Daily Life of a Rescuer
If you live in the Village of Milford Center, the Union County Humane Society wants to know if you’ve “GOT CATS?” That’s because the shelter recently received a $9600 grant from the Kenneth A. Scott Charitable Trust to fix 300 cats in Milford Center, Ohio in 2012. The surgeries will be performed for stray and feral cats at no cost and include an ear tip.
Ear tipping is a universal symbol that allows people to know, just by looking, that a cat has been spayed or neutered. It requires cutting a small “tip” off the top of one ear. A cat that is ear tipped does not have to go through the stress of another trip to the vet if they are caught in a trap. They can be released immediately, because it is obvious they have already been sterilized.
One of Plain City’s finest cat trappers, and a volunteer with Black and Orange Cat Foundation, Allen Young, has been involved in helping to trap cats in Milford Center. Since he started trapping in January, he and another volunteer have already taken in over 30 cats to be fixed through the shelter’s grant program. But more cats are needed if 300 are going to be spayed and neutered by the end of the year. If you are caring for cats in Milford Center and would like to get them fixed for FREE, please contact Carol Martin by calling 937-243-1618 or 937-642-6716.
Allen had told me that there have been some problems with the trapping process as traps have been stolen and also set off so that cats could not go in them. I think this is because Milford Center residents are worried that something is going to happen to the cats–that they will be killed or removed.
I want to assure anyone who has cats in Milford Center and may be worried about this project–the cats are not being harmed. They are being fixed and then returned to the same area where they were caught. Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) is the process that is being used for this project. Cats are trapped in humane traps that do no hurt them. They are then transported to the shelter for surgery and released back in their own territory after recovering.
Alley Cat Allies, the national organization supporting TNR, endorses these methods to humanely reduce the cat overpopulation problem. No new kittens are born. The population remains the same over years and years until older cats die off.
This is a wonderful opportunity to save the lives of cats and keep unwanted kittens from being born in an area already overrun with too many felines. Please contact the shelter if you would like help getting your outside cats fixed.
You can read the original article in the Marysville Journal-Tribune reporting that Union County Humane Society received the grant to fix stray and feral cats in Milford Center HERE.
You can also read the article in the Marysville Journal-Tribune about problems with the cat trapping process in Milford Center HERE.
And access the Village of Milford Center Facebook Page.
(Registrants will receive information and lobbying packets.)
9:45 A: Welcome – The Ohio Statehouse, Ohio Atrium
Jean Keating
Founder, Ohio Coalition of Dog Advocates
John Bell, Esq.
Lead Attorney for Plaintiffs in Class Action Lawsuit Against Donald Dutiel, ‘Wagon Wheel Ranch’ (New Lexington, OH)
Mark McGinnis, Esq
11:30 A: Luncheon reception with your state legislators – The Ohio Statehouse, Ohio Atrium
1:30 P: Rally for Ohio’s Companion Animals – Sidewalks in Front of The Ohio Statehouse
http://www.ColumbusTopDogs.com
http://www.BanOhioDogAuctions.com
http://www.ThoughtsFurPaws.com
LEGISLATIVE ALERTS: Please visit our Home page for pending legislation impacting the welfare of OH animals – http://www.columbustopdogs.com/
The Canton City Council met on Monday, February 6, on the issue of animal control and the decision of reinstating the contract for Phil Sedlacko. Sedlacko had submitted his resignation the previous week to try to force the Council to make a decision on his contract.
As you can see from the photo to the right, many, many people showed up to ask Council to support saving the Canton cats instead of killing them.
Alley Cat Allies had stepped in and asked City Council for a two week suspension of the renewal of the animal control contract. Alley Cat Allies hoped that during the two week reprieve, they could put together and present a non-lethal plan for Canton’s animal control issues.
However, Council would not agree to the two week suspension and instead voted 10-2 to renew the contract, amending it, however, for 90 days instead of the year initially presented. During the ninety days, Council has agreed to look at Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) and other non-lethal methods for, not only feral cats, but the other wildlife that animal control has been killing, as well.
