Pam's TNR Blog - May 2012

May 2012

It is already July and I found out I had never finished this blog I started in May! Here goes:

We have been very busy this year with the free Humane Society clinics for 100 feral cats once month. To get 100 cats to these clinics, about 130 cats need to be scheduled. Of course every spot must be filled so Suzie and I usually swing into action. The photo below is of us checking in a colony of 28 cats Suzie trapped at a mobile home park in the W. Valley for the AHS clinic on 30 April. These were the result of a second night trapping from Saturday's clinic where we had in 23 cats for a total of 51 cats at this park. I also trapped 23 cats for the 30 April clinic and eight cats for the following day for a total of 31 cats in this colony! A total of 82 cats TNR'd in five days. Most importantly, there will be no more kittens born in these colonies.

Suzie and I checking in cats @ the AHS on 30 April 2012

You may be wondering how we keep going with all this trapping, transporting, lifting etc. Consider that between us we lifted about 10,000 lbs in TNR'ing 82 cats. This includes about six lifting steps with from 13-20 lbs of either traps or traps with cats in them (say an average of 15 lbs). This is five tons of weight being lifted to TNR 82 cats! Multiply this my the number of cats I TNR per year (2,200 cats) and this excludes the extra two to four lifting steps for aftercare and storage in the warm summer and cool winter months and this comes up to about (15 X 6 X 2,200 = 180,000 lbs or 90 tons of cats and traps. None of this includes the trap washing lifting steps that require even more tonnage of equipment

Let's also consider the $400.00 I spent in gas along in April and all the tuna, bleach, detergent, tarps, aftercare food and now in May the swamp cooler running the the garage and its maintenance (thank you Grant). How about the phone calls that start at 5:00 AM and end at about 9:00 PM... 

Well, why do I do this? I do it because there are too many cats and not enough homes for them. Most who love cats already have too many cats (like myself). We are trying to solve a problem that is epidemic in Maricopa County. How much easier it would be if people fixed their cats...I realize many cannot afford to and cats just "find them". Those that know me know I am a champion of personal responsibility yet I work daily with those abdicating their Ms (that's a philisophical argument for another blog). Most want "someone else" to fix their problem like taking the cats away or finding homes for them. Still it is like putting acid on a wound but I continue to punish myself in hopes that someday free-roaming cats being fed will ALL be fixed. Some ask...what are you trying to prove? My answer is nothing. I just someday want to be able to justify purchasing my beloved prurebred Singapura cat - without feeling guilty!

I wanted to write about last month's AHS clinic because it required dealing with many more caregivers and driving all over town trying to fill the clinic. However, even though I wrote it all down, when I looked at the list it all was a blur months later. I often feel like "if it is Tuesday it's Belgium". Where have I been? Where were these cats? I can hardly remember. I do know I was @ 24th St. and Indian School in Phoenx than @ 48th Ave and Glendale - all in the same night. I also remember having about 60+ cats in the garage that night. I do remember taking this photo of Suzie with her neice Kristin at last month's (April's) AHS clinic - loading cats into her truck. There were kittens from two litters too and Suzie fostered them...



Enough of rambling from my soapbox. The photo below is a one I took while while recently trapping with Carla at an apartment complex and trailer park. We trapped about 40 cats. This is the quintesential photo of where we spend at lot of time trapping. Not sure if you can see the sign in this photo but it says "please do not throw trash on the ground". Cats love trash and this was the perfect place for them - a magnet for feral cats. I can picture them living in this couch - perhaps even having kittens inside! When I am looking for free-roaming cats, I often look in such places. I remember the last day of 2008 trying to break the yearly goal, I went to the trusty coach down on Indian School Rd. to get more cats - always a sure thing.

I

I've been doing this since 2004. As I drive by areas of town I now see LOTs of places I've been over the last eight years and I see ear-tipped cats. I also get calls from or stop by previous caregivers I've helped and the number of cats has diminished substantially. Many have died which saddens me. Yesterday, I stopped by to visit one elderly gentleman and he was down to about six cats - and we had fixed over 20 cats there. This tells me TNR works!

