www.savethekitties.org

We are a dedicated group of cat lovers from around the country who are rescuing cats from the gas chamber at the Spalding County Animal Shelter in Georgia. The website for the shelter is www.spaldingcountyanimalshelter.com. We have already rescued over 30 cats from the gas chamber and will continue to do so. The website www.savethekitties.org was created to show what work we are doing and hope to continue to do. WE NEED YOUR HELP!!! We are in need of donations to the vet clinic in Griffin. You can follow the links on the website and donate by phone. When donating just say that it's for the Spalding cats. A receipt can be forwarded to you upon request. Christine pulls the cats from the shelter and boards them temporarily until they can be transported out. Christine boards for a small fee on a daily basis per cat. We need donations for Christine for board fees and adoption fees. Donations for Christine can be made via Paypal to her email address which is on the website. Just note on the donation it is for Spalding kitties. Sandy; from Maryland; boards long term. Donations for Sandy can be made via Paypal to her email address which is on the website. Just note on the donation that it's for the Spalding kitties. We need sponsors/foster/forever homes for the kitties that we are rescuing. We need help with transport and also we are looking for long term boarding facilities. Please; visit the website and you will see for yourself the work we are doing and that any donation; any help you can give is worth the lives of these precious babes. If you have any questions; you can email Gianna or Sue at the provided email address. Our motto......ONE CAN SAVE MANY !! www.savethekitties.org

bless you all - what a wonderful thing your doing

It's great that you are dedicated to saving the Spaulding cats/kittens...but I want to remind everyone on the board that there are probably cats/kittens in need within your own state. Spaulding isn't the only kill shelter, nor is it the only shelter that uses a gas chamber...many states, including North Carolina and Virginia still have shelters that use Gas Chambers (I'm sure there are other states that still use them as well). Thus, although I appreciate out of state pleas for support....I do recommend supporting local rescues within your own state. You can make a difference for cats in your own backyard!!!

Katie

BTW..I don't understand why the kittens are not spayed/neutered prior to going to their new homes.

Hello,

Just to clarify about www.savethekitties.org - all kitties that have been rescued from Spalding were spayed/neutered, all paid by volunteers. Other services that we provide are:

Licensed Veterinarian Services Provided:
Examination(Temperature/Heart/Ears/Eyes/Fecal Exam/Etc.)
Combo Testing (leukemia & FIV)
Vaccinations (Felv/Fvrcp combined)
Rabies (1 Yr)
Drontal Feline
Frontline (Flea/Tic Treatment)
Spay/Neuter ( Certificates to Your vet of Choice, or performed by area vet) -

* STATE PROOF OF SPAY/NEUTER AND RABIES WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE KITTY GAS SHELTER BY US.

Thank you
mrbluekittie's Mom

Yeh...this concerns me:

Spay/Neuter ( Certificates to Your vet of Choice, or performed by area vet) -

So basically you give spay certificates and follow up? That is what it seems is stated on the website as well. Since certificates are only followed 60% of the time...I am not for spay certificates. So please clarify...are ALL kittens pulled from Spaulding, spayed, neutered PRIOR to going to a home?

I still want to encourage members to support LOCAL rescue efforts. There are kittens and cats in need in EVERY state.

Katie

{{{Prayers & vibes}}} for great success in your efforts. I am appalled that gas chambers are still used in some states That is nothing short of animal cruelty!!

TNR:

Every cat that has been adopted out has been spayed/neutered. Spalding requires this. For further information regarding this you can email Gianna at her email address which is posted in the website www.savethekitties.org

I also want to comment regarding a reply that was made regarding the need for animals in every state. We started this rescue work with Spalding in order to rescue cats from the gas chamber. We just picked a shelter and we have people who can help us. Yes; there are many cats who are in shelters in every state. We are advertising this work in order to rescue these cats and adopt them out. Now...wouldn't it be grand if a group could target a shelter and rescue cats/kitten/dogs/puppies??? In orther words...could you imagine the rescue work that would go on if people could just band together and target a shelter? Could you imagine how many lives would be saved? We are promoting this work with heavy advertising...how else will people know about it? There are animal lovers by the millions in each state....if groups like this could form and work on those shelters; convert kill shelters to no kill; advertise/promote/instruct people about shelter animals; how many lives would be saved? It's a lot of work; a lot of sacrifice...but it's all worth it when you see the love in an animal's eyes who was looking at the gas chamber; or other door of death.

