Highly Successful Impact of Grant on Spay/Neuter Program
In August 2010, Catlink received a two year grant to help fund the spay/neuter program for free roaming cats in targeted communities. The first year of the grant, the target was to spay/neuter 900 cats in the communities of Dallesport, Goldendale, Klickitat, Lyle and Wishram, all in Klickitat County.
How did we do? In the first year of the grant, we spayed/neutered 1,004 cats from these communities, which was a 90% increase from the number of cats we did from the same communities in the one year period before the grant.
Overall, for all communities, Catlink spayed/neutered 2,189 cats in the first grant year, compared with 1,548 in the same period before, which was a 41% increase.
This was accomplished, thanks to volunteers, who posted fliers in various community locations, sent press releases, staffed tables at public events, and spoke on radio programs.
For the second year we are targeting the communities of Bingen, White Salmon, BZ Corners, Husum, and Mosier. We are excited to ensure success in these communities as we continue our mission to help all cats throughout the Columbia River Gorge area.
How did we do? In the first year of the grant, we spayed/neutered 1,004 cats from these communities, which was a 90% increase from the number of cats we did from the same communities in the one year period before the grant.
Overall, for all communities, Catlink spayed/neutered 2,189 cats in the first grant year, compared with 1,548 in the same period before, which was a 41% increase.
This was accomplished, thanks to volunteers, who posted fliers in various community locations, sent press releases, staffed tables at public events, and spoke on radio programs.
For the second year we are targeting the communities of Bingen, White Salmon, BZ Corners, Husum, and Mosier. We are excited to ensure success in these communities as we continue our mission to help all cats throughout the Columbia River Gorge area.
Catlink awarded spay/neuter grant from PetSmart Charities®
August 26, 2010
It will probably come as no surprise to cat lovers in the Columbia River Gorge that we have a huge population of free-roaming cats.
In an effort to significantly reduce that population, PetSmart Charities® recently awarded Catlink, a division of Rowena Wildlife Clinic, a $35,000 grant to fund spay/neuter clinics around the Gorge over the next two years. The grant, which was funded for the full amount requested, was written by Catlink director Carmen Marquez and volunteer Marcia Buser.
The goal of this program is to achieve zero-population growth of free-roaming cats through education, a humane trap-neuter-release program, and accessible sterilizations in isolated rural areas. The grant funds will be used for veterinary supplies, traps and carriers. All labor for the program, including that of the veterinarians, will be volunteer.
Approximately 1,800 cats will be spayed or neutered over the length of the grant period, which begins immediately. In the first 12 months, Catlink will concentrate on free-roaming cats in the Washington communities of Dallesport, Goldendale, Klickitat, Lyle and Wishram. The second year will focus on Mosier and Dufur in Oregon, as well as Bingen, BZ Corners, Husum and White Salmon in Washington.
Last year Catlink spayed or neutered more than 1,500 free-roaming cats. It is an all-volunteer organization with a mission to spay and neuter as many cats as possible, as quickly as possible for the least amount of cost, while giving wild cats the best quality life possible and putting no animal at risk.
The new program will also educate local people on the benefits of spaying and neutering free-roaming cats, as well as provide training and equipment to residents to trap cats.
Susan R. Kerr, a veterinarian on the Rowena Wildlife Clinic board of directors and the WSU-Klickitat County Extension director says, "This grant will improve public health because fewer stray cats mean less excrement in yards, gardens and water; address public safety as more cats will be vaccinated for rabies; and – because many low-income people care for stray cats – it will address poverty by reducing the number of stray cats people have to feed."
Kerr is one of five local veterinarians who have agreed to take part in the program.
To discuss implementation of the program, several Catlink volunteers and veterinarians recently attended a strategy meeting.
"Effective execution will require tactical planning for the targeted communities and coordination with many other organizations," says Buser. "We are counting on partnering with other cat rescue groups in the Gorge to help us be successful and to recruit as many volunteers as possible for all aspects of the program."
Volunteers will be needed in every community.If you would like to participate, please email Catlink at catlink@mac.com or call Marcia Buser at 509-365-2798.
About PetSmart Charities®
Established in 1994, PetSmart Charities, Inc. is an independent, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that creates and supports programs that save the lives of homeless pets, raise awareness of companion animal welfare issues, and promote healthy relationships between people and pets. The largest funder of animal welfare efforts in North America, PetSmart Charities has provided $110 million in grants and programs benefiting animal welfare organizations and, through its in-store adoption program, helped save the lives of more than 4 million pets. To learn more about how PetSmart Charities is working toward its Vision of a lifelong, loving home for every pet, visit Petsmartcharities.org or call 1-800-423-PETS.
It will probably come as no surprise to cat lovers in the Columbia River Gorge that we have a huge population of free-roaming cats.
In an effort to significantly reduce that population, PetSmart Charities® recently awarded Catlink, a division of Rowena Wildlife Clinic, a $35,000 grant to fund spay/neuter clinics around the Gorge over the next two years. The grant, which was funded for the full amount requested, was written by Catlink director Carmen Marquez and volunteer Marcia Buser.
The goal of this program is to achieve zero-population growth of free-roaming cats through education, a humane trap-neuter-release program, and accessible sterilizations in isolated rural areas. The grant funds will be used for veterinary supplies, traps and carriers. All labor for the program, including that of the veterinarians, will be volunteer.
Approximately 1,800 cats will be spayed or neutered over the length of the grant period, which begins immediately. In the first 12 months, Catlink will concentrate on free-roaming cats in the Washington communities of Dallesport, Goldendale, Klickitat, Lyle and Wishram. The second year will focus on Mosier and Dufur in Oregon, as well as Bingen, BZ Corners, Husum and White Salmon in Washington.
Last year Catlink spayed or neutered more than 1,500 free-roaming cats. It is an all-volunteer organization with a mission to spay and neuter as many cats as possible, as quickly as possible for the least amount of cost, while giving wild cats the best quality life possible and putting no animal at risk.
The new program will also educate local people on the benefits of spaying and neutering free-roaming cats, as well as provide training and equipment to residents to trap cats.
Susan R. Kerr, a veterinarian on the Rowena Wildlife Clinic board of directors and the WSU-Klickitat County Extension director says, "This grant will improve public health because fewer stray cats mean less excrement in yards, gardens and water; address public safety as more cats will be vaccinated for rabies; and – because many low-income people care for stray cats – it will address poverty by reducing the number of stray cats people have to feed."
Kerr is one of five local veterinarians who have agreed to take part in the program.
To discuss implementation of the program, several Catlink volunteers and veterinarians recently attended a strategy meeting.
"Effective execution will require tactical planning for the targeted communities and coordination with many other organizations," says Buser. "We are counting on partnering with other cat rescue groups in the Gorge to help us be successful and to recruit as many volunteers as possible for all aspects of the program."
Volunteers will be needed in every community.If you would like to participate, please email Catlink at catlink@mac.com or call Marcia Buser at 509-365-2798.
About PetSmart Charities®
Established in 1994, PetSmart Charities, Inc. is an independent, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that creates and supports programs that save the lives of homeless pets, raise awareness of companion animal welfare issues, and promote healthy relationships between people and pets. The largest funder of animal welfare efforts in North America, PetSmart Charities has provided $110 million in grants and programs benefiting animal welfare organizations and, through its in-store adoption program, helped save the lives of more than 4 million pets. To learn more about how PetSmart Charities is working toward its Vision of a lifelong, loving home for every pet, visit Petsmartcharities.org or call 1-800-423-PETS.