So what can you do to help me make my job easier? Encourage people to fix their cats. Recommend trap-neuter-return (TNR) for cats they might be feeding outside. If they need help, offer to help them or donate for them if they do not have any money. Spread the word in your "sphere of influence" about the importance of spay and neuter. Facebook is a good place to start.

To help with the Hotline's TNR program in Maricopa County, AZ...please call us @: 602-265-7729 (SPAY)

Thanks for your continued support.



Pam's TNR Blog - Week of 5 September 2010

Note: Photo courtesy of Molly Wald of Best Friends

There were no clinics on Sunday and Monday due to the Labor Day holiday. I hate holidays! No vets are open and that means no trapping. Suzie and I planned to make up for lost time by trapping on Labor Day night (Monday 9/6) at a restaurant we'd trapped at before. Not my favorite venue but still we'd be out trapping. It was a slow night and we ended up with only two cats. But it was to be a busy week...

Tuesday 9/7

Donna, an acquaintance of mine had contacted me about a neighborhood that had at least 50 cats. She had seen the cats while driving through the neighborhood and decided to be proactive. This was in central Phoenix and was a relatively "upscale" neighborhood in comparison to those we normally frequent. She agreed to find the feeders and fund raise in the neighborhood and Barbara agreed to set up the trapping. Suzie and I would show up with a full arsenal of traps. One always doubts the large number of cats but it has been my experience there is always more than estimated. There were three main feeders and all fortunately had withheld food. Barbara and Suzie started on the biggest colony while I tackled a smaller one behind on the next street. These three caregivers had been feeding these cats for years (while they were breeding out of control) and none of them knew each other or knew that they were also feeding cats - despite the fact that they all lived practically next door to each other. The roaming males must of thought this was nirvana! It is sad but this is often the case in most neighborhoods. We were in the "meet your neighbors mode that night.

After catching quite a few cats we set more traps at each location and all met three doors down from the biggest colony. Here we found at least 10 more cats waiting to eat. This was trapping heaven. All told that night and over night we trapped 47 cats! We be back two more nights to finish the job which would eventually yield 56 cats. Donna spent the night going door-to-door soliciting donations.

...I might mentioned that after a busy night trapping Suzie went back to the restaurant for a second night's trapping. It yielded only one cat. I went home to aftercare the two cats from the night before.

Wednesday 9/8

I picked up stragglers and the one cat caught overnight at the restaurant and dropping off eight cats at the first vet I met up with Suzie at the second vet to drop off 40 more cats (one fortunately agreed to take 40 cats). I'd have those to pick up and aftercare and but before this I went down to set traps at the three locations later that evening.

Thursday 9/9

I checked traps at the three location early in the AM and released the one restaurant cat. We had caught seven more overnight. I left traps for the one caregiver to set that night to catch a few more. I dropped the seven off at the vet before meeting Suzie at my house to pick up the 47 cats for release at the three locations. Sometimes I wish I had that Ford Transit Connect instead of my Element. It would save a LOT of driving. I'd be going home to wash traps to trap that night (after picking up the seven cats at the vet) to trap way out in the W. Valley. The caregiver said she had about 8-12 cats but I'd go prepared for more. Well, 10-12 turned in to 20 over two night of trapping.

Friday 10/10

Early in the AM I set off to pick up the stragglers at the W. Valley location, then pick up two from the third night trapping in central Phoenix. Seven cats still had to be released there also. As I picked up the two cats I discovered one of the cats was giving birth in the trap! This is always a shock but with all the trapping I do it is rather common. The kittens rarely survive as they are usually born early due to the mother's stress. Despite our efforts the kittens did not make it. Fortunately we were able to fix the mother cat. No more litters would be born to this cat that had been breeding out of control for years. I try to remember that "the most painful thing a feral cat will experience is NOT being fixed". I remind caregivers of this when they say "I just cannot stand the thought of the cat being in a trap". I'd be at the vet that day with 18 more cats. What a week so far!

