Colony Cats

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On Tuesday, September 17 through Wednesday, September 18The Columbus Foundation will present a 24 hour opportunity to match donations to Central Ohio non-profits that are part of their PowerPhilanthropy–up to 1 million dollars! From 11 am on September 17 to 11 am on September 18, credit card donations of $20 or more will be matched by The Columbus Foundation.

To participate, just visit Columbusfoundation.org.

Click on the GIVE NOW button.

Select the non-profit of your choice from among 600 organizations that are part of PowerPhilanthropy. There are 21 organizations that are listed under “Animal Welfare and Conservation.” To see all of the groups, go HERE. Click on “Program Area” and select “Animal Welfare and Conservation.”

One of the groups I am recommending that people donate to is Columbus Dog Connection. Columbus Dog Connection has a new Mobile Spay/Neuter Truck and to ease the burden of fundraising for other rescues, they also write for and share grant money to help save more cats and dogs.

The second group I am suggesting is The Ohio Wildlife Center. Any donations that are made to the Ohio Wildlife Center will be used to help wild animals that have been injured and to support their work in the hospital and in their educational programs. They are a great place and I have taken rescued baby birds, bunnies, and other wildlife in need to them on many occasions.

Another group I love is Pet FBI Pets found by Internet. Pet FBI helps to reunite lost pets with their owners by allowing people to post photos and information on pets that have been lost and pets that have been found.

I also have a soft spot in my heart for the Ohio House Rabbit Rescue and the Columbus House Rabbit Society. After fostering a bunny that was dumped at my parent’s house out in the country, I have a special love for Little Bunny Foo Foos and all those special people who save these soft, gentle babies.

We use SOS of Ohio, Shelter Outreach Services for many of our feral kitties. They have a wonderful program where they will allow you to bring a trapped cat in without an appointment from Tuesday to Friday, 8 am to 3 pm. They’ll fix the kitty and send it back home with you by 5 pm the same day. Plus, they are one of the few vet hospitals in Columbus that will not declaw. Love that! Our vet, Dr. Kim West and her partner, Dr. Evelyn Tannhof at Health and Harmony Animal Hospital are the only other office besides SOS that I know of that refuses to declaw.

Additionally, you can pick these other great organizations:

1. Friends of the Shelter which provides funding for the Franklin County Dog Shelter.

2. Cat Welfare Association is a shelter dedicated to finding homes for cats and kittens.

3. Cozy Cat Cottage is another wonderful shelter that cares for cats and kittens until they can find permanent, forever homes.

4. Colony Cats also helps numerous kitties in the area. They are also premiere trappers, doing Trap-Neuter-Return projects all over the county.

5. Almost Home Dog Rescue provides homes for homeless Collies and other dogs looking for their families.

6. Capital Area Humane Society fights animal cruelty throughout Columbus and advocates for animals in the county.

And the final two groups I am putting a good word in for are not animal related, but are still favorites:  WCBE, 90.5, our local public radio station, and Friends of the Drexel, supporting the independent movie theater in downtown Bexley.

I am an NPR junkie and my views of the world come directly from WCBE. I don’t watch the news on television (too depressing), so the only real world news I get is from my public radio. I also love seeing the lesser known and usually award-winning films at the Drexel Theater in Bexley.

Pick one of these non-profits or one of the other 600 that are involved in The Big Give on September 17 and 18 and double your donation for many great causes. Believe me, most charities can use the extra help right now!

 

On Saturday, April 6, author Cathy Unruh will be participating in a book signing and fundraising dinner for Colony Cats. Cathy Unruh is the author of the book, Taming Me: Memoir of a Clever Island Cat. The book recounts the story of Lucy Miracle, a formerly feral kitty who narrates the adventure. Besides offering the perspective of a feral cat who must learn to trust people, the book also educates on the importance of Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) in reducing the feline overpopulation problem.

Cathy Unruh will be at a book signing at Colony Cat’s Kit & Kaboodle Boutique from 11 am to 2 pm on Saturday, April 6. The Boutique is located at 2736 Festival Lane in Dublin (in front of Joanne’s Fabrics). You can pre-purchase a copy of the book for $15 on Colony Cat’s web site HERE. The Boutique will also have a special sale the day of the book signing with most items discounted 25%. Cat toys and cat-themed items will be featured. There will also be a bake sale.

