TuxedoCat Ball. Come one and all to the. Just For You! Friday, April 24, SPRING 2015

Transcription

1 Just For You! Operation SnowFix... 3 Fill-A-Truck... 5 A Day in the Life... 6 Tuxedo Cat Ball... 7 Come one and all to the TuxedoCat Ball Friday, April 24, 2015 Cover photo courtesy of Brittani Halbert Photography SPRING 2015

2 Message from our Executive Director A Story of One Cat Not that long ago I received a call from a friend, whom I will call Denise. I have always been an animal lover, Denise shared with me on the telephone, And stray cats seem to just find me wherever I live. One day last fall as I was watering my plants on my porch, I saw a cat in the bushes by the woods. It was a tabby cat that looked far too skinny to me. But, by the way it darted away when I saw it, I could tell that it was not totally tame. So, as fate would have it, my focus shifted to other tasks and quickly forgot about the cat. A few days later I saw the same stray tabby again, and being such a sucker for animals, I started putting a dish of dry cat food near the woods for the cat. Pretty soon the cat was coming every day around 4 o clock for the food. I knew in the back of my mind that I was now the quasi-owner of this cat, because I was responsible for feeding it. But then again, it was a stray cat so how far did my responsibility go especially because living on a fixed income as I do, money is tight for me. By that time, winter was coming and so I started letting the cat come into my apartment occasionally, although he still wanted to go back out, which was fine with me. By the spring, this tabby cat (who by now I was calling Stripes ) still came to my apartment most days. One day, very suddenly, he disappeared for a few weeks, and I was surprised by how much I missed Stripes. Honestly, I found myself waking up in the middle of the night more than once worrying about what had happened to him. Then one afternoon, Stripes trotted up to my porch with five little kittens in tow, which immediately explained the disappearance. She was off having kittens! Suddenly, I felt completely overwhelmed. What had I gotten myself into? Who was going to take care of all these cats? What if she had kittens again and again? I needed help! Now imagine this scenario happening in every apartment complex and behind every shopping center or fast food restaurant in the Triangle except you don t have to imagine it because it is real. We estimate that we may have as many at 160,000 stray cats in our area. 2 The solution to the problem is simple and has been part of SAFE Haven s mission since day one: Spay and neuter as many cats and kittens as we can. In this issue of The Scratching Post we are featuring our SAFE Care Spay/Neuter Clinic, which has sterilized over 19,000 animals since In addition, we are announcing a major new spay/neuter program called Operation SnowFix and highlighting the important work of Operation Catnip, both of which make their home at the SAFE Care Clinic. All three of these programs accomplish the same thing providing affordable sterilization services in our community. Please help us get the word out about these programs so people like Denise can connect with us and help cats like Stripes. There are so many compassionate people who want to be life-savers. Sterilization is the most effective way there is to help every cat have a better life. For Cats. For Life. Pamela Miller Founder/Executive Director

3 Operation is the key word in both Operation SnowFix and Operation Catnip and we are doing operations every day! Snowflake Animal Rescue has awarded a grant of $10,000 to SAFE Haven for Cats to launch Operation SnowFix. The goal is to control pet overpopulation by providing financial assistance to at least 200 pet owners in the community, and SAFE Care Feline Spay/Neuter Clinic will perform the sterilization services. Over 8,500 cats and dogs were euthanized in the Triangle in 2013, according to the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services animal shelter report. Experts agree that spay/neuter is a proven way to reduce pet euthanasia and overpopulation. With this grant we hope to ultimately reduce the number of healthy cats who are euthanized in the Triangle, said Cindy Shears, founder and president of Snowflake Animal Rescue. The sterilization services are available to adult cats, kittens and small dogs up to 15 pounds. Call (919) 872-SAFE (7233) or visit snowflakerescue.org or safehavenforcats.org. What do SAFE Haven for Cats and Operation Catnip have in common? The SAFE Care Clinic! For the last fifteen months, SAFE Haven for Cats has been the home of Operation Catnip. Founded in Raleigh in 1997, Operation Catnip is an all-volunteer organization dedicated to reducing feral and free-roaming unowned cat populations through sterilization. Since November 2013, when this partnership began, OC has completed over 700 spay/neuter surgeries for caretakers of feral colonies. One Sunday a month, Operation Catnip operates a high-volume, no-charge clinic that is funded through donations and volunteer veterinarians, veterinary technicians and trained lay people. This highly efficient team is capable of sterilizing over 60 cats in a matter of hours. Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) is the process of trapping feral cats, neutering, vaccinating, eartipping and returning them to their home location. Through TNR, we can greatly reduce the number of unwanted feral and stray cats, lowering the intake and euthanasia rates at animal shelters and saving tax dollars while providing more space at animal shelters for adoptable cats. TNR also addresses the public health concerns about rabies, and reduces annoying behaviors such as cats fighting and spraying. All cats have the tip of their left ear cropped which identifies them as sterilized. For more information about Operation Catnip, TNR, and the services they provide, visit their website at Lisa Krestalude, President of Operation Catnip 3