Saturday 9/11

The one caregiver set traps Friday night and I picked up four more (for a total of 20) when I released the 16 in the AM. I had the one cat to release at the Phoenix location (the mother cat was still trying to care for the one surviving kitten although to no avail). She'd be released in a day or so). Another caregiver trapped without a plan and caught the last cat which I picked up on the way to the vet. Both caregivers would be picking up at my house on Sunday as the next day, 9/12, was our monthy high-volume spay day in N. Phoenix. I'd be getting ready for the clinic on Saturday. Suzie was trapping at three locations that night for the Sunday clinic.

There will always be free-roaming cats in the valley. Our goal is to stabilize colonies of cats being fed by caregivers. to do this ALL the cat must be captured and spayed and neutered. It can beas lot of work, especially for larger colonies. A word of advise, if you start feeding a colony of feral cats, be prepared to spend the time, effort and money to fix them. This is huge responsibility on the part of the feeder. You can see from my blogs what can happen if cats are fed - they will breed even more...to a number the food source will sustain. When a colony gets too large inbreeding and disease often take their toll. I rarely see colonies large than 25-30 cats.
Thank you for reading my TNR blog and I hope this one encourages everyone to go out and spread the word about TNR and the importance of spay and neuter. To sign up for our TNR program please call us at: 602-265-2229 (SPAY) or email: feralcats@adlaz.org. We service the metro Phoenix area in Arizona.

Pam's TNR Blog - 27 Aug. thru 5 Sept. 2010

Pam's TNR Blog Update:

You may have noticed that I am months behind on my weekly blogs and those weeks contain a lot of great trapping adventures. There are simply not enough hours in the day to schedule, trap, transport, wash traps, aftercare, fund raise, volunteer at clinics and spread the word about TNR and S/N. However, this last week had some memorable moments I want to share. As of this week I have TNR'd 1310 cats in 2010. Some think I am TNR'ing cats I feed - well, I do not feed feral cats and do not encourage feeding of feral cats unless they are fixed. These 1310 cats represent cats being fed by caregivers I've never met - until I trap for them. Over the years I have met some wonderful caregivers, many I never would have met had I not trapped for them. It is not just about helping cats, it is also helping people who love cats. and making a difference in their lives.

Friday: 27 August

It was a busy week with several trapping jobs. Although weeks normally end on Friday, we had good news - a new vet would be open on Saturdays. We would now at last be a seven day a week operation. Not to allow vet slots to go unused, I set up a job in Cordes Junction. Cordes Junction is about an hour N. of Phoenix off I-17. Storms were looming when Bill and I set off.to trap late in the day. I often go out of town to trap looking for a new adventure. Over the years I've been to Gila Bend, Coolidge, Salome, Prescott Valley, Wickenburg and Aquila, to mention a few. We are so lucky in the Phoenix area to have so many low-cost S/N options that many in outlying areas do not.

The job was at an RV park and was for initially seven cats. A deluge occurred as we approached passed the Blood Basin turnoff. We arrived in Cordes Junction in a downpour. Still, we managed to set some traps set under the RV. We found a nice place to eat in view of the RV and the traps. Within an hour or so we had the mother and all six kittens. There was at least one male left. Traps would be set overnight and we set off for Phoenix. It cleared out later in the evening in time to see a double rainbow as cool raindrops fell - what a relief from the 100+ temperatures in the valley.

Saturday 28 August

I took the seven cats to the new vet in the AM. I was surprised when the vet came out and actually helped me unload the cats from my car! Four other caregivers brought cats that morning. I picked the cats up early in the afternoon for aftercare. The caregiver did not catch the remaining male cat overnight but would try for the next day and I'd pick him up when the seven were returned on Sunday AM. The problem would be I was trapping for 15-20 cats for Sunday's MCACC clinic the next day. This would get tricky...