The Canton cats still need our help. Please continue to call, email, and write to the Council members, asking them to support TNR and other non-lethal ways of controlling the cat population. To get their contact info, please visit one of my earlier blog postings on the issue HERE.
To read the original blog posting on the killing of Canton cats, go HERE.
To read all of the issues raised at the Council meeting and watch videos, go HERE.
To read articles in the CantonRep.com, go HERE and HERE.
To read the Alley Cat Allies Press Release on the Canton Cats, go HERE.
Thank you again to Tobin Franks for keeping me updated on this issue and to all those kind people, including my friends Jackie, Jerry, and Judi, who have been working for the cats and attending the Council meetings to give the cats a voice.
To celebrate their new building, located at 2020 State Route 142 NE in West Jefferson, the Humane Society of Madison County will be holding an Open House and Adopt-a-thon Friday, February 10 (1-7pm), Saturday, February 11 (Noon to 5 pm), and Sunday, February 12 (1-5 pm). The official ribbon cutting will be Friday at 1 pm.
During the Open House, tours of the facility will be given. There will also be door prizes, refreshments, and tons of happy animals to meet.
If you bring an item from the shelter’s Wish List, you’ll get an extra door prize raffle ticket.
To read more about the Open House and see the Wish List, click on the newsletter page below:
To read “Bites from the Director,” Betty Peyton, and print out a “Membership Form,” click on the newsletter page below:
The entire February newsletter can be opened by clicking below:
I wanted to update everyone on the situation in Canton with the feral cats that are being captured and then killed at the Stark County Humane Society. Fellow trapper and Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) advocate, Tobin Franks (who first alerted me to the issue), sent me a follow up email below. Alley Cat Allies has gotten involved in this fight for the cats, but they still need you to keep signing the petition and calling and emailing the Canton Council members.
If you can also attend the next Council meeting, it will be Monday, February 6, at 7:30 pm in the Canton City Hall, 218 Cleveland Avenue SW.
The cats in the photo above are from one of our TNR clinics. They were released, not killed. TNR works!
From Tobin: Thank you everyone who came to the City Council Meeting & all who called and sent emails to Canton Officials!
ALLEY CAT ALLIES PRESS RELEASE:
http://www.alleycat.org/page.aspx?pid=1123
CANTON REP ARTICLE:
http://www.cantonrep.com/news/x370660645/Canton-Council-urged-to-be-more-humane-with-cats
As you have seen in the paper, read on Facebook & heard on the radio – we are off to a good start, but the City of Canton is still considering the renewal of the city’s contract with Phil Sedlacko for ‘animal control’ services. Phil rounds up cats & kittens and takes them to the Stark County Humane Society. After years of denial, Stark HS Executive Director Louis Criswell has finally admitted that feral cats brought in by Phil are killed.
The Next Meeting is: Monday Feb 6 2012 – 7:30 pm
218 Cleveland Avenue SW
Canton, OH 44702
Summary of Phil’s activity for 2011: (The status of these animals is unknown.)