Following the book signing, Colony Cats will host a fundraising dinner from 6-8 pm at Camelot Cellars Winery, 958 North High Street in Columbus. You can meet Cathy and Lucy at the dinner and hear Cathy speak about TNR in the United States and the Bahamas (where Lucy Miracle was tamed). The event is $65 per person and includes wine from Camelot Cellars, dinner and dessert from A Catered Event, and an autographed copy of Taming Me: Memoir of a Clever Island Cat. Currently, there are only 14 seats still remaining for this event. So if you want to attend, get moving. You can purchase tickets online HERE.

For more information on Cathy Unruh and Lucy Miracle, visit Cathy’s web page HERE.

You can also follow Cathy’s Facebook page HERE.

Colony Cats is opening their new Kit ‘N Kaboodle Boutique next to their Adoption Center at 2736 Festival Lane in Dublin (off of Sawmill Road by the Joann’s Fabrics store). The Boutique will have a grand opening on Sunday, November 13, from 1-4 pm. There will be raffles, refreshments, and tons of shopping deals just in time for the holiday season.

The Boutique will feature gently used products including bedroom furniture, kitchen items, living room furniture, home decor, and brand new pet accessories. So if you don’t want to stage your own garage sale, but you want your “treasures” to benefit a good cause, donate those unwanted items to the Boutique. They are NOT accepting clothing and shoes, electronics, exercise equipment, appliances, mattresses, water beds, or children’s items.

To see a full list of what they will and will not accept, download their Wish List HERE.

To enlarge the flyer to the left, simply click on it.

The Boutique will be open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 10 am-5 pm. Colony Cats will need volunteers to man the Boutique, sort and price items, and also pick up larger items. If you can help or have items to donate, please contact them at kitnkaboodleboutique@yahoo.com

Additionally, besides the grand opening of the Boutique, the group is also celebrating the 2nd Anniversary of their Adoption Center. Of course, all proceeds from the Boutique will go to help Colony Cats provide vet care and spay and neuter services for the cats in their Adoption Center, as well as the dogs they also care for in foster homes.

As you are looking for deals this holiday gift giving season, consider shopping at Colony Cat’s Kit ‘N Kaboodle Boutique! You’ll not only get great bargains, but you’ll help animals in need.

Now, I’ve heard of feral cats getting a tattoo on their bellies or in their ears to show that they have been fixed, but now you can get a tattoo to support those same kitties. Envy Skin Gallery, located at 528 Bethel Road in Columbus, will be hosting a “Paws for the Cause” Tattoo Benefit for Colony Cats on Saturday, November 5 from 10 am to 2 pm.

For $40, you can get a paw tattoo of your choice (up to approximately one square inch) and 100% of the proceeds will go to Colony Cats to help them provide medical care and low cost spay and neuter services for homeless and abused cats and dogs in the Central Ohio area. If you’ve always wanted a tattoo, but were a bit afraid to get one, now is your chance to get tattooed for the animals.

Sadly, my husband, Joe, has a thing about tattoos (and to be honest, I am a bit of a germaphobe and a “woose,” so I would never get a tattoo on my own, either). But from the time I first met Joe (practically on the first date, I think), he told me that if you had a tattoo, the police could find you more easily–as if either of us would be doing anything that would require the law to be searching for us. I can just imagine the all points bulletin over the police radio: “Assailant has a small cat paw print tattoo on her left arm. Be warned, she may be carrying potentially dangerous feral cats in her vehicle.”

Although I will never have a tattoo, I think this tattoo benefit is a really neat idea and one that I have never, ever heard of before to raise money for the animals.

The other thing that Colony Cats is doing to help homeless animals is opening a “Kit N Kaboodle Boutique” where people can bring new and gently used items for the group to sell. All the funds made from the boutique will, of course, go for services for the animals. As anyone knows who has cleaned out an attic or basement, it is sometimes hard to find a place to take all the items you no longer want. And, as we all know, organizing a garage sale can be a nightmare if you don’t have an expert like Carol on board. So check out the boutique wish list and guidelines HERE. Then donate the next time you have unwanted junk…err, treasures in your closets.