churchbug, I think that you are making an excellent effort because of the method of euthanasia - in this I agree with PETA , gas chambers are HORRIFIC and INHUMANE. No, we can't save them all, but if an animal has to be PTS, surely injection is a better avenue. So, I say, let's start with those is in the most difficult situations first.
As for your 2nd group, if you want inspiration, please check out www.inyopets.org, the website for ICARE (Inyo County Animal Resource & Education). This is a group that did exactly that -targeted the local shelter that was antiquated - they now have an incredibly dynamic spay/neuter/vaccinate program, and last year the numbers showed that the kill-rate at the shelter had been reduced by 91% since 1997!
They have accomplished that by not only the neutering efforts, but also by linking up with Marin County, who's animal population control efforts are very successful and have created homes in Marin Co. for excess animals in our area.
I applaud ALL rescuers EVERYWHERE!! Groups, individuals, those doing a good deed just once (hopefully to repeat themselves over & over) May the Good Lord bless you all!!! Susan

Originally Posted by churchbug

TNR:

Every cat that has been adopted out has been spayed/neutered. Spalding requires this. For further information regarding this you can email Gianna at her email address which is posted in the website www.savethekitties.org

I also want to comment regarding a reply that was made regarding the need for animals in every state. We started this rescue work with Spalding in order to rescue cats from the gas chamber. We just picked a shelter and we have people who can help us. Yes; there are many cats who are in shelters in every state. We are advertising this work in order to rescue these cats and adopt them out. Now...wouldn't it be grand if a group could target a shelter and rescue cats/kitten/dogs/puppies??? In orther words...could you imagine the rescue work that would go on if people could just band together and target a shelter? Could you imagine how many lives would be saved? We are promoting this work with heavy advertising...how else will people know about it? There are animal lovers by the millions in each state....if groups like this could form and work on those shelters; convert kill shelters to no kill; advertise/promote/instruct people about shelter animals; how many lives would be saved? It's a lot of work; a lot of sacrifice...but it's all worth it when you see the love in an animal's eyes who was looking at the gas chamber; or other door of death.

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My concern is the fact that you rely so heavily on out of state adoptors...to me, that is potentially taking a home away from a cat/kitten at a kill shelter within that state.

I can't speak for other states, but there are 14 counties in Virginia that use the Gas Chamber:

The following facilities are known to be using gas chambers as of 8/05:

Appomattox County -out of 291 cats, 131 were euthanized in 2004
Buchanan County-out of 1066 cats, 995 were euthanized in 2004
Buckingham County-out of 37 cats, 30 were euthanized in 2004
Charlotte County -numbers were not reported
Cumberland County -numbers were not reported
Franklin City -out of 43 cats, 24 were euthanized in 2004
Franklin County -out of 456 cats, 411 were euthanized in 2004
Lee County -numbers were not reported
Martinsville City-out of 142 cats, 142 were euthanized in 2004
Pittsylvania County -out of 1064 cats, 633 were euthanized in 2004
Scott County -does not take in cats
Southampton County -numbers were not reported
Sussex County -numbers were not reported
Wythe County -out of 359 cats, 347 were euthanized in 2004

Right now..there are tons of kittens within Virginia looking for homes. The numbers may not be as impressive as Spaulding..but every kitten/ every cat deserves a chance. The gas chamber is horrific, but let's not assume that a cat dies a much kinder death in other facilities. That is why I promote supporting LOCAL rescue efforts.

Every cat that has been adopted out has been spayed/neutered. Spalding requires this.

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My question was WHEN does spaying occur...BEFORE the kittens are transported to their new home or AFTER? From the website:

Spay/Neuter ( Certificates to Your vet of Choice, or performed by area vet) -

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..it seems to suggest that the adoptor is supposed to spay/neuter and as anyone on this website can attest to...cats get out...pregnancies happen. I would rather a rescue take in fewer kittens and ensure they are spayed/neutered prior to going into homes rather than relying on spay certificates.

Katie

TNR; you seem to have a bit of an issue with our work. We are not taking away any potential homes in ANY state. You have expressed your opinion twice on this. There are people who have adopted Spalding cats as far away as Texas, Vermont; and that is their choosing; whether you like it or not. You have your opinion and you are welcome to it; others have their opinion. Let it be; you cannot change what we are doing and how people are going to respond to the work. We will not stop this work because of an opinion. If you don't like it; don't post about it anymore; you've already expressed your opinion and it was responded to. Your opinion will not change anything with this work. As far as the spay/neuter issue is concerned; the cats are neutered/spayed before going to their home. We have 30 days to send Spalding a spay/neuter certificate. If an owner chooses to spay/neuter a cat after adoption; they must submit a spay/neuter certificate to us/Spalding. You have mentioned this issue once already; it was addressed once already. It will not be responded to again. You seem to be "picking" at issues here. If you have any questions; please go to the website www.savethekitties.org and email Gianna.

We have 30 days to send Spalding a spay/neuter certificate. If an owner chooses to spay/neuter a cat after adoption; they must submit a spay/neuter certificate to us/Spalding.