JAN: 15 cats 1 kitten 1 dog 3 raccoons 1 opossum
FEB: 21 cats 1 opossum
MAR: 23 cats 5 kittens 1 dog 1 raccoon 1 opossum 1 groundhog
APR: 35 cats 11 kittens 11 raccoons 9 opossums 6 groundhogs 3 rabbits 1 skunk
MAY: 46 cats 20 kittens 18 raccoons 3 opossums 11 groundhogs
JUNE: 46 cats 21 kittens 23 raccoons 14 opossums 19 groundhogs
JULY: 26 cats 12 kittens 22 raccoons 13 opossums 23 groundhogs 10 skunks
AUG: 22 cats 14 kittens 20 raccoons 6 opossums 16 groundhogs 10 skunks 2 squirrels
SEPT: 15 cats 6 kittens 6 raccoons 2 opossums 5 groundhogs 2 skunks 1 squirrel
OCT: 13 cats 2 dogs 4 raccoons 11 opossums 2 groundhogs
NOV: 7 cats 2 kittens 1 dog 2 raccoons 4 opossums
DEC: 14 cats 1 opossum
http://cantonohio.gov/council/
Mayor, City of Canton
Canton City Hall – 8th Floor
218 Cleveland Avenue SW
Canton, OH 44702
P.O. Box 24218
Canton, OH 44701
Phone(330) 438-4307
Fax(330) 489-3282
Allen Schulman – Pres
Address:
3519 Culver DR NW
Canton, OH 44709
Home: 330 492-5409
Business Office: 330 456-4400
Council Office: 330-489-3223
E-Mail: allen.schulman@cantonohio.gov
Mary M. Cirelli – At Large
Address:
424 – 19th Street NW
Canton, OH 44709
Home: 330-455-4967
Council Office: 330-489-3223
e-Mail:marycirelli@neo.rr.com
Joe Cole – At Large
Address:
1402 – 27th St NE
Canton OH 44714
Cell: 330-327-2346
Council Office: 330-489-3223
E-Mail: joseph.cole@cantonohio.gov
James Babcock – At Large
Address:
3711 – 9th St SW
Canton, OH 44710
Home: 330-454-4027
Mobile: 330-495-7202
Council Office: 330-489-3223
E-Mail: james.babcock@cantonohio.gov
Greg Hawk – W1
Address:
2907 – 6th Street NW
Canton, OH 44708
Home: 330-455-7333
Council Office: 330-489-3223
E-Mail: gregory.hawk@cantonohio.gov
Thomas E. West – W2
Address:
625 – 12th Street NW
Canton, OH 44703
Home: 330-430-9378
Council Office: 330-489-3223
E-Mail: thomas.west@cantonohio.gov
James E. Griffin – W3
Address:
202 Poplar Ave NW
Canton, OH 44708
Home: 330-478-2297
Council Office: 330-489-3223
E-Mail: james.griffin@cantonohio.gov
Chris Smith – W4
Address:
458 Waynesburg Rd. SE
Canton, OH 44707
Home: 330-453-5981
Council Office: 330-489-3223
E-Mail: christine.smith@cantonohio.gov
Kevin Fisher – W5
Address:
1641 Alden Ave SW
Canton, OH 44710
Home: 330-412-4681
Council Office: 330-489-3223
E-Mail: kevin.fisher@cantonohio.gov
David R. Dougherty – W6
Address:
2426 – 16th Street NE
Canton, OH 44705
Home: 330-453-9950
Council Office: 330-489-3223
E-Mail: david.dougherty@cantonohio.gov
Patrick Barton – W7
Address:
503 – 21st Street NW
Canton, OH 44709
Home: 330-353-9395
Council Office: 330-489-3223
E-Mail: patrick.barton@cantonohio.gov
Edmond Mack – W8
Address:
4816 Ellinda Circle NW
Canton, Ohio 44709
Home: 330-323-3755
Council Office: 330-489-3223
E-Mail:edmond.mack@cantonohio.gov
Frank Morris – W9
Address:
1406 – 19th St NE
Canton OH 44714
Home: 330-224-0913
Council Office: 330-489-3223
E-Mail: frank.morris@cantonohio.gov
Stark County Humane Society
5100 Peach St Louisville, OH 44641
(330) 453-5529
http://starkhumane.org
Stark Humane also has a Facebook Page
Stark County Dog Pound
1801 Mahoning Road Northeast, Canton Ohio
(330) 451-2343
http://www.co.stark.oh.us/internet/HOME.DisplayPage?v_page=commissioners_dogWardenOffice
The Humane Society of Madison County (HSMC) is finally in their new expanded building located at 2020 State Route 142 NE, just off of I-70 at the Plain City exit. The new shelter has a West Jefferson address, but is only about 5-10 minutes outside of Plain City.