I set off with a full arsenal of traps that night. Barbara was trapping with me in a rough neighborhood. It was slow going and I was hoping for 20 cats to fill the clinic. After checking traps after dinner it was clear we'd need to look elsewhere for more cats. Cats were not cooperating. A mile or so away I knew of a trailer park with LOTs of cats needing help. We call this "low-hanging fruit". I called the caregiver and we set five traps overnight which were all filled in the morning. The caregiver had fed the cats but I knew we'd catch at least a couple of cats. We also set traps overnight at the first location. I'd be worried as usual, sleeping little, wondering if the traps would be there in the AM...and if they'd be filled. I still had to do aftercare on the cats in from Codes Junction. Sunday would be a very busy day...

Sunday 29 August

I'd be setting off before 5:00 AM to check traps at both locations. Good news was I had cats at both locations for a total of 16 cats for the clinic. I got there at 6:15 AM to unload. From there I'd go home to pick up the seven cats to return to Cordes Junction. I called the caregiver on the way (after stopping at the gas station of course) and he had not just one cat (the male) but two cats trapped! Since I did not want to hold them in the traps until Monday, I called to see if I could get them in late to the Tempe clinic. Good news! The vet agreed to do a couple extra cats - what a relief. Still I'd have to release the seven, pick up the two, and head to Tempe (and stop for gas)I was able to make it in time (by 10:00 AM) and was able to wait at the clinic until they were fixed. I call this "drive by S/N". One was a female the caregiver had not seen before. From there I headed over to the other clinic to pick up the sixteen cats and then home with all 18 cats to be after cared.

Monday 30 August

I set off early to released the 16 cats in town. the first caregiver had trapped again that night and caught one big male. After releasing at both locations, I headed to the vet with the one cat. From there I went home to meet SJ. She went with me to release the two cats in Cordes Juntion and pick u the remaining traps. We could do scheduling and calls in the car with her wireless internet connection. I'd have LOTs of traps to wash for the remainder of the week's trapping...this was only the beginning. I'd only have one cat in the garage that night. It seemed empty.

Tuesday 1 September

I released the one cat that morning. I had planned to pick up two more cats in the area at another MHP across the street where I'd trapped before. There was still one left which I'd try for that night. Fortunately this caregiver could trap on her own. Then, I got a call from someone with a cat in a trap which had to be picked up as well for a total of three cats to take to the vet. I'd have three in today.

That night I met SJ and BG for trapping a big job in Glendale. I had two other trapping jobs in the area to do before meeting them. The was a last minute attempt to TNR cats at an old motel being torn down for a bypass over Grand Ave. and new cats next door at a business where we'd trapped before. It was very spooky seeing the old rooms/apartments and the original adobe building thinking of the history of those who had rented there for probably over 50 years. Pictures still hung on the walls. These cats would be coming back in two days to demolished buildings as they were to be torn down the next day - this was truly a last ditch effort to fix these cats. Still, we had to stop the breeding. There were torties and calicos everywhere when we arrived.

One of my first two jobs was for three cats. The later was just for two males. The former was one of my "high-end" jobs where the caregiver was donating a lot for me to help her. This would help pay for the other job in Glendale. I caught two out of three at this one and caught both males right away at the other job.

Wednesday 2 September

We caught at total of 17 at the motel and adjacent business. I'd have one more from the previous night for a total of 22 cats to go to the vet on Wednesday. Besides delivery there would be pickup and aftercare. I'd have to re-bait traps for the last cat at the "high-end" job that night.. When I am promised a big donation I go the extra distance to make sure ALL cats are caught, even using the drop-trap when desperate. We were using the new vet so we had lots of help loading and unloading cats. What a welcome relief. Even if one lifting step can be avoided, it helps. SJ would trap again that night and caught a total of 10 more cats for Thursday for a total of 27 cats from the motel and adjacent business.

