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.
Jenna Marie Watts | Executive Director and 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.
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.
Amy Sikes | Deputy 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!
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.
Jillian Rosile | Director of Case Management 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, Matthew, and Nonie (in addition to some lovely short-term fosters), and adopted Shadow and Jack. I started volunteering with DCIN in 2016 to give back to the community that helped me so much with Deer, and I am currently DCIN’s Director of Case Management, directing our case managers and intake coordinators and coordinating veterinary care for clients.
Tania “T” Hamboyan Harrison | Case Manager Oversight and Board Member
thh@dcin.info, Location: Maryland, USA, FDMB: thh.30920
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. Through my experience at the rescue, when my own cat Snowcrash was diagnosed diabetic 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, especially IBD, pancreatitis, and stomatitis. I’m very excited to be helping DCIN!
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!!
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.
Wendy Panaro | Case Manager – Wisconsin only
wendy@dcin.info, Location: Wisconsin
I learned of DCIN in 2012 when we adopted our first diabetic, Nelson. I knew nothing about feline diabetes but was willing to learn and I soon found all sorts of resources. My husband and I have since adopted three other diabetic cats–Piper, Oscar, and Leo–all from promotions on the DCIN Facebook page and all in long-distance adoptions. Only Leo is still with us. I am experienced with hometesting and Lantus insulin, and even before joining the DCIN Team I helped local caregivers learn how to care for their newly diagnosed cats. I joined the Team because of my passion for helping even more feline diabetics.
Jennifer Banks | Case Manager – Canada
jennifer@dcin.info, Location: Alberta, Canada
Claudia Keating | Air Transport Coordinator
transport@dcin.info, Location: Ohio
We rescued tiny shy kitten Charlie in 2001 and he grew into a large vocal lap cat. He was diagnosed with diabetes in 2010 and because of his large insulin doses was tested for and found to have Acromegaly. I am experienced with ProZinc and Levemir insulins. Because of Charlie’s Acromegaly, I also am experienced with treating pancreatitis, cardiomyopathy, inflammatory bowel disease, megacolon, diabetic ketoacidosis, and chronic kidney disease. We lost Charlie in June 2015.
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”!