Like many here, I found this site searching for something cat-related. I was researching an out-of-state cat rescue (Tiger Ranch) where my local open-door shelter (Terre Haute Humane Society) has been sending cats. A local rescuer had heard some bad rumors, so I wanted to check it out for myself. I found good answers, good people, and decided I could also help answer a few questions. That required a log in, which required an account. Now I'm hooked.
I'm a butterfly, in that I'm around for a little bit, then disappear for long periods of time. That's because I'm unable to get online consistently since I volunteer ALOT. That means I'm not reliable about responding to emails, pms, etc simply because I might not see them. I get tons of spam and messages get misidentified or burried.
Since about 2003, I've been networking hard, learning about local, regional, state, and national animal groups. I decided to concentrate my efforts on spay/neuter activism. I regularly contact all of my local animal welfare organizations to keep up-to-date and share information, so they all know me. When an opportunity arose in 2004 to bring a low-cost spay/neuter transport to my area, I jumped on it. Several local activists backed me up and got the local spay/neuter organization to back me up. They have since taken it over, freeing me for more work. This year (2007), the political atmosphere was perfect to garner interest and support in getting local government to support targeted spay/neuter, paying to alter animals belonging to people on public assistance. We called it HOPE, and had it up and running by February, and to date almost 900 animals have been "fixed". I maintain the local spay/neuter organization's website (Spay-Neuter League) and my husband and I allow our home phone number to be used as a central "hot-line" for local animal concerns and questions.
Currently, I'm very busy working with HOPE. I post flyers around the county (Vigo County Indiana), add registration dates to local online and media calendars, and try to get the word out any way I can. I help with registrations, where I talk with clients about their unwanted litters, direct them to resources, discuss local issues like dog fighting and feral cats, and offer transportation to and from surgeries. Because I help them find free food, cat litter, and other necessities, they confide in me. Through their tips, I've been able to decrease the "free to a good home" animals and get more relinquishments to the local open-door shelter. Because I also volunteer at that local shelter, drive rescue transports and help guide new volunteers their way, we've been able to decrease euthanasia to only animals who are aggressive or too sick to rehabilitate! Since "free" animals are becoming harder to find, we hope to see an increase in adoptions locally.
Because of the increased animal welfare activities over the past few years, local government (city and county) is re-writing some ordinances to be more enforceable and better for the animals. There is a newly-formed city animal welfare board, a new coalition forming to try to unite all the local animal welfare non-profits, and fresh "blood" flowing into the animal welfare boards and community. It's an exciting and BUSY time.
Right now, I'm dealing with a variety of mentally ill clients who are taking my time and attention. Some desire kittens/puppies so strongly that they allow their animals to breed just so they can have the babies around. Then, when they're too big to control, they give them away and allow the cycle to start over. The ones they give away also start the cycle elsewhere. It is difficult to motivate them to spay/neuter the ones they can keep and relinquish the ones they can't, even when everything is FREE and safer for all involved including the animals. Others breed (pitbull mixes are extremely popular with this) just for money. They don't provide veterinary care for the mothers, and the puppies/kittens are usually unhealthy. Most of those litters have high mortality rates, but the owners see the cash they get for the few that survive. Pitbull mixes can be sold for about $50 each. So they might allow me to transport their cat to get her spayed for free, but they won't consider letting me help them spay their breeding dogs, even if I hook them up with other free services. It boggles the mind.
If I contribute only one thing to anyone here, I hope it is to stress the importance of spaying/neutering dogs and cats until the overpopulation problem is under control and there is no euthanasia as a form of population control.
I'm a butterfly, in that I'm around for a little bit, then disappear for long periods of time. That's because I'm unable to get online consistently since I volunteer ALOT. That means I'm not reliable about responding to emails, pms, etc simply because I might not see them. I get tons of spam and messages get misidentified or burried.
Since about 2003, I've been networking hard, learning about local, regional, state, and national animal groups. I decided to concentrate my efforts on spay/neuter activism. I regularly contact all of my local animal welfare organizations to keep up-to-date and share information, so they all know me. When an opportunity arose in 2004 to bring a low-cost spay/neuter transport to my area, I jumped on it. Several local activists backed me up and got the local spay/neuter organization to back me up. They have since taken it over, freeing me for more work. This year (2007), the political atmosphere was perfect to garner interest and support in getting local government to support targeted spay/neuter, paying to alter animals belonging to people on public assistance. We called it HOPE, and had it up and running by February, and to date almost 900 animals have been "fixed". I maintain the local spay/neuter organization's website (Spay-Neuter League) and my husband and I allow our home phone number to be used as a central "hot-line" for local animal concerns and questions.
Currently, I'm very busy working with HOPE. I post flyers around the county (Vigo County Indiana), add registration dates to local online and media calendars, and try to get the word out any way I can. I help with registrations, where I talk with clients about their unwanted litters, direct them to resources, discuss local issues like dog fighting and feral cats, and offer transportation to and from surgeries. Because I help them find free food, cat litter, and other necessities, they confide in me. Through their tips, I've been able to decrease the "free to a good home" animals and get more relinquishments to the local open-door shelter. Because I also volunteer at that local shelter, drive rescue transports and help guide new volunteers their way, we've been able to decrease euthanasia to only animals who are aggressive or too sick to rehabilitate! Since "free" animals are becoming harder to find, we hope to see an increase in adoptions locally.
Because of the increased animal welfare activities over the past few years, local government (city and county) is re-writing some ordinances to be more enforceable and better for the animals. There is a newly-formed city animal welfare board, a new coalition forming to try to unite all the local animal welfare non-profits, and fresh "blood" flowing into the animal welfare boards and community. It's an exciting and BUSY time.
Right now, I'm dealing with a variety of mentally ill clients who are taking my time and attention. Some desire kittens/puppies so strongly that they allow their animals to breed just so they can have the babies around. Then, when they're too big to control, they give them away and allow the cycle to start over. The ones they give away also start the cycle elsewhere. It is difficult to motivate them to spay/neuter the ones they can keep and relinquish the ones they can't, even when everything is FREE and safer for all involved including the animals. Others breed (pitbull mixes are extremely popular with this) just for money. They don't provide veterinary care for the mothers, and the puppies/kittens are usually unhealthy. Most of those litters have high mortality rates, but the owners see the cash they get for the few that survive. Pitbull mixes can be sold for about $50 each. So they might allow me to transport their cat to get her spayed for free, but they won't consider letting me help them spay their breeding dogs, even if I hook them up with other free services. It boggles the mind.
If I contribute only one thing to anyone here, I hope it is to stress the importance of spaying/neutering dogs and cats until the overpopulation problem is under control and there is no euthanasia as a form of population control.
