Friday, June 29, 2012

hope and gratitude

As much as I complain about living in the Pacific Northwest, there are two great things about living where I do - I'm only 15 miles (24 km) away from two truly amazing local cat-loving organizations.

The Feral Cat Spay/Neuter Project (FCSNP) is a non-profit organization who's mission is "to save the lives of homeless cats by providing access to high volume spay/neuter surgery in a safe and humane environment, collaborating with others and mentoring like-minded organizations to increase spay/neuter in their regions."

Since they started in 1997, they have altered 75,000 cats all by licensed veterinarians! That is a huge number of cats! According to a recent article in a local town paper, The Mukilteo Beacon, approximately 39,000 of those cats were females. From that figure, they estimate that 468,000 kittens were prevented from being born and thus not added to the cat overpopulation crisis. Holy catnip, that's a lot of cats!

Their goal for this year alone is to alter 10,000 cats!! During a typical clinic day, up to 50 cats are altered, including 25 spay surgeries. Many rescue and TNR groups transport their cats up to the FCSNP clinic for alteration. I've heard stories of some groups who pool their resources and drive across the state with a van load of cats to be altered.

Even more amazing about the FCSNP is that free-roaming cats are altered for free! Tame cats are altered on a donation basis. Their funding mainly comes from private donations. How awesome is that?!!

And if that were not amazing enough, they also provide all the information needed on their clinic model to make it easier for other groups to duplicate what they do. Right there on the website, you download their forms and see exactly how they do what they do so you can help start a similar clinic in your area.

The Seattle Channel produced a five minute video on local TNR efforts and the FCSNP.

The other amazing local cat organization is Purrfect Pals, which I've mentioned many times before. They were founded in 1988 and according to their website, "Purrfect Pals finds loving responsible homes for more than 2,000 cats every year, performs more than 2,000 spay and neuter surgeries at our cat hospital, and provides lifetime sanctuary to more than 250 permanent resident cats."

Purrfect Pals has adopted out 30,762 cats since they started in 1988.

Purrfect Pals also offers a free spay and neuter clinic every Thursday for community cats. All my backyard TNR cats (with the exception of Oliver) were altered at Purrfect Pals. You also might remember my write up back in early May about the Average Joe Cat Show, a big fundraiser for Purrfect Pals. They also host the annual Black Cat Ball, an elegant dinner and auction fundraiser.

There is a large network of Purrfect Pals volunteers in the area who foster and help place thousands of adoptable cats each year. They also have creative programs like their Prison Kitty Foster Program, where a select group of inmates in a local state prison foster feral and semi-feral kittens. Socialization and human contact is essential for these young cats to have a chance at being adopted out rather than euthanized in local shelters. A local television station recently produced a heartwarming story on this program:


As I reflect on these local resources, I'm filled with immense gratitude that two such wonderful cat loving organizations are practically in my backyard. For everyone who volunteers with these organizations and for everyone who financially contributes to these groups - thank you, you all are truly awesome. Your gifts of money, time and energy are having a huge positive impact on both the community cats and the pet cats of Washington State. For the many companies, large and small which donate significant amounts of monies to these two groups, I want to support you with my patronage because I share your interest in caring for the community of cats of Washington State.

Are there amazing cat-oriented organizations where you are? I would love to hear about them!

9 comments:

  1. Wow - those are great groups. We love hearing about those that are actually trying to help and then taking a stand. :) Thanks for telling us more about them.

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  2. I especially love the prisoner program. It's wonderful for the cats, but almost more so for those prisoners who have so little opportunity to touch and nurture. It adds such meaning to their lives.

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  3. I am so grateful for the Prisoner program..as cattywumpus said..everyone benefits/

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  4. Wow, you are so lucky to have these great cat groups near you. Thank God for organizations like those!

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  5. Those organizations are fabulous.
    We feel very lucky because we have a FCNMHP here.
    That is First Coast No More Homeless Pets. The No More Homeless Pets is a satellite of Best Friends. There are many chapters of it all over the country. FCNMHP have reduced the euthanasia rates by over 70% in our area. They also offer a low cost spay/neuter and have recently begun helping give food to those who can't afford it.
    It is good to know that there are so many wonderful organizations that really try and help all kitties including ferals.

    purrs
    >^,,^<
    ♥Abby♥Boo♥Ping♥Jinx♥Grace♥

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  6. Those are both great programs. The Human is kind of ashamed not to know too many local groups :-( She gotted me from her vet--someone had brought in a litter of ferals (me and my siblings). We all got 'dopted!

    The Human says Fank U for the good wishes. She hopes that STONE gets OUT soon!!!

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  7. They are some awesome groups! Thank God for people who care!!! :o)

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  8. I'm loving your blog! Teh title is great - I also have a boy cat with 4 white paws, named Bubba. :)
    I'm following you now.
    Sarah @ http://threecatsandagirl.blogspot.com

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  9. Both organizations are amazing!! We have great shelter in our area, too, where I adopted one of my boys and have been supporting. It's wonderful to know there are so many people who care about animals!

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