Thursday 3 September

I did catch the one last cat at the high end job overnight and got an even bigger donation than expected. SJ released the last 17 motel cats very early in the morning. I'd be delivering five traps to a caregiver in central Phoenix and setting traps for a lady Grant trapped for the night before. Little did I know that Friday morning would turn in to a lot more than just six cats going to the vet. f course there were the two males and 2 females to release at the two locations that were fixed on Wednesday.

Friday 4 September

I checked traps at Grant's location where he'd already released the two cats from the previous night. I had one cat. I had my drop-trap in the car and tried for one more to no avail. Then I headed downtown to pickup the 5 cats in traps...then set off to Glendale to released the last "high-end" cat and pick up my big donation. It had been a lot of work including several traps to the gas station - but well worth it! Then I got a call from a caregiver that was high-maintenance. They had not caught the mother cat (they hardly tried) they were after. I had been offered a bigger donation for pick up and aftercare of this cat. Well, I found out the 5 kittens were way old enough to TNR as well. I agreed to go by with my drop-trap and caught one kitten. (thinking of the big donation!). I asked the caregiver to try again with my drop-trap that night. Instead, as I was almost to the vet he caught one more kitten. I had to go back there and help him transfer the cat to the trap. I then headed to the vet with 8 cats. Of course there would be the usual aftercare and release the next day.

However, taking advantage of the Saturday clinic once again, I had a 20 cat job that night. I'd trapped there before but there were more there an 10+ at the neighbor on the other side of the alley. Fortunately they were able to do a lot of the trapping. I'd be transporting as they had no vehicle (or $$).

Saturday 4 September

In the early AM I released at the first two locations then headed to the third where I'd asked the caregiver to use my drop-trap to catch the last 4 cats (including the mother cat). He had done nothing! I swung into action. When I got there I helped him trap the mother cat and one kitten. I headed to the other job to pick up 20 cats (they caught them ALL) when he trapped the last two kittens. I headed back down there (again). I dropped off the 22 cats at the vet (20 from the big job and four from the other for a total of 24 cats). Both colonies were done!

There would be aftercare and released of all 24 cats the next morning (Sunday). There was no Tempe clinic that day due to the Labor Day holiday. We would be trapping on Labor Day evening but that will be in another blog if it ever gets written...

New estimates put the number of free-roaming cats at over 700,000 in Maricopa County. We can make a difference. Remember, "it starts with you". If everyone does one small thing each week help feral cats in their area reduce this number substantially.

Consider a $25.00 donation to the Spay Neuter Hotline to help one feral cat. Or, put TNR cards out at you vet or a local business. Talk to co-workers about TNR and how they can help. Donate items to our BIG yard sale in November. Little things make a big difference - they all add up.

To help please call the Hotline at: 602-265-7729 (SPAY).

Or visit our website at: http://www.spayneuterhotline.org/


































I'd be releasing the five cats from the

Pam's TNR Blog - Week of 2/28/10

Note: Photo taken after release of 53 cats at the W. side trailer park. Note the perfect eartip!

Saturday/Sunday 2/27 - 2/28

What a wild week this was! We had a special clinic on Sunday to help caregivers in financial need. When I first heard about it I knew where we would be - at the trailer park on the W. side where we'd been several times before. It took a while to set the job up as the caregiver did not have a phone. We'd be going for about 25 cats. My trapping team geared up and despite the rain we had a very successful trapping. All told we trapped 46 cats for the Sunday's clinic (so much for 25!). We go to use our new "water proof" trap covers and they worked great.

The cats were fixed on 2/28 and I had 46 cats in my garage for aftercare. This job required two vehicles. My next vehicle is going to be a Ford Transit Connect. I already measured and it will fit up to 38 traps and perhaps a few more. These big jobs can be a lot of work but well worth the effort.

That evening SJ and I went back to set more traps for the next day before going back to my garage to feed and water 46 cats.

Monday 3/1

We caught a couple more overnight but there were still a few more there. Early in the AM we set up the drop-trap in front of the trailer and caught a couple more. I set some traps near a vacant trailer on the next row and caught three cats. After an hour or so we had seven more to go to the vet that morning for a total of 53 cats TNR'd at this location. We'd already done about 30 others in this park and we were ahead of kitten season - at least in this park. Still, there were a lot more caregivers to help and it was already the beginning of March - litters would start coming soon. I like the saying; "nine lives not nine litters". These cats would be so much happier and healthier not breeding any longer...