The boutique, which is set to be open Fridays through Sundays from 10-5 pm in an area next to the Cat Adoption Center at 2740 Festival Center Lane off of Sawmill Road, will also need volunteers to help man the shop, tag items, and pick up donated furniture. If you would like to help, email kitnkaboodleboutique@yahoo.com. Please put “Volunteer” in the subject line.

You can click on the Tattoo Benefit flyer above to enlarge it and print it out.

In case you didn’t hear, our little Fruit Bat is a starlet! She was featured on Channel 6 News last night with Mona from Colony Cats and Ferrell Santacroce, who rescued her from the side of West Broad Street and saved her life.

No, autographs, please, it has been a long day. But powder my nose. I think I have a bit of a shine.

Here is the link to the story on the “ABC 6 On Your Side” web site: Fruit Bat’s Story on Channel 6

They did not post the video, but if anyone does find a copy of the video online, let us know and we’ll share the link.

Fruit Bat needs both of her ankles repaired. They were fractured from her sad adventures on a busy highway.

Fruit Bat was found lying in the median of a very busy road. No one slowed down to check on the little dog as she cowered in pain, back legs unable to move, on the hot pavement. Cars whizzed by for twelve hours before a good samaritan from Colony Cats stopped to investigate and found the tiny chihuahua. The kind hearted volunteer quickly rushed Fruit Bat to Noah’s Ark Vet Hospital in Dublin, where Dr. Kim West proceeded to do a physical exam.

Fruit Bat’s back ankles were both fractured, causing the little dog’s immobility. Other than that, however, the chihuahua with the big eyes and perpetual smile, was in good shape. Dr. West discovered that Fruit Bat was only two years old and had not been spayed. On further investigation, it also became clear that Fruit Bat had an old fracture to the bone of her front leg, a fracture which had healed without medical care. Wherever this sweet girl came from, it was not the best place.

Forever smiling--even in pain, Fruit Bat has a happy face. Who couldn't love her?

It was Dr. West who named Fruit Bat and, to be honest, she does look like a bat with her big ears and skinny face. But looking like a bat is not a bad thing when you are that cute!

Because the volunteer who found Fruit Bat was with Colony Cats, the group was more than willing to help the little girl. Only there was one problem. A problem that often occurs in rescue–the little problem of money. Fruit Bat’s surgeries to repair her broken ankle bones must be done at Ohio State–Dr. West cannot do that herself. And so, the cost for Fruit Bat to walk again is between $1500-2000 and Colony Cats just cannot afford to pay that much.

Please help me get my legs fixed.

Dr. West took it upon herself to raise the money for Fruit Bat’s surgeries and she asked us if we would help.  Dr. West is also going to act as Fruit Bat’s foster after the surgeries, taking care of her dressings and helping her with rehabilitative therapy.

And so all of us, Black and Orange Cat Foundation, Colony Cats, The Forgotten Persian Rescue and Friends, which is Renee Kelly’s charitable group (Renee is the owner of Noah’s Ark), are going to work together with Dr. West to help Fruit Bat.

Big things can happen when lots of people work together! Big things for a little dog.

That is where we need your help. If you would like to help Fruit Bat walk again, please mail your tax deductible donation to Noah’s Ark Veterinary Hospital, 6001 Memorial Drive, Dublin, Ohio 43017. Please put, “Attention: Dr. Kim West, Fruit Bat’s Fund” on the front of the envelope. You can contact Noah’s Ark for more information by calling 614-761-8400. You can also learn more at their web site: http://noahsarkvethosp.com/

Checks can be made out to Colony Cats. You can also make credit card donations at their web site: http://www.colonycats.org/donate.htm

Please make sure to indicate that this donation is for Fruit Bat’s Fund.