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So "some" cats are spayed before going into homes..and yet, others go out intact. Exactly how are the intact kittens being followed up on? Especially when (as you have stated) they are going to other states. How would you ever get a kitten back if someone does not spay/neuter? As someone who answers the "my cat got out and now it's pregnant" posts....I have significant issues with this method. Even the rescue I volunteer with now had issues following up on spaying/neutering of kittens adopted locally....even though the spay was part of the adoption fee. That is why we spay everything before it goes into a new home.

So since your organization allows the adoptor to receive an intact kitten, exactly what safety measures have you put into place to ensure that the kitten is spayed and that the spay certificate is legitimate? What would you do if a kitten's spay certificate is not received within the time allocated?

If you don't like it; don't post about it anymore

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As a group that wants support behind what it is doing...I would expect you to welcome concerns as it provides an opportunity for you to show that your group has taken into account the "big picture". I don't agree with taking concerns offline..especially when there has been a request made for support on a public board. So if you would address the questions I have raised above...I would truly appreciate it.

Katie

TNR...as I said in my last post...if you have questions go to the website...www.savethekitties.org...and email Gianna. I have done my best to address your issues; obviously you don't want to or can't understand my responses to you. If you don't like my responses you have a choice; drop the issue and don't read this thread anymore or email Gianna as I did suggest to you. As far as I'm concerned; the matter is dropped.

Originally Posted by churchbug

TNR...as I said in my last post...if you have questions go to the website...www.savethekitties.org...and email Gianna. I have done my best to address your issues; obviously you don't want to or can't understand my responses to you. If you don't like my responses you have a choice; drop the issue and don't read this thread anymore or email Gianna as I did suggest to you. As far as I'm concerned; the matter is dropped.

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But you haven't addressed my questions..and I have been to your site. Perhaps I'll email Gianna and post her responses here..because a rescue group should have no issues answering the questions I've posed regarding sending intact kittens to adoptors in other states.

Katie

As always, I will remind members of our policy on threads that solicit donations:

Solicitations- the needs of rescue workers are great and we recognize this fact. To care for multiple cats, find suitable homes, good vet care, food, etc. is costly. From time to time you will see some posts come up to ask for donations for a cause. It is YOUR responsibility to check out these solicitors to the best of your ability. Ask for references, phone numbers, call around the area and find out if this is a legitimate cause or a scam. The Catsite.com does not stand behind any solicitation of funds for any reason that appear in the forums except for one, CWSI. Be very careful before you send any money: no matter how effective the plea is, check it out first before opening your wallet.

Why is it that the issue of legitimacy is being raised at this point? There is a website with phone numbers, links to the shelter we are working with, pictures of the kittens/cats we are rescuing, email addresses to contact people, pictures of the volunteers who work with us. And; with all that...the question of legitimacy is raised? It's common sense not to donate money to just anyone who makes a post. There are several posts in this forum from people who are doing just that...maybe their posts should be re-evaluated?The phone number for the vet we use is posted;when you call they answer the phone properly identifying themselves. If you ask for a receipt they will send you one; complete with logo on top. My bank receipts show that the money is deducted and given to the clinic. I know; I have kept all the receipts from the clinic when I've donated. It's amazing how knowing we are a small group; not as well known or as big as some of the "big guys"; how there are questions like this thrown at us. We're not funded by any other means other than donations from the public...isn't that how the "big guys" got started? We have done extensive advertising to raise funds, give awareness and hopefully rescue and save lives. We're new and we will learn and hopefully survive and prosper for the sake and rescue of these cats. If there are any questions of legitimacy you can email Gianna at the email address posted on the website. I'm sure Gianna can provide whatever documentation is needed to prove legitimacy. I'm saddened by the attack that some people have launched here. It's almost as if those who disagree are trying to poison the efforts with their own opinions rather than let others who agree particpate.

TNR; please email Gianna....I suggested that to you the first time. I did my best to answer your questions...but you come up with questions to the questions. The impression is that since you're not in agreement with this effort you will try to look for fault/failure on our part in this effort. And please; post her responses.

Originally Posted by churchbug

Why is it that the issue of legitimacy is being raised at this point?

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This is a standard procedure whenever there are posts asking for donations on our site. Please PM me if you have any further questions.

Originally Posted by churchbug

TNR; please email Gianna....I suggested that to you the first time. I did my best to answer your questions...but you come up with questions to the questions. The impression is that since you're not in agreement with this effort you will try to look for fault/failure on our part in this effort. And please; post her responses.

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I'm not the only one who has concerns regarding sending out intact kittens to adoptors. If EVERY kitten was spayed/neutered BEFORE leaving your organization, I would feel better about your efforts. if you choose to take my concerns as an attack..so be it. I will be sending Gianna an email.

Katie