The 46 cats were released and the seven cats taken to the vet that morning. We actually released the cats later in the AM as there was not room for more cats and the drop-trap. Vehicle space is often an issue.

I'd be back trapping Monday night at two places in N. Phoenix and aftercaring the seven in my garage. These two trapping jobs were the kind that make one want to give up. One had trapped before and would not listen and the cats were not cooperating. To make matters worse, the drop-trap door broke and one cat escaped. The other job had cats fed by a neighbor and a responsible neighbor trying to help. I ended up with three from the first job and five from the second for a total of eight cats.

Wednesday 3/3

I'd have the cats at the vet today and would be aftercaring them at my place. One caregiver caught two more cats overnight that would go to the vet in the AM. I had another job that night. This one made the top of the list for being difficult. After going to the wrong house on the street and trapping a cat (that needed fixing), I found the right house (barely standing!). The caregiver had been referred to me by the AHS and was living in substandard conditions feeding 15 cats. It was a borderline hoarding situation but the caregiver loved the cats. and took pretty good care of them. He was concerned about pregnant cats being spayed. It is often more challenging dealing with the caregivers than trapping the cats. However, my motto is "when the going gets tough the tough get going". Those who know me know me know I never give up if there are cats to be TNR'd.

Thursday 3/4

I caught a total of 18 cats and ended up at two vets. I had set traps overnight and they were full in the AM. One small kitten needed an eye removal and had to stay at the vet until the following Tuesday. I'd have 17 cats to aftercare after picking up at two vets.

Friday 3/5

I released the 17 cats in the AM and took cat food to the caregiver whose resources were clearly limited. He said he would call me when the pregnant cat had her kittens and said OK. I have not heard from him since. After the release I came home to work on setting up for the yard sale at my house the next day, 3/6. We had LOTs of stuff to sort so we'd be ready at 6:00 AM the next morning. Some volunteers came to help which was great. I actually love these yard sales despite the amount of work involved.

Saturday 3/6

The yard sale was a tremendous success. We made almost $1,000 and had a great time selling all kinds of stuff. Yard sales are an excellent way to make money to help feral cats. There are so many caregivers in need like the man this week with the 18 cats. It is heartbreaking to see female cats breeding until their entire life and often die of having litters...and because the feeder cannot afford to spay them. It is not their fault and they desperately need your help.

Please consider a tax-deductible donation to help cats in need. A donation of just $25 will help fix one female cat and save her life. To donate, please visit our website at:

http://www.spayneuterhotline.org/

Donations can also be mailed to:

ADLA
P.O. Box 33093
Phoenix 85067

Thank you for your support!







To sign up for our TNR program please call the hotline at: 602-265-7729 (SPAY)

Pam's TNR Blog - Week of 2/21/10

Note: Photo courtesy of Molly Wald of Best Friends - Thank you Molly!

Sunday 2/21

We had the N. Phoenix clinic on Sunday. I was not trapping Saturday night but SJ and BC were out trapping 20 cats. Beth and John were also trapping. Many ADLA volunteers were at the PetWalk in Tempe. Many of you know that I am afraid of dogs so being at the clinic was an excuse not to go. I did, however, sponsor several people in the PetWalk. This is a big fundraiser for ADLA - so watch for for this event in 2011!

Monday 2/22

There were more cats trapped overnight for Monday. Second night trappings are a good way to catch ALL the cats. I'll stress again just how important it is to fix ALL the cats in a colony. The goal is to stabilise the colony and one unsterilised female can ruin the effort. I've often left on male unsterilised, but I figure he'll go elsewhere for to "sow his wild seed". I aftercare the stragglers that night and SJ released them in the AM.

