10/08/2026
A note from Debra:
About My Mother...
If you did not know my mother Maris, you would be hard pushed to understand her passion and determination when it came to her family and her animals.
As a child, she was 100% determined to buy a horse, and knowing there was no money to go buy a horse, she plucked soda bottles from a Jacksonville beach. She never gave up hope and after a lot of hard work and dedication, two years and $60 later, at 10 years old, my mother was the proud owner of Buena, a quarter horse.
Buenas barn was right next to her bedroom window, so my mom being my mom, would open up her bedroom window, so she could touch her and talk to her at night,
From pet kinkajous and donkeys to the pair of chickens who shared her childhood Washington, D.C., apartment, caring for animals was my mothers passion.
From her time as a barrel racer in Arizona, to meeting my father Charlie on a DC tennis court, and eloping at 18, my mother and father were made for each other, and with two toddlers (myself and my brother Kevin), they took on the running of Cherry Lane Kennels, one of Marylands largest boarding kennels for 40 years. My mother and my father shared a love that was beyond all others and they both dedicated their lives to animals and their welfare long before they relocated to florida and "retired".
While enjoying Florida, retirement did not sit well with my parents and missing her work with the animals, my mother contacted Ellie Booth, a Hobe Sound resident who looked after Jupiter Island's stray cat colonies asking her; "Do you need any help?'
And that was the end of retirement and the start of Domino's..
When officials blocked access to Jupiter Island due to hurricanes, some of the cats died, this broke my mothers heart and so, with Ellies help, she started Domino's House in 2001 to give the survivors a home.
The rest as they say is history.
Through advocating for the cats in work groups and in meetings with local and state reperesentatives such as our now current Governor Ron DeSantis, through TNR programs, to colony care and management, through rescues, sanctuary and adoptions, my mother helped thousands of cats over the past 25 years and I could not be more proud to be her daughter.
Domino's celebrate 25 years as Domino's House now in 2026 and will celebrate 25 years as an incorporated 501 (c)(3) in 2027.
It was my mothers final hope and wish that we keep Domino's running, and that my friends is why we now turn to you for your help.
Please help us honor the last wishes of the most incredible "Cat Lady".
The lady who, after the loss of her husband of 62 years, after a broken hip, after a fractured spine, after lung cancer (genetic, not through smoking), after 8 strokes and after 3 heart attacks, and 3 codes, all over the past 4 years, still got up in the morning, her first question being "How are the cats?"
Help us keep Domino's continue to offer shelter, sanctuary and 2nd chances through adoption to our feline friends, please support Domino's House and Domino's Cat Rescue League in the name of my mother; Rita Maris Sine.
To all of you who called my mother a friend and to all of you who supported her mission and have supported Domino's through these 25 years...from the bottom of my heart.....
Thank you.
Debra Lough
President
Domino's Cat Rescue League
How you can help power our mission:
Donate: Every dollar counts. Contribute now to help us reach our goal.
Share: Share our campaign with your friends, family, and on social media. Your advocacy can amplify our impact.
Volunteer: Your time and skills can make an impact too.
Thank you for supporting our mission, your support is invaluable.
The Maris Sine Memorial Fund for Domino's Cat Rescue honors my mother who in 2001 opened her home and five acres of grass to cats who had nowhere else to go and who never quit fighting for them 🐾.
We are running the fundraiser through Zeffy as that allows Domino's to receive 100% of all funds raised.
Of course, donations by check or cash are also welcome, as are donations of Friskies Pate, Friskies Shreds in Gravy and Purina Complete Cat Chow.
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/the-maris-sine-memorial-fund
Secure check donation mailing address:
Domino's Cat Rescue League
PO Box 1608
Palm City
FL 34990
Donation via Paypal: paypal.me/Dominosrescue
Donations of food and in person donations:
Domino's House
4546 SW Honey Terrace
Palm City
FL 34990
email: [email protected]
Contact numbers: (808) 339-1944 ~ (850) 293-6004
All donations made to Domino's House/Domino's Cat Rescue League are tax-deductible.
501(c)(3)
EIN 81-0582632
FDACS Licenced : CH19433
