In 2006, The Sterile Feral Inc., spayed and neutered 810 cats and we are still counting! The Sterile Feral would like to thank everyone that made financial donations, sent us their Purina weight circles and gave words of support and encouragement. The volunteers will be altering a minimum number of cats for the remainder of 2006 so that funds may be raised for the rest of the year to make 2007 an even bigger success. A special thank you to all of our supporters, volunteers and each and every veterinarian that helps The Sterile Feral fulfill its mission. With spay/neuter numbers such as these, it can be very draining on our volunteers that trap feral cats, care for foster animals, and do all of the necessary paperwork, among the many other things that we do. For a listing of our volunteers, please to visit our web-site at www.thesterileferal.org. Please keep those donations and weight circles coming so that we can start 2007 strong.
2006 REDNECK RUMMAGE SALE! The Second Annual Redneck Rummage Sale sponsored by the Rome Braves and held at State Mutual Stadium on September 23 was a great success for the Sterile Feral. The event is a great fund raiser with proceeds split between the William S. Davies Homeless Shelter and the Braves Miracle Field of Rome. More than 3,000 people attended this year’s event, with more than 100 vendors. The Sterile Feral has participated both years in the event, raising $300 the first year. TSF had hoped to meet or exceed that amount this year and did by raising $600 for the animals. Thank you to everyone that came out in support of the Sterile Feral; your contribution really does make a difference.
The Sterile Feral would like send a special thank you to Mel & Mimi, 203 East 8th Street SW, Rome for all of the great items donated to TSF this past year. Thank you for your continued support.
SPECIAL TAILS FOR THE WARM AND FUZZY
MO AND OTTER On one quiet afternoon (several years ago) a TSF volunteer went to Floyd County Animal Control and came across a beautiful, young, gray, male cat. The cat had gray hair on the ends and beautiful white underneath. The volunteer pulled this baby to safety and called her friends (Lori and Joe Barefoot) who had lost a cat some time earlier (to old age). Pictures were exchanged and Lori and Joe decided to give him a try. They set up a meeting place since they had both moved and after a few weeks, we got the report that he fit in quite well and made a wonderful addition to their family. They named him Mo. A few years later, the same volunteer came across a solid gray Munchkin cat. Since Lori and Joe are wonderful indoor cat owners, the volunteer contacted the Barefoots again, telling them all about this cat’s special qualities. Munchkin cats cannot go outdoors because they cannot fend for themselves against other predators. Munchkin kittens were intentionally bred so that owners could keep them off counter tops due to there extremely short legs. His name soon became Otter due to his appearance. Today, Mo and Otter are the best of friends and have wonderful owners that pamper the two babies. Joe and Lori are now at capacity and the boys get their undivided attention. This is truly a wonderful success story and two kitties that didn’t stand a chance have been living the past several years in their perfect home.
PENELOPE, PETER, POLLY, AND PENNY On May 29th, a TSF volunteer stopped by Floyd County Animal Control to take photos of the homeless dogs, so that photos may be posted www.petfinder.com, in hopes the dogs would find a home. While there, the volunteer noticed a small, hairy, tick infested mass of blonde hair sitting in a cage. The dog was so gross that it was hardly able to stand up because the dog’s feet were almost matted together. Upon further inspection, the volunteer noticed the dog was covered in ticks. Shocked and shaken, the volunteer went home to grab scissors and flea and tick medicine. Upon returning to Animal Control, the volunteer climbed into the cage with the dog and cut off as much hair as possible so that the dog could move comfortably and treated the dog for fleas and ticks. The dog had not finished her three day stay at the facility, so the volunteer was forced to leave the dog. The next day, the volunteer not being able to get the dog off her mind went to pick up this little dog and realized thatduring the night, the dog had a puppy! The dog had been so matted that the volunteer and Floyd County Animal Controlstaff could not even tell the dog was pregnant. If the volunteer had not cut the matted hair from around her legs and her bottom, the puppy would have been stuck in the mats when trying to be born. The volunteer immediately took the dog to the vet and in route the dog had 2 more puppies.
The Sterile Feral named the mother dog Penelope and the 3 puppies Peter, Polly, and Penny. After the puppies were weaned, they were all adopted. The female puppies went to live with the Wilkins family and the male puppy went to live with the Adams family. Penelope was also adopted by a lady who lived at home and needed a personal companion. Now the puppies are 6 months old, happy, healthy, and each one looks nothing like the other one or their mother! This goes to show that people can adopt AWESOME dogs from animal control facilities! Please visit your local shelter today!
KEEPING OUR FERAL FELINES WARM AND DRY THIS WINTER
Although southern winters are not as harsh as northern winters, they are still cold enough for the need of proper shelter, additional food, and a good water source. A shelter can be constructed cost effectively using Styrofoam packing boxes that can be found at many local restaurants. Line the box with contact paper to help prevent the cats from scratching the walls. Cut or saw an entrance hole at one end. Seal the cover on by using silicone sealant. Flip the box upside down so the bottom of the case becomes the roof. You can paint the shelter if you wish. Pack hay or straw inside so the cat can “burrow” in the hay. Place the shelter in a spot sheltered from wind and rain. An old blanket covering the shelter is helpful along with a board or other heavy object to keep the box in place. In a wooded area, several large and small branches are a good idea. There are other good ideas for winter shelters, such as Styrofoam coolers and large Rubbermaid containers. If you have an old solar pool cover, this would work great placed on top of the shelter. For more information and step by step winter shelter instructions, visit www.spayandstay.org/wintershelter. Also during the winter months, you may need to adjust your cat’s feeding schedule. A cat’s life revolves around daylight hours whereas our lives revolve around a clock. You may want to supplement adult cat food with kitten food because kitten food contains more calories than adult food and will help cats maintain their body weight through the winter. If your feral cats water source is interrupted in the winter, it may be necessary to bring water to them. Never place the water dish inside their shelters since spilling may occur. Our feline friends need to depend on their caregivers during difficult times. If you have any helpful or creative tips that you would like to share, please drop us a line and let us know how you are helping your friends!
