DCIN is an all-volunteer, internet-based rescue/assistance group for diabetic cats. Our passionate, devoted team members are located all over the US and Canada. Please email one of us if you would like to speak by phone; we do not list our phone numbers publicly. For general contact information, please visit our Contact Us page.
Amy Sikes | Executive Director, Development Director, Supplies Manager, Ground Transport Coordinator, Acting Social Media Director, and Board Member
amy@dcin.info, Location: Virginia, matya13 on DCC, DCH, DCI, and FDMB
I fostered two precious diabetic cats, Jibbit and Sunshine. Both came to me completely unregulated. Once they got on insulin, they both improved enormously. 18 YO Jibbit crossed the Bridge in July 2013. Sunshine has finally found her forever home and is doing wonderfully!
Jillian R. | Deputy Director and Board Member
jillian@dcin.info, Location: Colorado
In 2012, I started fostering Deer, who was adopted out in early 2013. He was returned in May 2014 due to being diagnosed with diabetes. I took him back in to foster and quickly had to learn everything I could about feline diabetes. We adopted him shortly thereafter, and he went into remission after five months of being very difficult to regulate – he was on Lantus, Levemir, and then Vetsulin. Since then, I have fostered diabetics Dewey, Aladdin, and Matthew (in addition to some lovely short-term fosters), and adopted Shadow, Jack, and Nonie. I started volunteering with DCIN in 2016 to give back to the community that helped me so much with Deer, and I previously served as DCIN’s Director of Case Management, directing our case managers and intake coordinators and coordinating veterinary care for clients.
Lisa Sorini | Director of Diabetic Cat Rehoming and Board Member
lisa@dcin.info, Location: California, Lisa and Merlyn (GA) on FDMB
My Merlyn was diagnosed in April of 2004, on FDMB by July. He started with glipizide, then PZI from Idexx, then Lantus. By May of 2005 he was in diabetic remission (OTJ) and stayed that way until he passed in 2009. At the end of 2005 I took home diabetic foster Carly. She was only on insulin for a week before going OTJ. I adopted her in April 2007. In 2012, I had lost 2 non-diabetic cats and was recruited by a vet’s office to adopt another diabetic from his family. He had asthma and megacolon and passed away in diabetic ketoacidosis due to his megacolon (intestines stopped working). After losing DCIN adoptees Bear and Sarjenka so close together, I needed another kitty to love and in 2016 I became Mom to DCIN adopted foster cat Sunshine! A year later, I rescued Tayo (rhymes with mayo), my 7th diabetic, from the shelter I worked at that euthanizes diabetics. Sunny passed in early 2020, so I just have Tayo currently.
Tania “T” Hamboyan Harrison | Advisory Director of Case Management and Board Member
thh@dcin.info, Location: Maryland, USA, FDMB: THH & Snowcrash (GA)
As a person with chronic medical issues, I am passionate about caring for cats with medical issues. I learned about DCIN while I was overseeing feline medical at a local rescue that had over 20 diabetic cats during my time there (from January 2016 – January 2020). Through my experience at the rescue, when my own cat Snowcrash was diagnosed with diabetes in 2018 and needed insulin, I felt prepared. Sadly, Snowcrash passed from cancer in January, 2020. I also have experience with many other cat medical issues, such as: IBD, pancreatitis, stomatitis, hyperthyroid, and chronic kidney disease. In addition to my volunteer work at DCIN, I am a certified cat behavior consultant; you can find me at A Cat’s Purrspective, LLC. I’m very excited and honored to be part of the team at DCIN!
Susan Luhrs | Finance Director and Board Member
treasurer@dcin.info, Location: Maine
My Max, aged 13, was diagnosed diabetic in early 2007 and prescribed an oral anti-diabetic drug and Purina dry DM food. After discovering all the excellent information online, I switched Max to Lantus, got him off of dry food, and started testing him at home. My vet worked with me and I got Max into diabetic remission in just a few months. Unfortunately, Max, who LIVED to hunt, went missing that summer. Since then, I have continued my interest in assisting other extra-sweet kitties, including those at nearby HART of Maine.
Jenna Marie Watts | Board Member
jenna@dcin.info, Location: Virginia, PumpkinsMom on FDMB, DCC, DCH and DCI
My cat, Pumpkin, was diagnosed with diabetes after a life-threatening bout of pancreatitis. I have two diabetic DCIN foster cats, Tucker and Sunshine. I have experience treating diabetic cats with Humulin N, Lantus, Levemir, U100 PZI, and U40 PZI.
Isabell Davenport | Assistant Director of Case Management, Case Manager
isd.dcin@gmail.com, Location: Texas
Our extra-sweet Melvan introduced us to feline diabetes, EPI, and IBS. I read, and read, and read, as I was new to feline diabetes. I didn’t know anything, and I didn’t even know what questions to ask. Melvan was very sickly and only with us for a brief moment in time, unfortunately. He was a true sweetheart who will forever hold a very special place in our hearts. I have continued to educate myself in honor of our little friend. I have also been volunteering with Diabetic Cats in Need to support other families and their kitties new to/with diabetes. Feline diabetes is manageable–when knowing and following certain steps. You can do this; you are not alone!
Chris Ronkoski | Online Community Ambassador and Case Manager
chris@dcin.info, Location: Missouri
In 2013 my cat China had been drinking copious amounts of water and had lost so much weight she was a walking skeleton. When I got her to the vet, I was expecting a diagnosis of hyperthyroid, but was shocked to learn she was diabetic! I’d never even considered that cats could have diabetes! I immediately got online and found the Feline Diabetes Message Board and spent the entire night reading. After a short attempt at changing to low carb canned food, she was still running too high so we started Lantus insulin. It’s been almost 5 years, but she’s doing great and may be heading to remission!!
Becky Van Cleave | Case Manager
becky@dcin.info, Location: California
Heather Rosemann | Case Manager
heather@dcin.info, Location: Minnesota
Eva McDowell | Case Manager – Canada
eva@dcin.info, Location: Ontario, Canada, Eva m on DCC, DCH, and FDMB
Pumpkin was diagnosed with FD in 2008. I am experienced with Caninsulin and Lantus insulins. Pumpkin was well regulated but sadly disappeared in August 2010. I fostered unregulated and obese Flash starting in 2008 and have since adopted him. After five months on a tight regulation protocol with, Flash went into diabetic remission.
Jennifer Banks | Intake and Case Manager – Canada
jennifer@dcin.info, Location: Alberta, Canada
Elizabeth Groves | Intake and Case Management Coordinator
elizabeth@dcin.info, Location: South Carolina
Sweet Panic was diagnosed in March 2019. Hopping from NPH, Vetsulin, ProZinc, and finally Lantus, I became familiar with most insulin types and their unique effects on felines. I was familiar with DCIN early on and wanted to volunteer when I could find the time … when we lost Panic very unexpectedly in May 2020, I found myself with a broken heart and a lot of free time. I reached out to DCIN (who also assisted Panic and I in her final days) and asked to join their team. I now spend my time volunteering both for DCIN and assisting the members on FDMB. Someday soon I hope to take another sugar cat (or two) under my wing, but until then I’ll continue to assist caregivers doing their own “sugar dance”!