Help spay 9 strays in Athens, GA
Donation protected
These two (and a half) cuties are some of the 20-something feral cats my family cares for in our townhome complex in Athens, Georgia.
We began feeding one male cat in 2011 just after our first super-special little guy, Buddy, passed away from complications of chronic renal failure at the age of 9. We knew he was special, but we really did not know how many cats it would take to fill the void left by him! Apparently, it's more than 20!
One day, in June 2012, four kittens about 6-8 weeks old showed up on our patio (Sylvia, Zoe, Azalea, and George). We had seen one or two other cats around (unfortunately, the first little male cat was hit by a car in March of that year), but could never have expected kittens!
We, of course, began feeding the kittens with every intention of starting a TNR (trap-neuter-release) program. But we could never find anyone in the Athens area who claimed to provide such a service. We asked our vet, and he suggested the Humane Society, but we didn't see information about the clinic on their web site. At the time, we weren't able to pet the kittens, so we were unsure if we would be able to catch them to have them spayed and neutered.
Fast forward four years, and we've now seen four generations of cats come up to our patio. They are super sweet, and we know that we will be able to trap at least 7 or 8 of the 10 girls. Unfortunately, we have had multiple financial hurdles the last four years as I finished my PhD in Foods and Nutrition. So, now that we are able to handle the cats, we don't have the funds to take care of them.
I've resisted thinking about a GoFundMe campaign for a long time because I keep thinking that my business will take off soon, and I'll be able to have everyone TNR'd. Or that I will be hired permanently with a higher salary. I do not like to ask for help.
However, we've recently had neighbors who want to make the cats their business (without putting out food or otherwise helping). I would love to think that the neighbors are genuinely desiring to help. However, I feel that they just want to take them to the shelter where many will likely not be adopted because they will need extensive socialization (they are used to us, but they run from other people).
I want to raise the funds to at least spay the females and have their initial vaccinations and deworming so that we stop the kitten cycle and make sure the cats are healthy. These cats are a colony of ferals, and it's not another's place to make a decision about their care when they have not fed them, provided shelters, or socialized them. I believe that if we are able to TNR this colony, they will be allowed to stay on the grounds where we can care for them - and they will not needlessly be put down. They are too beautiful and sweet to meet that fate.
Your generosity in helping these cats stay in the home space they have known since birth - but stopping the cycle of kittens - is so greatly appreciated. They are truly the joy of our lives (including my crazy dog, Andrew, who is followed by the older cats in a parade of sorts when he goes out at night).
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your donation to spay our strays.
We began feeding one male cat in 2011 just after our first super-special little guy, Buddy, passed away from complications of chronic renal failure at the age of 9. We knew he was special, but we really did not know how many cats it would take to fill the void left by him! Apparently, it's more than 20!
One day, in June 2012, four kittens about 6-8 weeks old showed up on our patio (Sylvia, Zoe, Azalea, and George). We had seen one or two other cats around (unfortunately, the first little male cat was hit by a car in March of that year), but could never have expected kittens!
We, of course, began feeding the kittens with every intention of starting a TNR (trap-neuter-release) program. But we could never find anyone in the Athens area who claimed to provide such a service. We asked our vet, and he suggested the Humane Society, but we didn't see information about the clinic on their web site. At the time, we weren't able to pet the kittens, so we were unsure if we would be able to catch them to have them spayed and neutered.
Fast forward four years, and we've now seen four generations of cats come up to our patio. They are super sweet, and we know that we will be able to trap at least 7 or 8 of the 10 girls. Unfortunately, we have had multiple financial hurdles the last four years as I finished my PhD in Foods and Nutrition. So, now that we are able to handle the cats, we don't have the funds to take care of them.
I've resisted thinking about a GoFundMe campaign for a long time because I keep thinking that my business will take off soon, and I'll be able to have everyone TNR'd. Or that I will be hired permanently with a higher salary. I do not like to ask for help.
However, we've recently had neighbors who want to make the cats their business (without putting out food or otherwise helping). I would love to think that the neighbors are genuinely desiring to help. However, I feel that they just want to take them to the shelter where many will likely not be adopted because they will need extensive socialization (they are used to us, but they run from other people).
I want to raise the funds to at least spay the females and have their initial vaccinations and deworming so that we stop the kitten cycle and make sure the cats are healthy. These cats are a colony of ferals, and it's not another's place to make a decision about their care when they have not fed them, provided shelters, or socialized them. I believe that if we are able to TNR this colony, they will be allowed to stay on the grounds where we can care for them - and they will not needlessly be put down. They are too beautiful and sweet to meet that fate.
Your generosity in helping these cats stay in the home space they have known since birth - but stopping the cycle of kittens - is so greatly appreciated. They are truly the joy of our lives (including my crazy dog, Andrew, who is followed by the older cats in a parade of sorts when he goes out at night).
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your donation to spay our strays.
Organizer
Whitney Bignell
Organizer
Athens, GA