4 News Briefs Never too young to get started in Animal Welfare Volunteer instructor Kelly Bolz, pictured here, is heading up a new after school program at the Boys & Girls Club on New Hope Church Road in North Raleigh. Kelly, who will be accompanied by a kitty from SAFE Haven, will be engaging the kids in activities designed to encourage pet ownership, shared responsibility for community cats and the joy of unconditional cat love. 2 Fundraising Events Results & Thanks! Raleigh Auction Thanks to the many, many people who donated collectibles, furniture, and stuff to this event. Without all the hard work of Raleigh Auction & Estate Sales, we would never have raised the nearly $9,500 this event generated. Thanks to Kathy Mitchell, Cheri Faux, Linda Medlin, Lisa York, Joe Veasy and the whole crew, as well as Linda & Adam Roycroft, the SAFE Haven volunteers who put it all together. Gift Wrap Twenty-one dates, six stores, volumes of volunteers, hundreds of feet of wrapping paper and ribbon that s what it took to raise almost $3,000 for the cats at our annual Holiday Gift Wrap at area Barnes & Noble Booksellers. Thanks to everyone who wrapped and to WRay Templeton who organized the whole thing. SAFE Haven Announces 2015 Board of Directors Joining our Board are: Inez Leyden, Janet Hensel, Dee Blake, Tina Haver Currin, Ginger Rice, and Dr. Jenny Bennett. They join our current members Jan Beresford, Lori Langreck, WRay Templeton, Sherry Johnson, and Keith Langreck. First up in 2015 for our Board a new 3-year strategic plan. Oops! In our last Scratching Post we inadvertently left out the thank you to three of our wonderful sponsors from the Catsino Royale event. They are: Thomas Waters at Allstate Insurance Company, the Matheson Law Firm and Jason Benz. Thank you so much. What Will Happen to my Cat? Shirley M. Diefenbach, an attorney from the Estate Planning Group of Walker Lambe, a thirty-year-old Triangle law firm, and Lisa M. Gabriel, President and CEO of Pinafore Wealth Counsel, Inc., are teaming up on March 26 from 6:30-8:00 pm to help demystify some of your questions about caring for your cats after you are gone. Their interactive and light hearted presentation will show you how to set up a simple pet trust, types of charitable gifts that can benefit you, your charity and your heirs, and will help you to begin thinking about what your legacy will be. The event is free (donations gratefully accepted) and open to everyone who wants accessible information on these subjects. To sign up go to or for more information, pam@safehavenforcats.org. Left: Lisa Gabriel Right: Shirley Diefenbach 4

5 The Pet Food Pantry & What the Heck is Fill-A-Truck? The Pet Food Pantry, started in 2012, is the only animal food pantry in the Triangle. The pantry was created to keep citizens from surrendering their pets due to economic constraints, and by providing temporary food for dogs and cats, we re able to give the guardian an opportunity to get on their feet. For many people their pet is the only family that they have, and losing that pet can have a profound effect on a person s mental health. Last year we distributed five tons of food and served 190 cats and 96 dogs. Participants apply online or in person to receive food for their cats, dogs, and even birds for three months at a time. We have participants that have as many as 15 dogs/cats and some that have just one pet. We have no limit set on the number of pets a recipient may have in order to receive food, but the amount they receive is dependent on the amount we have available. We also require that all pets be spayed/ neutered. If they aren t, we will provide no cost spay/neuter for their cats and/or dogs less than 15 lbs. and provide information regarding programs for larger dogs. On average 35% of the households we serve have 6 or more pets. Here s where the Fill-A-Truck comes in... The PFP is supplied by donations from individuals in our community. Approximately six times a year we have a Fill-A-Truck event at the Wake Forest Walmart Superstore and ask shoppers to donate food and supplies for our shelter and the Pet Food Pantry. Volunteers give shoppers a Wish List of needed food as they enter the store. Shoppers shop and fill our truck with donations on the way out. Stop by the shelter anytime and donate some food. We take everything! For many people their pet is the only family that they have, and losing that pet can have a profound effect on a person s mental health. For more information about the Pet Food Pantry us at pantry@safehavenforcats.org. 46 ROLLS OF TOILET PAPER 81 ROLLS OF PAPER TOWELS 8 ROLLS OF GARBAGE BAGS 18 hand soaps 2 PACKS BABY WIPES 10 PACKAGES OF GLOVES 2 HAND SANITIZERS 1 DISHWASING LIQUID 8 BOTTLES DISTILLED WATER 14 BOTTLES OF BLEACH 4 BOTTLES OF LAUNDRY DETERGENT 249 POUNDS DOG FOOD 35 POUNDS CAT FOOD OZ. CANS CAT FOOD 24 2 OZ. PACKETS CAT FOOD 8 3 OZ. CANS CAT FOOD Our next two Fill-A-Truck events are Saturdays March 21 and April 11. A typical haul from one FILL-A-TRUCK 5