I'd begin the week with a big job on Monday night. This was for about 20 cats and fortunately near my house (not requiring a trip the back of beyond). I'd trapped around the corner of this residence several years ago. When I arrived with my arsenal of traps, I found out that another person was actually feeding most of the cats. He had lived there but now, by coincidence, lived in the trailer park where we had trapped back in January. He was also feeding there along with that same person (he lived just a couple of trailers from him). Anyway, there was a sea of cats when I arrived and I trapped a total of 16 cats plus three for the next day - making a total of 19 cats! Many night of trapping was beginning to pay off - I was getting ahead of kitten season which was right around the corner!

The gentleman from the trailer park was going to talk to the other person feeding there as he had no phone. We were planning to trap for him for Sunday. This would turn in to a real trapping extravaganza (see next week's blog).

Tuesday 2/23

I'd be at two vets on Tuesday with a total of 16 cats. After picking them up for aftercare I set a few more traps that night and caught the remaining three. There may have been one more left but I was not 100% sure - enough to make one lay awake at night wondering...was it a tortie??

Wednesday, 2/24

Only three cats to take to the vet that day. I'd be trapping again that night. It was a fairly easy job at a business where the caregiver placed most of the traps while I prepared them. I did not have to wait long as most of the 11 cats were trapped overnight.

Thursday, 2/25

I was at only one vet on Thursday with 11 cats. There would be no second night trapping. I'd already done a few of these cats so the total # was 14 cats at that location. That night I'd be picking up one tame female pregnant cat to go to the vet on Friday. Every cat counts and despite the relatively long drive...it was worth it...

Friday/Saturday - 2/26 and 2/27

I'd be at the vet on Friday with the one cat making it six days in a row at the vet(s). Satuday I'd return the one cat to the most grateful caregiver who had no transportation.

It is sad that many cat owners are unable to fix their cats. Either they do not have the $$$ and do not know about low-cost and even free S/N, but they have no way to get to the vet. I wonder how many are out there that never find help? We need to get the word out - help is available. Please spread the word...

For more information about low-cost and free S/N programs and the S/N Hotline's TNR program, please visit our website at: http://www.spayneuterhotline.org/

Pam's TNR Blog - Week of 2/14/10

Sunday 2/14

I had a trapping for for the 2/14 Tempe clinic in E. Phoenix. It was very labor intensive and turned out to be a three night trapping as the cats could not be done on Sunday. If I recall Wayne trapped a few more than planned! I ended up with 14 cats that night and they all had to go to the vet on Monday, 2/15. The good thing was - I caught them all! It was a long day as I volunteered at the clinic as well. Trapping ALL the cats in a colony is always a thrill - not only because every job is a great challenge but especially knowing that there would be no kittens in the Spring

Monday 2/15

After holding the cats overnight I took them to the vet in the AM, picked them up in the afternoon and aftercared them that evening. The usual routine...

Tuesday 2/16

The caregiver set traps Monday night and caught a 15th cat overnight. So after releasing the 14 cats I'd be back at the vet on Tuesday with one more cat - the last cat. No wonder I drove over 20,000 miles last year hauling cats around the valley from as far West as Aguila and Wickenburg.

SJ and I had a trapping job that night. It was a big one but became even bigger when we found out a friend was trapping for someone near our trapping location. She needed our help.

Oh, and I also had to pick up one more cat from a caregiver who had been trapping and calling me for pickup in the AM. One more stop in the AM...

Wednesday 2/17

We ended up picking up the stragglers in the AM for a total of 14 cats (to one vet) and nine cats at our location that went to another vet for a total of 23 cats that day. Our caregiver had offered a nice donation for us to help her and this makes a real difference as we need donations to help other caregivers in need (like the other elderly caregiver). If I recall I did have all 23 cats to pickup, aftercare and release the next day at the two locations . SJ did set traps at our location that night as well as the other location and caught six more for a total of 20 cats TNR'd at the one location and a total of 12 at the other location (3 more caught the second night).

