Volunteer Program
Jill’s Next Door Feline Alliance Program (FAP) is a self-funded feline advocacy and cat adoption program dedicated to supporting Florida’s cat population. Working in alliance with local pet rescues throughout Broward and Palm Beach Counties, FAP helps cats in need through rescue support, adoption assistance, and community outreach.
In addition to hands-on support, the Feline Alliance Program hosts fundraisers, raises public awareness, and brings the community together to improve the lives of cats. FAP is on call to assist individuals and rescue organizations with cat care needs, offering guidance, resources, and support every step of the way.
About Jill MERJESKI
Jill founded the Feline Alliance Program (FAP) after years of fostering, fundraising, and building strong partnerships with local rescues. Her mission is to support often overlooked community cat colonies and provide guidance to individuals seeking help with cat rescue. Through these efforts, FAP positively impacts thousands of cats each year, strengthening feline welfare and community education across South Florida.
CAT COLONY FEEDER
Jill began her rescue efforts after recognizing South Florida’s severe cat overpopulation crisis. While caring for vulnerable community cat colonies, she focused on reducing overbreeding through responsible management. To further her impact, Jill became a Certified Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) Professional through the Animal Rescue Professionals Association, strengthening her ability to humanely protect and stabilize local cat populations.
HOME KITTEN NURSERY
As Jill’s foster and adoption numbers continued to grow, she established a dedicated in-home kitten nursery designed to support cats and kittens of all ages and needs. The nursery features wall-mounted cat mazes, pack-and-plays, playpens, enrichment toys, and specialized equipment for neonatal care. Supplies include bottle-feeding essentials, heat lamps, heating pads, medications, and precision weight scales, ensuring vulnerable kittens receive proper warmth, nutrition, monitoring, and enrichment during every stage of development.
FOSTER HOME CERTIFIED
While helping trap vulnerable cats, Jill recognized that many of these felines needed more than colony care—they needed forever homes. She went on to foster more than 300 cats and kittens, providing safe shelter, proper nutrition, and essential medical care while carefully matching each one with a loving family. To further support rescue efforts, Jill became an ARPA Certified Foster Home, reinforcing her commitment to responsible, high-quality feline care and adoption.
EDUCATION
As the Feline Alliance Program (FAP) continued to expand, Jill invested in advancing her cat care education and professional expertise to better serve both rescue cats and client felines. She completed multiple online cat care courses, specializations, and certifications, strengthening her knowledge in feline behavior, health, and enrichment. The skills gained through PSI’s Cat Care Specialization Program are an integral part of her daily care practices, ensuring a higher standard of compassionate, informed, and professional care for every cat she supports.
JILL'S NEXT DOOR GIVES BACK
As a self-funded nonprofit initiative, the Feline Alliance Program (FAP) is supported by a percentage of proceeds from Jill’s Next Door (JND). These funds are directly reinvested into caring for foster cats and community cat colonies, including food, supplies, medical care, and monetary donations to rescue partners. We are also deeply grateful for and proudly accept donations from our generous community, which help us continue making a meaningful impact on cats in need throughout Palm Beach and Broward Counties.
EVENTS & SPONSORSHIPS
Jill’s Next Door proudly sponsors and volunteers at local animal rescue events held annually throughout Palm Beach County. Giving back to the rescue community is at the heart of what we do, and we are honored to support events that raise awareness, funding, and adoption opportunities for animals in need. Learn more about the community events we sponsor and support and how we stay actively involved in helping local rescues make a difference. You can read more about of events here.
RESCUE BUSINESS MODEL
FUNDRAISE & BUILD
Jill, along with team member Tony Sakal, founded a residential cat farm in Loxahatchee, Florida as part of the Feline Alliance Program (FAP). Through community fundraising, FAP raised over $2,500 to build a secure catio (cat patio) shelter designed specifically for disabled, senior, and unadoptable cats rescued through the program.
This enclosed catio provides a safe, predator-proof environment while allowing cats to enjoy fresh air, enrichment, and consistent daily and medical care. The project also supported the local community by providing paid work for volunteers during the pandemic lockdown.
To recognize the generosity of supporters, FAP proudly displays a dedication plaque honoring catio donors, celebrating the compassion and commitment that make this lifesaving sanctuary possible.
PET ADOPTION ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR
The Pet Adoption Advocate Award, presented by Pet Sitters International, recognizes Jill Merjeski of Delray Beach, Florida for her dedicated efforts to help feral cats and for her continued commitment to promoting pet adoption throughout South Florida. Through hands-on rescue work and online pet advocacy, Jill has raised awareness, supported local rescues, and helped countless cats find safety and loving homes.
PETATARIAN OF THE YEAR
IBPSA’s Petatarian Award honors an individual, company, or organization that has demonstrated exceptional leadership and impact in the pet care industry through humanitarian efforts, animal welfare initiatives, education, and overall industry advancement. This prestigious award recognizes those who go above and beyond to improve the lives of pets while elevating standards within the pet care profession.
BRANDY EVERINGTON
FAP Rescue Alliance Coordinator
MISS PAT, ANIMAL RESCUE FORCE
TONY SAKAL
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
