Song makes paw-sitive input for the less fur-tunate
PLYMOUTH, Mich. – By day, she’s an engineer, working in the auto industry. By night, she’s a fashion designer with the unusual mission of saving cats.
Dina Song has taken her love of cats to a new level by creating a business that gives back to cat-rescue organizations. She launched Miau Miau Clothing Co., a brand that focuses on cat-inspired, high-quality, trendy apparel and accessories.
Song, 47, has an engineering degree and an MBA. She works full time for an automotive wire harness supplier but started her own business in 2018 because she wanted to make a difference and advocate for homeless cats and kittens.
Song launched her website and runs the business out of her Plymouth home as her second job.
“I’ve worked in automotive – in purchasing, engineering and now in sales – with all those experiences I thought, ‘You know what? I want to do something on my own,’ ” Song told the Detroit Free Press. “On top of that, I want to make a positive impact and give back and this was my avenue to do it.”
How it began
It started when Song rescued a litter of kittens and their mother a few years ago in Plymouth, Michigan.
“We found a kitten at my mom’s house and it had to be bottle-fed. A couple of days later, the mother started bringing the other kittens out. Because the other kittens were so fearful, we actually had to trap them.”
It took several weeks to rescue the animals because feral cats run from humans.
“It was a very long process. Going over there every day and setting traps and seeing if we could catch them just to help them.”
“I am committed to grow the Miau Miau Clothing Co. brand and give a portion of our profits to no-kill cat rescues, and feral cat Trap-neuter-return programs throughout the United States.”
Cat rescue
According to the Ferndale Cat Shelter, a Trap-neuter-return program is when stray cats are trapped and brought to a veterinary clinic. They’re spayed or neutered, vaccinated for rabies if needed and ear-tipped, which is a universal sign of a neutered or spayed feral cat.
After recovery, the cats are returned to their original territory, where a caretaker provides regular food and shelter. The felines can also be put up for adoption.
This stabilizes the population of cats in the community.
Giving back
Song started Miau Miau to give back to the rescue organizations that give their time and money to help save cats. That’s why a portion of the company’s profits, 10% to 25%, is donated to no-kill cat rescues and Tnr/adopt programs.
“Miau Miau Clothing Co. donated merchandise for online auctions and even proceeds from sales to our organization,” said Shari Wilcox, founder of Michigan Orphan Kitten Rescue.
Wilcox founded the organization in 2012 to save neonatal kittens that have been orphaned because they have to be bottle-fed. This age group is the largest group that is euthanized because they have to be fed every 3 hours or so.
Wilcox was thankful for the donation and hope more people become aware of their project.
Song will also be supporting MOKR’S online auction fundraiser in April.