An article in The Madison Press gave some good PR to the shelter. You can read that HERE.
And there was also a nice story in the Columbus Messenger. Read that HERE.
The shelter does not have a permanent phone number yet. If you need to reach them currently, call 614-359-7560.
The Canton, Ohio City Council is currently deciding whether to grant a one-year “professional-services contract not to exceed $27,129 for animal control services” with Philip Sedlacko, who has filled that position in the past. The contract would run from February 1 through January 31, 2013. Included in “animal control services” is the trapping and killing of stray and feral cats in an endless cycle that does nothing to stop the feline overpopulation problem. Tiny kittens will be separated from their moms. Colony members will be removed from their homes and families and sent to die. And, sadly, nothing will be accomplished except needless killing.
Read the article about the animal control ordinance HERE.
Canton City Council will be meeting on Monday, January 30 at 7:30 pm about this issue. The meeting will be held in the Council Chamber at City Hall at 218 Cleveland Avenue S.W. If you wish to speak at the meeting, you must go early and sign in with the clerk.
The cats need us to speak up for them, as they cannot make their voices heard without us.
Alley Cat Allies, the largest group nationwide fighting to save feral cats, has produced a public service announcement to let people know that local governments are killing cats to reduce their numbers. Watch that YouTube video HERE.
In one of many articles on their web site, Alley Cat Allies explains why Trap and Kill does not work. When you remove one set of cats, more move into the area as resources become available. This phenomenon, known as “The Vacuum Effect,” has been documented in numerous scientific studies. The population quickly rebounds leading to the necessity for more killing. And on and on and on.
The only true solution is trap-neuter-return (TNR). This method humanely traps the cats, sterilizes them so no new kittens will be born in the colony, and then releases them back into their territory where they were originally trapped.
Additionally, while the killing of feral cats may seem legal since it is being carried out by local governments, feral cats are covered under anti-cruelty laws in all fifty states and the District of Columbia.
To write, email, or call the Canton City Council members and ask them to stop the killing and find a better solution, please go HERE.
A petition has also been started to put pressure on the Council members to find a more humane way to help the cats.
Sign the petition by going HERE.
Below is a copy of the report that is filled out each month by the animal control department in Canton. This report is for the month of May 2011. If you click on it, you can see that 46 cats and 20 kittens were trapped and, therefore, killed during that month.
I recently learned of a rescue group, His Hands Extended Sanctuary, in Saint Paris, Ohio, which is located in Champaign County, that is offering low cost spay and neuter surgeries for both dogs and cats to the general public, as well as rescues and shelters. The clinics, which just got started this past October, also provide vaccines at affordable prices. Additionally, they give a ten percent discount to seniors, active military, and to people getting multiple animals fixed (over three).
Cat spays are $40. Cat neuters are $20. Surgeries for dogs range in prices based on weight. For dogs over 101 pounds, the price for a spay is $105 and for a neuter is $95–and those are the most expensive prices. Dogs smaller than 101 pounds get smaller prices for their surgeries!
To see a complete price list and read how to schedule for the Wednesday clinics, go HERE.
For a long time now, I’ve not had any resources for those people B and O was helping in Champaign County. I also never had many resources for people looking for low cost services for dogs. Now I have both! And I am so happy about this. The clinics at His Hands Extended are close enough for people in surrounding counties, including here in Madison and Union counties (it was about a 30-35 minute drive from Plain City to the sanctuary which is outside of Saint Paris).
I first learned about Tanya Jordan and His Hands Extended Sanctuary when she donated food to us for our Pet Food Pantry. My mom and dad went to pick up the food and were so impressed with her set up that they couldn’t stop talking about it. Equipped with many buildings for the dogs and cats who live at the sanctuary, the organization adopts animals into loving families, while providing a lifelong home for those that are never adopted.
