Our Story
When my mother, June, passed away she had a senior cat named “Ninety Nine.” No one in our family wanted her, so I decided to drive to California to get Ninety Nine. On the long drive home, I decided that I had to do something to help the senior cats who are left homeless when their owner passes away or becomes too ill to care for them. That’s when June’s Senior Cat Rescue was born. Thanks, Mom for inspiring me to help the seniors!
Janet Philippsen, Founder/President
Our Mission
June’s Senior Cat Rescue’s (JSCR) mission is to provide a haven for homeless senior cats throughout New Mexico to receive the love and care they deserve while living the rest of their days in comfort. JSCR offers lifesaving and lifelong care for senior cats, as they are often overlooked for adoption, languish in shelters, or are euthanized before their time, simply because of their age. In addition to saving senior cats, JSCR also strives to help as many cats as possible through outreach programs including:
- Help Meowt – which provides financial assistance for veterinary expenses to keep owned cats from being surrendered and helps spay and neuter community cats.
- Senior Cats For Senior Laps – which pairs senior citizens with a senior cat companion while JSCR covers the veterinary care costs, food, and litter.
- Furever Foster – which places senior cats in permanent foster homes while JSCR covers the veterinary care costs.
JSCR also provides educational information to the public about proper care for cats, especially as they age, and shares resources available through various sources.
Our Vision
To create a world where senior cats are no longer discarded or overlooked, but are instead appreciated, valued, and desired for the extraordinary souls they are.
Our Rescue
We are an all volunteer organization dedicated to rescuing senior cats from high kill shelters.
Our Board
Janet Philippsen, Executive Director
Janet has been involved in animal rescue since 1991 where she has volunteered for many different 
rescue groups. When her mother died in 2005, she decided she wanted to help senior cats and in 2013 her dream became a reality when JSCR became a nonprofit. Janet’s ultimate goal is to open a retirement facility for senior cats and to provide a safe place for cat guardians to leave their cats after their death.
Vickie Harvey, Board Member – Volunteer, Foster and Adoption Coordinator
Vickie Harvey has been active in rescue since she moved to California in 2000. She would walk her dog
and noticed all the cats and kittens living outside. She noticed the many litters of kittens and when at the vet’s office one day she saw a flyer for Alley Cat Guardians. She immediately got involved and went door to door to help people spay and neuter their cats and find homes for the kittens. She became the adoption director for friendly cats and engaged in humanely trapping feral cats to lessen the community cat population. She is excited to join June’s Senior Cat Rescue as a board member and help the Albuquerque animal and human community.
Katie Terra, Board Member
Katie is an animal lover who has supported various animal rescue organizations for most of her adult life. She felt called to join the JSCR board after noticing how similar the JSCR origin story is to her own recent experience of rescuing the cat of a family member who had passed away before making arrangements for the cat’s care. She always shares her home with several senior cats and dogs and is so excited to help make a difference for other senior kitties in New Mexico.
OUR DIRECTORS
Sarah Beans, Development Director
Sarah, an Albuquerque native, has always had a heart for
helping animals in need. She was drawn to rescue work from a young age, but her passion truly blossomed when she discovered June’s Senior Cat Rescue in 2017. What began as a foster role quickly evolved into a deeper commitment: she joined the board in 2018 and now serves as the Development Director. Sarah continues to foster cats for JSCR, embodying her unwavering dedication to improving the lives of senior felines and advancing the JSCR mission forward with enthusiasm and compassion.
OUR ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Christina Kulage, DVM, Honorary Board Member
Dr. Christina Kulage was born and raised in Lubbock, Texas.
She attended Texas A&M University (Whooop!) for both her undergraduate degree in Biomedical Science and Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine. After graduating, she continued her Texas roots by practicing medicine in the Texas Panhandle before transplanting to the Land of Enchantment.
While she strives to be the most well-rounded doctor possible, her true passions are in dentistry and internal medicine. Dr. Kulage believes the single most important aspect to medicine is her client and patient relationships. Her favorite part of practicing medicine is forming strong bonds and supporting both pets and their owners through all stages of life.
She shares her “habitat” with her husband Zak and four furry critters. She enjoys traveling to as many places as possible, skiing, scuba diving and is always down for a good winery.