No More Homeless Pets
Weekly News

September 26, 2004
From super adoptions to spay/neuter successes, people working together to bring about a time when there will be No More Homeless Pets.

• Spay/Neuter News
• Adoption News
• Feral Cat News
• Fabulous Fundraisers
• Community Campaigns

No More Homeless Pets Conference, October 22-24, 2004
Join this gathering of  people creating life-saving changes for animals around the country. Get practical advice, inspiration, and ideas from leading experts.

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SPAY/NEUTER NEWS

Stanislaus County, California - The Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors is considering two proposals to try to force pet owners to be responsible about breeding. One proposal submitted by the Coalition for Cats and Dogs, a local area rescue, would require pet owners to pay $300 and meet tough health standards to breed any cat or dog in the county, and would limit owners to one litter per year for each animal. A second proposal from the county's Animal Services Department would raise the cost to license an intact dog from $28 to $100, and would prohibit cats that had not been spayed or neutered and microchipped from being allowed outdoors. Read more about these efforts in the Modesto Bee.

Lincoln City, Tennessee - The Humane Society of Lincoln County is using a $2,000 donation to jump-start a program to offer reduced-cost spay/neuter for pets of elderly Medicaid recipients. And the Humane Association of Wilson County has initiated the first trap/neuter/release program for feral cats in middle Tennessee. The group is providing free assistance to colony caregivers, and offering free spay/neuter for feral cats. Read more about these new programs from The Elk Valley Times.

ADOPTION NEWS

Sedona, Arizona - The largest adoption event ever to be held in Northern Arizona, "Pet-A-Palooza," drew 1,500 visitors and found homes for 101 animals in six hours. More than 200 homeless animals were taken to the event by several organizations, including the Humane Society of Sedona, Verde Valley Humane Society, Yavapai Humane Society, Coconino Humane Association, and the brand-new Humane Society of Northern Arizona. The event was spearheaded by Michigan commercial real estate broker Joe Sowerby, who has been organizing similar events in Michigan for the past 11 years, resulting in the placement of nearly 11,000 homeless animals. Read an account of this successful event in the Verde Valley News.

Centennial, Colorado - Cavy Care Inc., a no-kill sanctuary for guinea pigs, has been placing adoptable guinea pigs through local PETsMART stores and finding homes for more than 1,150 of them in the past five years. Cavy Care manages the adoption process, keeping guinea pigs in the stores for a week at a time before cycling them to less stressful locations -- although more than 70 percent of the animals find homes during their first week. And participating PETsMARTs agree that they will not sell other guinea pigs. For more information about this program, contact Cavy Care through its website.

Hempstead, New York - The Town of Hempstead's "Summer of Love" Pet Adoption Program, which ran from July 6 - August 14 helped the town's animal shelter to find homes for 122 dogs and 154 cats, compared to 99 dogs and 101 cats placed during the same time period last year. The shelter waived adoption fees during this time period, provided the animals with free spay/neuter, and rewarded adopters with a free gift. Learn more about this program through the South Bay News.

FERAL CAT NEWS

Moore County, North Carolina - Feral cats were the unlikely beneficiaries of a high-society party hosted by the Animal Advocates of Moore County. The "Paws and Claws Gala" treated attendees to food and wine, and featured a silent auction. The funds raised will go toward the humane group's trap/neuter/return program, which has benefited more than 230 local ferals. Read about the event in The Pilot.

Savannah, Georgia - Despite limited funding and much community opposition, the four-year-old Feral Cat Project has trapped and sterilized more than 150 feral cats in the Savannah area, finding homes for some and returning others to managed colonies. To learn more about this program and other feral rescue programs in the Savannah area, read the feature story from the Savannah Morning News.

FABULOUS FUNDRAISERS

Vail, Colorado - The Eagle Valley Humane Society puts on one of the most popular events in town each year with its annual Harvest Party, now in its 5th year. Tickets to the September fundraiser are $40 per person and always sold out  last year netting $10,000 for the shelter. The event is sponsored by Beaver Liquors, and brings together local wine distributors and restaurants for a culinary event featuring a silent auction and a "grape stomping," hosted by Churchill Wine Cellars. Find out more about this special event from The Vail Trail.

Bismarck, North Dakota - The Central Dakota Humane Society's 10th annual "Furry Scurry" fundraiser led to a record-breaking $20,000 in donations for the no-kill animal shelter in Mandan, North Dakota. The event featured walking events on the grounds of the state capitol -- in which people escorted hundreds of dogs, a few cats, and one miniature horse -- as well as plenty of adoptable dogs, dog training advice, and a tail-wagging contest. Learn more in the Bismarck Tribune.

York, Pennsylvania - The works of feline artists were featured recently at a Pennsylvania art gallery in a fundraiser for Preservation of Animal Welfare and Safety, a rescue group raising money to build its own shelter. The "Paw Prints of Hope" display featured works of art created by the paws, tails and whiskers of several cats, as well as two completed by litters of puppies. Read about this creative fundraiser in the Evening Sun.

Gastonia, North Carolina - More "Calendar Girls" are baring it all for the sake of animals in a new fundraising calendar produced for the benefit of the Animal League of Gaston County. Entitled "Pearls and Paws -- Bare Because We Care," the calendar features tastefully covered ladies posing with their dogs and cats, and will raise money for the league's spay/neuter fund. Learn more about the story from News 14 Carolina.

COMMUNITY CAMPAIGNS

Columbus, Georgia - The Columbus Consolidated Government is partnering with PAWS Columbus, Inc. to build a $6.2 million animal resource center that will house 400 animals. Set to open in Spring 2006, the 38,000-square-foot facility would also house a spay/neuter clinic and educational facilities, as well as 22 rooms furnished to look like living rooms and bedrooms, in which people can get acquainted with their potential pets. The facility will also feature specially designed cages to minimize stress, classical music to promote a restful environment, training facilities for pet therapy teams, and areas where people can watch movies while they hang out with the shelter animals. Learn more about this amazing facility from the Ledger-Enquirer.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - Although the groundbreaking ceremony was delayed by flooding, a Pittsburgh rescue is proceeding with plans to build a new 30,000-square-foot shelter and resource center. Scheduled to open in fall 2005, the $6.5 million shelter will replace the cramped city quarters of Animal Friends, and will feature group and individual housing for more than 200 animals, classrooms and training facilities, a fully equipped medical clinic, a pet supplies shop, and miles of walking trails. Read more from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.