I hope to make a trip myself to Tanya’s facilities in the near future and find out how she runs her clinics. There can never be too many low cost surgery options for the dogs and cats (and their care givers) in our rural areas. I am glad to know about one more!
Our beloved vet friend, Dr. Kim West, has been volunteering at the Humane Society of Delaware County learning new spay and neuter techniques and assisting Dr. Melanie deHaan from SOS of Ohio, who also volunteers at the shelter. Dr. West has seen a lot of things since she’s been going up to the shelter over the past few months. The most heart breaking, by far, however, was the cat that came in on December 22 with an arrow through her body.
Dr. West did emergency surgery to remove the arrow. She called OSU to get assistance as she performed the delicate procedure. The metal arrow was completely through the cat’s body. Not only that, but Dr. West said it had been there for at least a week. It was an old injury. The poor cat had somehow been surviving with it in her body.
Because she was worried about infection, Dr. West took the kitty home with her to recover. The one-year-old tiger, tabby female was named “Sparrow,” because she was “spared the arrow.” She is now doing very well and Dr. West thinks she can be adopted into her forever home.
I cannot understand how anyone could do this to a cat or any defenseless animal. Dr. West said it was not an accident, but appeared to have been done intentionally. It truly makes me sick to my stomach.
When I searched for the 10TV news stories about Dr. West’s kitty online, I found several disturbing stories about cats being shot with arrows in Crawford County. A cat was found on Christmas Eve with an arrow through the head. She also is expected to live. There have been five such cases in the Galion area since July. You can read the full story HERE.
A teenage boy has since been identified for shooting the cat in the head and will face charges of animal cruelty. You can read that HERE and HERE.
Sparrow’s assailant is still out there, however, and no charges have been filed in her case.
Miss Sparrow continues to make a full recovery at home with Dr. West. If you are interested in adopting Sparrow, please contact us or go ahead and fill out one of our adoption applications on our web site, www.bandocats.org under “How you can help” and “Adopt.” Once you have been approved, we’ll put you in contact with Dr. West so you can meet lovely, little Sparrow, who is super, super sweet (and young). This kitty will be going to a forever home where she will never, ever be in danger again! You can count on that.
Watch the video of Dr. West on 10TV HERE.
Read the 10TV follow up story HERE.
We received over 120 photos for our first ever rescue calendar for 2012. And these were not run-of-the-mill photos. They were all gorgeous. We had a really hard time choosing our winners. We finally had to make it a rule that we would only pick one photo from a family, because some people sent in multiple beautiful pictures.
One example of this occurred with the Hamiltons. Dick and Linda sent in four photos and they were all stunning. It looked as if the cats had been posed–I do not know how they got the cats to sit so still for the camera. I am including two of their photos that did NOT win here. Just look how great they were. Their winner will be featured as the November kitty, so you can check that out when you buy your copy.
Another person with multiple great photos was Mary Dietz. Most of the photos that Mary sent were of strays who had been dumped on her. She mentioned that in one year, they had 22 cats dumped and we helped them get 12-13 of those fixed. The remainder either found other homes or ran off after the spaying and neutering efforts were under way. They now have a stable and fixed colony of 14 cats that they care for–proof that trap-neuter-return (TNR) and spaying and neutering are the solutions to feline overpopulation.
I am going to post a few of Mary’s “Loser” photos at the bottom of this. Her winner will be featured as “September” in the calendar with a picture of a sweet kitty named “Tres” who she says doesn’t have a mean bone in his body. Tres is currently an outside kitty, but Mary would love to find him an inside home if anyone sees him in the calendar and is interested.
I thought that over the next few weeks, as we are working on the calendar with our Printer, Wilson Printing and Graphics in London, that I would post some of the photos we received here and on Facebook.
Thank you to everyone who submitted their babies. It was so nice to see some of our former fosters and know they had found lovely homes!
