| FEBRUARY 2010 NEWSLETTER |
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| FERAL FANCIERS |
| Feral Fanciers Inc. P. O. Box 92330 Lakeland, Florida 33804-2330 |
GREAT DEMAND FOR TNR
Many, many calls and e-mails have come to Feral Fanciers asking for help to spay/neuter their feral cats. It has been a lot
of work for our trapping volunteers as the cats must not only be trapped but transported to SPCA or local veterinarians and
then recovered before they are released. It also involves a lot of driving. Sometimes it takes many trips to trap an entire
colony. Lakeland SPCA’s spay/neuter prices are now about the same as Tampa Bay, so at this point we are no longer
transporting cats over there. Pictured below left to right is Leslie warming up some of the cats recovering in the sunshine,
many towels that needed washing after covering the cat traps, lots of food dishes that were cleaned after the cats were
released, and one of the cats in a colony welcoming back his companions that are ready to be released.
Many, many calls and e-mails have come to Feral Fanciers asking for help to spay/neuter their feral cats. It has been a lot
of work for our trapping volunteers as the cats must not only be trapped but transported to SPCA or local veterinarians and
then recovered before they are released. It also involves a lot of driving. Sometimes it takes many trips to trap an entire
colony. Lakeland SPCA’s spay/neuter prices are now about the same as Tampa Bay, so at this point we are no longer
transporting cats over there. Pictured below left to right is Leslie warming up some of the cats recovering in the sunshine,
many towels that needed washing after covering the cat traps, lots of food dishes that were cleaned after the cats were
released, and one of the cats in a colony welcoming back his companions that are ready to be released.
ADOPTION ACTIVITIES
Each weekend at Petco in Lakeland friendly cats and kittens are
brought for adoption and find their forever homes. Many of these
cats and kittens have been found in feral groups and fostered by
volunteers. Jett and Miztsu were fostered by Judy F. and
adopted by the young men shown in the top right photo. Ellen R.,
shown on the bottom right with Marco and Polo, has been
fostering these 2 boys for a few weeks. We hope they will be
adopted soon. Ellen is a former member of the SPCA Board of
Directors and her love of all animals is evident. She recently
helped a lady who came into Petco with a pregnant cat she had
found. Ellen made sure the cat got to SPCA where it would be
spayed and put up for adoption. We greatly appreciate all the
volunteers who help with adoptions and fostering. But we are
still in great need of more fostering volunteers!
Each weekend at Petco in Lakeland friendly cats and kittens are
brought for adoption and find their forever homes. Many of these
cats and kittens have been found in feral groups and fostered by
volunteers. Jett and Miztsu were fostered by Judy F. and
adopted by the young men shown in the top right photo. Ellen R.,
shown on the bottom right with Marco and Polo, has been
fostering these 2 boys for a few weeks. We hope they will be
adopted soon. Ellen is a former member of the SPCA Board of
Directors and her love of all animals is evident. She recently
helped a lady who came into Petco with a pregnant cat she had
found. Ellen made sure the cat got to SPCA where it would be
spayed and put up for adoption. We greatly appreciate all the
volunteers who help with adoptions and fostering. But we are
still in great need of more fostering volunteers!
VOLUNTEER of the MONTH
February’s volunteer of the month is Nancy P. who is pictured on
the right. Nancy has been a very helpful volunteer for Feral
Fanciers. She has trapped and fostered many cats of her own,
helps with the Petco adoptions, and has been transporting several
cats each month to Petluv in Brooksville to take advantage of their
reasonable spay/neuter rates. Nancy has lived in Florida for about
35 years and about 10 years ago she met Papa Kitty. His story was
on the Cattails page a few months ago. Through this she became
aware of the struggle of how a cat becomes feral due to the
inhumane treatment by man who often abuse and abandon cats.
Nancy has always tried to protect and defend all of the animals she
could her entire life.
February’s volunteer of the month is Nancy P. who is pictured on
the right. Nancy has been a very helpful volunteer for Feral
Fanciers. She has trapped and fostered many cats of her own,
helps with the Petco adoptions, and has been transporting several
cats each month to Petluv in Brooksville to take advantage of their
reasonable spay/neuter rates. Nancy has lived in Florida for about
35 years and about 10 years ago she met Papa Kitty. His story was
on the Cattails page a few months ago. Through this she became
aware of the struggle of how a cat becomes feral due to the
inhumane treatment by man who often abuse and abandon cats.
Nancy has always tried to protect and defend all of the animals she
could her entire life.
UPDATE ON MEETINGS
Our monthly meeting of Feral Fanciers was held on Feb. 20. The main emphasis of the meeting was forming
committees and revising by-laws. We now have a voting membership of 16 people and hope there will be more in the
near future. On Feb. 12 a Round Table Discussion was held with representatives from Lakeland SPCA, Polk County
Animal Control, Humane Society, Hillsborough TNR and Animal Services, Audubon Society, FL Fish and Wildlife
Conservation, 1 county commissioner, and Feral Fanciers. The meeting was facilitated by Barbara Snow of Pinellas
County. The purpose of the discussion was to find the best solutions for feral and free roaming cats in Polk County
that would be acceptable to all involved. There will be a lot of future work involved with this, but a start was made.
