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FUNDACIÓN VALENTINA

Playwright and producer Myrna Casas, right, is presented  the Guillermo Rosales Award for Lifetime Service to Animals. The award was presented by Valentina Rosebushes and Peggy Ann Bliss, left, at a special ceremony at Hostería del Mar. The award given for the first time by Fundación Valentina, is named after the foundation's co-founder, actor Guillermo Rosales.  Myrna now houses 29 homeless cats and has saved hundreds more over the last three decades. As part of the special honor, she was serenaded by violinist Elena Sherbanesco, who presented Myrna with her latest CD "Con amor," of danzas of Puerto Rico executed by her all-woman string group Venusz.

“Valentina, Olé!” ushers in our spokescat’s special month

Valentina, Olé! was a huge success, with an evening of beautiful music, delicious food from the Spanish restaurants and wine and good company.
 
This is puppy love for Jacques Le Noir and Peggy Ann Bliss as they discover baby Nestlé who was abandoned at a Catano warehouse where we get our  Fancy Feast for the island cats.
We collected enough money to save several cats and a few dogs, but much more must be done.
The gala on Jan. 17 with tenor Rafael Dávila and sopranos Melliangee Pérez, Alfonsina Molinari and Magda Lupeschi was an orgy of beautiful sounds, and not one catfight.
 
Valentina looked beautiful in her new pink grosgrain leash with pink and white rosettes on it.
 
Julio Suárez and Cecilia Talavera did yeomen’s work on the piano.
 
The program featured selections from Spanish zarzuela and opera such as "El Gato Montés,"   (The Mountain Cat) and other fun and romantic Spanish music. Alfonsina serenaded Valentina with “My Funny Valentine,” and Magda sang “Habanera” (l’amour, l’amour) to her also. Both sopranos were thrilled to see Valentina’s face so grateful for the special attention. And we were thrilled to have them sing for us. Rafael and Meliangee, as always, sang sublimely, especially in the beautiful cathedral with its excellent acoustics.
  
Over the years, the snowshoe cat whose infected paw we saved from amputation has visited schools, libraries, malls, hospitals and other venues where children and adults have learned about the beauty and patience of cats.
 
With her blue eyes and the star on her forehead, and especially her pristine white paws, she has become a symbol for love and compassion to cats, dogs and all animals.
 
Ever since her first book "Valentina, Una Historia de Amor, A Love Story," which was released Dec. 7, 1997, and her second story, sold with a T shirt about her surviving Hurricane Georges, her fans have been clamoring for a sequel.
 
At 60 years old in human years; Valentina is still a young kitten. She hasn't changed much, except for her weight and activity level. She lives with six male cats, who occasionally lick (groom) her, but she likes snuggling with her mom best. She tolerates Jacques Le Noir, the crazy hyper rescued poodle, who jumps around too much in her majesty’s opinion.
 
Through the foundation, thousands of cats and dogs have been rescued, sterilized and rehabilitated, and later placed in permanent homes either in Puerto Rico or abroad. It is a story Valentina will eventually have to tell.