BEWARE OF THE FELINE HEART WORM! There is much written about heart worms in dogs but did you know that cats can also be affected – sometimes fatally? Heart worm is a parasite that is transmitted by mosquitoes. It is difficult to diagnose in cats in the early stages. In the late stages, the symptoms include coughing, difficulty breathing, vomiting and even sudden death. There is no treatment for feline heartworm disease but there is prevention. Revolution is a once a month topical application that, aside from preventing heart worms, also conquers other feline enemies. Revolution also protects against roundworms, hookworms, ear mites and fleas. See your cat’s veterinarian to join the Revolution!
FORTY-ONE DOGS RESCUED FROM NEGLECT On the night of October 24th and most of the next morning was a grueling and heart wrenching time for three Sterile Feral volunteers after receiving a phone call that Gwinnett County Animal Control was in the process of confiscating 68 dogs and 10 cats from a home in Lawrenceville, GA due to animal neglect. The Lawrenceville woman was charged with 78 counts of animal neglect after Gwinnett County investigators found that conditions inside her home were horrific. Crates were stacked in the dining room with the dogs and cats inside. Some of the woman’s neighbors told Channel 2 News that they had complained about the awful smell for years. All of the animals were signed over to Gwinnett County Animal Control and taken to an emergency veterinary clinic for examination. Some of the animals were sick and had to be placed on medication. From 5:00 pm until 9:30 pm a series of calls were placed back and forth to rescuers and Gwinnett County Animal Control to determine if the Sterile Feral would be able to offer assistance. In the meantime, a volunteer contacted the Washington Animal Rescue League (WARL) to see if their organization could assist with vetting and placement of some of the neglected dogs. At 9:30 pm word finally came that rescue groups were needed for many of the neglected dogs and that all of the cats were already going to another rescue group. At 10:00 pm, the three volunteers left Rome with two vehicles loaded down with pet carriers to rescue the dogs being examined and released by the Gwinnett County Emergency Veterinary Clinic. By 4:30 am, after waiting most of the night for the veterinarian to complete each dog’s examination the SF volunteers were headed back to Rome with 32 dogs ranging from 5 lbs to 50 lbs. Several of the other dogs left behind were relocated to other rescue groups while a few were taken to Gwinnett County Animal Control due to lack of space by the rescue groups. Later that afternoon, all of the 32 dogs were logged and photographed, while some of the neglected dogs waited for the WARL transport van to arrive. Overall, the dogs looked to be in good health, but the long haired dogs were matted and all had fleas and other possible parasites. The next day, a volunteer returned to Gwinnett County Animal Control to rescue nine more dogs that had been left at the Gwinnett County Animal Control due to lack of space in the transport vehicles, bring the TSF total to 41(33 dogs and 8 puppies). Two of the nine picked up were eight week old Chihuahua puppies (one solid gray and the other brown). Another one of the dogs that stayed with the Sterile Feral is Gwin. She is a 5 lb senior Chihuahua that had an ulcerated eye that ruptured before it was taken to a veterinary clinic the next morning. The eye was not able to be saved and had to be removed. Due to fast action, these dogs and cats that were once rescues can be rescued once more by caring and responsible animal rescue organizations such as the Sterile Feral and the Washington Animal Rescue League.
STERILE FERAL NEWS Gift Wrapping at Barnes and Noble November 24-26 and December 12-24 The Sterile Feral will be gift wrapping for donations at Barnes and Noble located at ; 1442 Turner McCall Blvd SW, Rome, GA starting November 24-26 and again on December 12th through the 24th. Please stop by and ask for your gift to be wrapped by our enthusiastic volunteers and get a jump on your holiday gift wrapping. Click this link to print a voucher to be used only at the Rome GA Barnes and Noble Store; Voucher may be used Friday Nov.24 - Sunday Nov.26 only. A percentage of all purchases will be gifted by Barnes and Noble Booksellers to The Sterile Feral Spay/Neuter Fund
VERY BEST PET NETWORK AND Wal-Mart Very Best Pet Network (VBPN) program is a joint effort by Wal*mart and Purina, which allows animal organizations throughout the country post pets for adoption on special bulletin boards located in the Pet Departments at local Wal*martstores. The Sterile Feral is posting pets for adoption at the Wal*mart Super Center on 825 Cartersville Hwy. If you are interested in any of the pets posted, please email isyourpetfixed@yahoo.com to request an adoption application.
Founders: Jane Berry Mary Kate McCaffrey Director of Adoptions: Liz Schneider Shelter Director: Anne Parham Spay/Neuter Director: Tara Pearson; Anne Parham Vet Techs: Mandy Meyer; Allison Watson Secretary/Treasurer: Joan Fluegge Grants: Jama Grove Public Relations: Tara Pearson Web Master: Allison Watson Loyal Volunteers - Mike Pearson, Mary Gresham, Matt Elmore, Judy Phillips, Martha Rademacher, Kristen Ash, Terri Barton, Denise Coker, Kristie Adcock and from Kitty Kottage, Pat & Bill Hutchings.
The Sterile Feral Inc. Floyd County's only trap, spay/ neuter, and re-release program. The quarterly newsletter for supporters of The Sterile Feral Inc.
A nonprofit organization
Penelope before and after
To give further support to abused and neglected animals, please help us help them by donating to The Abuse Fund