Feral Fancier’s next group meeting will be held March 27, 2010 at 9:30 AM at the LVIM Building located at 1021
Lakeland Hills Blvd.
Our monthly meeting of Feral Fanciers was held on Feb. 20. The main emphasis of the meeting was forming
committees and revising by-laws. We now have a voting membership of 16 people and hope there will be more in the
near future. On Feb. 12 a Round Table Discussion was held with representatives from Lakeland SPCA, Polk County
Animal Control, Humane Society, Hillsborough TNR and Animal Services, Audubon Society, FL Fish and Wildlife
Conservation, 1 county commissioner, and Feral Fanciers. The meeting was facilitated by Barbara Snow of Pinellas
County. The purpose of the discussion was to find the best solutions for feral and free roaming cats in Polk County
that would be acceptable to all involved. There will be a lot of future work involved with this, but a start was made.
Feral Fancier’s next group meeting will be held March 27, 2010 at 9:30 AM at the LVIM Building located at 1021
Lakeland Hills Blvd.
SUCCESSFUL ADOPTION STORIES
On the left is a picture of KiKi with Pat and Merve
who recently adopted her. On the right is Buddy
with some of his new family. Both of these cats
have been fostered by Bonnie for a very long
time and both had some minor issues that always
kept them from being adopted. But Yolie did not
give up and recently both were placed into good
adoptive homes where they are living happily. To
read the entire stories about KiKi and Buddy
written by Yolie go to the Cattails section of our
website.
On the left is a picture of KiKi with Pat and Merve
who recently adopted her. On the right is Buddy
with some of his new family. Both of these cats
have been fostered by Bonnie for a very long
time and both had some minor issues that always
kept them from being adopted. But Yolie did not
give up and recently both were placed into good
adoptive homes where they are living happily. To
read the entire stories about KiKi and Buddy
written by Yolie go to the Cattails section of our
website.
Donations have been received this month from Phoslab, Tina B., Nancy H., Yolie R., Terry B., Kathy T., Dan and
Paulette M., Susan R., and Leslie H. Many thanks for these contributions.
Over 80 cats have been helped so far this month by Feral Fanciers through spays, neuters, or adoptions. Check
our statistics page at the end of the month for the exact total.
Remember to send your vet questions to leslie@feralfanciers.org. and they will be forwarded to Dr. Howell of Polk
County Animal Hospital who has agreed to answer them. So far no questions have been submitted.
Paulette M., Susan R., and Leslie H. Many thanks for these contributions.
Over 80 cats have been helped so far this month by Feral Fanciers through spays, neuters, or adoptions. Check
our statistics page at the end of the month for the exact total.
Remember to send your vet questions to leslie@feralfanciers.org. and they will be forwarded to Dr. Howell of Polk
County Animal Hospital who has agreed to answer them. So far no questions have been submitted.
CAT FEATURE
Mr. Marx, shown on the left, had a severe case of scabies
and eye infections and needed to be neutered. His
caregiver, Marilyn C., could not get him to go in a trap. Leslie
was able to lure him into a larger cage trap with sardines.
Then his treatment began. First he was neutered and given
an antibiotic in his food to fight the infection he created by
scratching the scabies. Fortunately he loved to eat. He was
also immediately given a shot of ivermectin to kill the scabies
mites. He was given 2 more shots a week apart. It wasn’t
easy but Leslie managed to get eye ointment into his eyes on
a regular basis and began to see some improvement. Of
course Mr. Marx also needed a worm pill and some flea
treatment. Mr. Marx became quite friendly while in captivity.
After his scabies shots were completed he was ready to go
back to his home. Although it was a lot of work to care for Mr.
Marx it was worth it all to see him get better, and Leslie will
miss him.
Mr. Marx, shown on the left, had a severe case of scabies
and eye infections and needed to be neutered. His
caregiver, Marilyn C., could not get him to go in a trap. Leslie
was able to lure him into a larger cage trap with sardines.
Then his treatment began. First he was neutered and given
an antibiotic in his food to fight the infection he created by
scratching the scabies. Fortunately he loved to eat. He was
also immediately given a shot of ivermectin to kill the scabies
mites. He was given 2 more shots a week apart. It wasn’t
easy but Leslie managed to get eye ointment into his eyes on
a regular basis and began to see some improvement. Of
course Mr. Marx also needed a worm pill and some flea
treatment. Mr. Marx became quite friendly while in captivity.
After his scabies shots were completed he was ready to go
back to his home. Although it was a lot of work to care for Mr.
Marx it was worth it all to see him get better, and Leslie will
miss him.