6 7-8 am Up to 20 cats/dogs arrive. Everyone is grumpy no breakfast. YUCK! 8 am-2 pm Exams, surgery, shaving, treating wounds, weighing, vaccinating, suturing, monitoring, recovering, more surgery. SNACK time after surgery for all cats and dogs. YEA! 4-5 pm Pick-up time. Finally we are all going home is it time to eat? Let s do it all again tomorrow! Some of us arrive in traps Arriving at the Clinic All is forgiven, going home Treating injuries Getting ready for surgery Who s next? The gang s all here Exams & weights A History of the SAFE Care Spay/Neuter Clinic Yes, we do dogs too! July 3, 2001 April 1, 2003 February 2005 October 8, 2012 Clinic opens 4 days a month, 371 cats per year s/n Clinic has their own dedicated space (800 square feet), open 6 days a month, 582 cats per year s/n Clinic open 5 days a week, numbers climb to 1,268 cats per year, first s/n clinic just for cats in North Carolina Clinic moves to 1,800 square foot space and numbers are now at 2,561 per year 6

7 Tickets at tuxedocatball.org Friday, April 24, pm 12:30 am North Ridge Country Club $100 person/$160 couple Over 225 Live and Silent auction experiences Dinner, drinks, desserts, dancing Raffle for $500 cash Champaign Toast by Furry Friends Pet Sitting Benjamin Farrell, Auctioneer Dressy attire Photo Booth from Have a Blast Pictures Benefactor Sponsor Many Thanks to our Generous Sponsors Silver Sponsors Photos courtesy of Sustaining Sponsors Anniversary Sponsors Doug Rickert Keith Ohrberg and Elizabeth Moss Ohrberg Nell Coletta Supporting Sponsors Caroline Z Photography Golden Realty Blind Cat Video Custom Benefit Auctions 1st Choice Customized DJ Services Linda and Adam Roycroft Westgate Wine Small Business Sponsor Southpoint Animal Hospital Carroll and Tim Clancy 7 Tom and Julie Suiter Rosa Chrismon and Elizabeth Lindsey Mobile Laser Veterinary Services Jill Odom Brian and Tracy Coyle Tim and Sue Hanis Sherry Johnson Frank and Marie Seiber

8 Garvey Drive, Raleigh, NC NON PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID RALEIGH, NC PERMIT NO SAFE Haven for Cats Garvey Drive, Raleigh NC SAFE (7233) safehavenforcats.org Photos: Photos in this publication are courtesy of our contributors: Michelle St. John-Grover at St. John Photography Caroline Z. Dickson at caroline z photography Jennifer Ead Pam Miller Brittani Halbert Photography SAFE Haven s Mission: SAFE Haven s mission is to ensure the well-being of every cat through adoption, affordable spay/ neuter services, community outreach and adherence to no-kill principles. SAFE Haven & SAFE Care Staff Pam Miller, Executive Director Pam@safehavenforcats.org Dr. Betsy King, Veterinarian and Medical Director of the SAFE Care Spay/Neuter Clinic DrKing@safehavenforcats.org Sherri Orner, Associate Director & Director of Adoptions Sherri@safehavenforcats.org Gina Jennings, Volunteer Coordinator & Intake Manager Gina@safehavenforcats.org SAFE CARE Clinic Administrator clinic@safehavenforcats.org Allison Thurkill, Cat Caretaker Allie@safehavenforcats.org dd ddddddd endor pkg brk Name Address Line 1 Address Line 2 City, State Postal Code Keep me safe and warm... attend the Tuxedo Cat Ball! One2One