Additionally, Black and Orange Cat Foundation is also accepting donations for Fruit Bat. You can mail a donation to us at P. O. Box 126, Plain City, Ohio 43064. Please make sure to write on the check that this is for Fruit Bat’s Fund. You can also donate through our PayPal link on our web site: www.bandocats.org

Please email us if you do make a PayPal donation and let us know that the funds are for Fruit Bat. Unfortunately, our PayPal site does not have a memo section set up to allow us to write what the donation is for.

All of the organizations involved are 501 (c) 3 charities, so any donation you make for Fruit Bat is tax deductible.

Dr. West and Fruit Bat--we will get this girl walking again.

Just as soon as Fruit Bat has her surgeries, she will also need a forever home, so if you are interested in adopting the sweetest chihuahua north of Mexico, contact us or Noah’s Ark. Fruit Bat does well with other dogs and with cats and she LOVES people.

The only other solution for Fruit Bat if she cannot have these surgeries is euthanasia and none of us will allow that to happen!!

Where would I be without my friends? Probably still stretched out on the road! You can't see it, but I am shivering just thinking about that!

Front Window of Colony Cats New Adoption Center

Front Window of Colony Cats New Adoption Center

We attended the grand opening of Colony Cats’ new Adoption Center off of Sawmill Road in Dublin.  We got there shortly after the celebration began at noon and the parking lot was already packed. There were a ton of people inside. We were greeted at the front door by the cat ear bedecked kids of the “Giving Tree” who asked us to buy a leaf for the Tree (a giant cat tree). A leaf was purchased in honor of Oswald P. Kitten Craft.

Please buy a leaf for the Giving Tree.

Please buy a leaf for the Giving Tree.

The inside of the Adoption Center is great. All the cats live cage free in nicely decorated rooms. There is an area to sell merchandise and lots of places to sit and cuddle with kitties.

Sit and Cuddle a while

Sit and Cuddle a while

This is really going to be a nice addition to the Adoption landscape for kitties. We are so glad that Colony Cats opened this center and we wish them the best of luck. They plan to be open 4-7 pm Monday to Friday and 12-5 pm on Saturdays and Sundays. They will, of course, adjust those hours as needed.

If you would like to check out the new Adoption Center, you can visit them at 2740 Festival Lane in the Festival Center off of Sawmill Road, near Joann’s Fabrics.

Colony Cats Cat lover's car.

Colony Cats Cat lover's car.

 

opening web page

I have to tell you that if there was no Black and Orange Cat Foundation, I would probably be working with Colony Cats. In fact, I first got my start with Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) because of one of the volunteers with Colony Cats, Nancy Heller. Nancy had her own group at that time, CATco (Cat Assistance Team of Central Ohio), and she helped get a PetSmart grant to spay and neuter cats at a trailer park in Plain City at my plea for help. This was in 2005 and I was the lead person in charge of trapping, contacting residents, and taking the cats to vet appointments (which Nancy set up and paid for with the grant). Once the grant was used up and we had spayed and neutered almost 100 cats in the trailer park, I was hooked. 

I wanted to do more.  I wanted to do more to help the cats in Plain City.

It was Nancy who encouraged me to start a group that would work to help cats in the rural counties that border Plain City–Madison and Union counties. Since there were no other groups working to spay and neuter stray and feral cats in our area, Black and Orange Cat Foundation was born. And we had our work cut out for us.

CATco, as an organization, left the Central Ohio landscape soon after B and O was started. Nancy began working with Mona at Colony Cats. It had always been Nancy’s dream to have an adoption center for CATco.  I am so glad to see that Colony Cats is doing that very thing.

I will be attending the grand opening on Sunday, November 8th, of the adoption center. In fact, Joe and I stopped by last night to get a peek and the place looks fabulous. I’d like to encourage everyone to stop out and support Colony Cats. They are one of only a few organizations in the Central Ohio area doing Trap-Neuter-Return, as well as finding homes for stray kitties (and dogs) in need. They are a super organization and they deserve every good thing that can come their way! They do so much for the cats everyone else overlooks.

Congratulations, Colony Cats. Black and Orange Cat Foundation would not exist without our mentors in the TNR world!

To learn more about Colony Cats and TNR, visit their web site, www.colonycats.org

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