MARCH 19, 2021, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE B3
Friends of Felines moves
to 'mew' Keizer location
By LYNDON ZAITZ
Of the Keizertimes
Gunner, a black and white male cat, is
roaming new territory.
Gunner is the king of the Salem
Friends of Felines (SFoF) shelter, and
he has a new address in Keizer. He is
the only cat allowed out of a cage and
allowed to roam freely, but he’s charac-
teristically aloof about his status. Gunner
will abide a friendly petting without fuss
and mentors kittens after they arrive for
adoption.
For humans wanting to add a four-
legged friend to their home, that task is
now easier with the relocation of SFoF to
its new Cherry Avenue site.
After more than 10 years at its
Commercial Street storefront and shelter
location, management and volunteers
moved cats in recent weeks. Even though
new space is equal in size to its former
home, it allows for more rooms for visi-
tation and quarantining when necessary.
Their new address is in Keizer, but the
name will not change.
Salem Friends of Felines is a no-kill
shelter and there is no time limit for how
long a cat can stay.
“We do adopt kittens very quickly,”
said board president Karla Canida, “But
we do struggle at times to fi nd forever
homes for our older cats.” The move
to a new site will make the cats more
ABOVE: Shelter manager Teri Long
holds Earl Grey.
LEFT: Gunner is the shelter’s king.
Photo by LYNDON ZAITZ of Keizertimes
comfortable while awaiting adoption.
According to shelter manager Teri
Long, the non-profi t is adopting more
older cats than in recent times. Salem
Friends of Felines saw a big increase
in adoption beginning last April, just
as the state was closing down due to
COVID-19. The pandemic also changed
the way the shelter operates. They now
make appointments for adoptions which
helps keep the staff safe and following all
COVID procedures easier.
The organization has two manage-
ment personnel and a number of volun-
teers, some of whom oversee the Thrift
Store, which is next door to the shelter.
Long said that volunteers for the shelter
and the Thrift Store are always needed as
are volunteers to foster kittens.
The shelter is open by appointment
only from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday
through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on
Sunday. Call 503-362-5611 for an appoint-
ment. The Thrift Store is scheduled to
be open for business by the middle of
March, if not sooner.
Salem Friends of Felines is located at
4157 Cherry Avenue N. The Thrift Store
is located at 4155 Cherry Ave. N.
More rooms at the Cherry Avenue
location provides the shelter with des-
ignated sick and quarantine spaces; all
cats brought into the shelter are quaran-
tined for a few days to assure there are no
health issues before they are placed with
other cats.
The mission of Salem Friends of Feline
sremains the same: focusing on placing
cats in forever homes and helping reduce
cat overpopulation with a low-cost spay
and neuter voucher program.
Fire chief marks 40 years
Keizer Fire District Chief Jeff Cowan
marked his 40th year in the public safety
fi eld this week.
The Oregon-native began his career as
an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
on March 17, 1981 in Oregon City with
Willamette Falls Ambulance. He even-
tually achieved his Oregon Paramedic
Certifi cation in 1983 and his National
Registry Paramedic Certifi cation in 1984.
When he began in 1981, calling 9-1-1
and EMS were new ideas at the time. Fire
departments didn’t embrace ambulance
services and emergency patient care at
fi rst. Paramedic standards of patient care
were developing while new advanced sur-
gical skills were required.
Working in Portland during the 1980s,
racial tensions, drug use, and police
clashes were common. In 1985, Cowan was
hired in Kitsap County, Wash.
In Washington, Cowan served in the
fi re service for 23 years and progressed
through the ranks of lieutenant, captain,
battalion chief, and assistant chief. He
returned to Oregon landing in Keizer in
2008 to serve as the fi re chief. Cowan’s
career saw technology advancements such
as digital electronic communications, GPS
mapping, and better diagnostic equipment
and procedures.
“As you can imagine, all the historical
events that spanned 1981-2021 and there
were wars, 9/11, pandemics, confl agrations,
fi res, and tragedies," Cowan recalled.
“In my career, I have always been part of
a team of rescuers that were there to make
things better. While I have memories that
span decades, it is the people I served with
and for, that give me the most satisfaction.
We were always there to help.”
Cowan began his career at the age of
19. He has three college degrees; a para-
medic degree, a fi re science degree, and
one in management and administration.
He remains a licensed paramedic. Cowan
has served as a chief fi re offi cer since 1997.
Cowan says being a Dad is still his best
achievement. He has raised three grown
sons, Julius, Bret, and Ryan. He and two of
his sons reside in Keizer.
Keizer Fire Chief Jeff Cowan now and in 1984.
Submitted photos
BRIAN & APRIL McVAY
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