadtruelove.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kpauthor123/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085084524074
Image Credits
Alfonso Cevola
