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 provides a haven for homeless senior cats to receive the love and care they deserve and live the rest of their days in comfort. Our goal is to open a facility for senior cats in Albuquerque, NM, to help more cats in need. We also strive to help as many cats as we can through our programs including:
1. Senior Cats For Senior Laps, which pairs senior citizens with a senior cat companion while June’s covers the veterinary care costs
2. Help Meowt, which provides financial assistance for veterinary expenses to help keep owned cats from being surrendered and help spay and neuter community cats.
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.
Joyce Courtin, Board Member
Joyce Courtin is currently a “Technical Reporting Specialist III” (Data Geek) at Blue Cross Blue Shield. 
She has been an animal lover her entire life, having grown up with dogs, parakeets, gerbils, fish, rabbits & various other critters. Ironically, she never had a cat until she was an adult, but she loves their independence and ‘no nonsense’ attitude. She currently has a mix of dogs & cats, all rescues.
Joyce has always had a soft spot for the underdog, so helping with an underserved group like senior cats is right up her alley. She adopted one of her dogs as a 6 year old and her latest cat as an owner returned 10 year old, so it is something close to her heart.
You will also find her passing out water bottles & ‘snack packs’ to the homeless population of Albuquerque.
She brings her compassion, but also business sense to the mix, having run her own consulting business. Her stint as a Real Estate Agent will also come in handy as we search for a facility.
In the 4 months since she became a foster volunteer, she has helped at a garage sale, book sale, animal transport, outreach & with spreadsheets (go figure).
Konrad Juengling, Board Member
Konrad is a new addition to the JSCR board as of 2023. One of his passions is adopting senior rescue cats, which all of his pets have been. He currently has Rucifee, a 14-year-old tortoiseshell named after 
the cat in Cinderella; and Mr. Chonkers, a 16-year-old orange tabby with diabetes. After his current two kitties pass, which will hopefully be many years from now, he is interested in cat hospice adoption.
Konrad earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Sex, Gender, and Queer Studies from Portland State University. He also earned a Master’s in Social Work (MSW) from Boise State University. Professionally he focuses on non-profit social work.
Konrad enjoys reading with his kitties on his lap, genealogy, and discovering new Thai restaurants.
Vickie Harvey, Board Member
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.
OUR DIRECTORS
Sarah Beans, Development Director
OUR ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Anna Edwards, Advisory Committee
Kitty Stewart, Advisory Committee