...and, if this was not enough, I had planned two trapping jobs in E. Phoenix for Wed. night. One was new and the other I'd trapped before - 20+ cats. The caregiver at latter claimed there were 15 more. So I set 15 traps and headed off to the other smaller job. It was a bust as the neighbor down the street was feeding. I only caught 5 cats at the other job and never saw any cats there - not even any of the 20+ cats I'd trapped there the last summer. It is hard to explain this as she claimed they were still around. Go figure.

Thursday 2/18

SJ took the stragglers from the W. side job to one vet and I took the five from the E. side to another vet after checking traps in the AM - more driving...I'd be picking up at two vets and aftercaring before heading to E. Phoenix again to set traps a second night at the two locations from the night before.

Friday 2/19

I was able to trap two cats overnight at the location that was a bust the night before and I caught one more at the other location for a total of three at the vet on Friday, 2/19. These would be released at the two locations early Saturday morning

Please consider becoming an ADLA member or making a donation to help our spay and neuter programs. Many may not know this but we are now operate statewide. To become a member visit our website at: http://www.spayneuterhotline.org/

We need your help to improve the lives of homeless cats...Thank you.

Pam's TNR Blog - Week of 2/7/2010

Sunday/Monday - 2/7 and 2/8

I did not trap for Sunday's clinic and other that working at the Tempe clinic on Sunday, I only had to transport and aftercare one cat so things were pretty uneventful.

Monday month we set off to trap at yet another, although smaller, trailer park on W. Grand Ave. The caregiver had been trapping on his own, one cat at a time. We know well once never gets ahead going this route. We agreed to go help him trap. Originally we'd planned on about 6-8 which turned in to 16 cats. This park really needed help! I do recall a nice dinner with Barbara that night making it a nice evening. Still we had to put up with LOTs of curious and noisy kids in the park - something that always makes things more difficult. The photo shows the kids in action.

Tuesday - 4/9

I'd be at two vets that day with a total of 16 cats. There would be the usual pickup, aftercare and release of these cats. We'd be back here later in the Spring for sure.

I could see things already getting pretty busy this week as on we had another big job to do on Wed. night. Channel 15 was coming out on a trapping job with us for TV spot! This opportunity had come up due to a caregiver contacting us for TNR and she wanted viewers to see TNR in action. Suzie would end up helping this lady's mother drop-trap a last (pregnant) cat as well. she was very greatful for our help. The rest of the week would be very busy but exciting...

Wed. 2/10

I had the 16 cats to release at the trailer park in the AM. If this were not enough three cats in traps (from three different caregivers who trapped without a plan and needed the cats picked up of course). These would have to be retrieved from the vet before loading up and meeting the reporter at the west Phoenix trapping location for the taping of the TV spot. I'd trapped several years ago at this location and there were now about 15 more cats to TNR. Over the next two nights we'd fix a total of 18 cats here. This neighborhood would always have cats as do many of these older neighborhoods in this part of town. We met the reporter there around dusk. She was the reporter and camera person so many shots had to be taken several times. The good news is we caught 16 cats that night and overnight. The piece aired later that week (it was not live but I really hate being taped). After the reporter left we set off for our usual dinner at the QT. See photo below.

Thursday 2/11

Suzie met the reporter in the AM to check the traps while I, with the load form the night before, traveled further west to pick up four tame cats for an elderly caregiver I'd helped with ferals previously. After taking the four tames plus 10 of the ferals to one vet I met Susie and the reporter at the second vet. I had several more to unload and several were trapped overnight. So I'd have 16 ferals and four tame cats for aftercare and release. Traps were set again the next night.

Friday 2/12

We released the 16 cats on Friday AM and picked up two more caught overnight. I returned the four tame cats and headed to the vet with the two additional cats and one more cat trapped w/o a plan (Grrrr...). These would be aftercared and released on Saturday morning.

It had been a record week . We were involved in TNR'ing 53 cats and these were the only ones Suzie and I had done. All told, 215 cats had been fixed this week.

There are still a LOT more cats out there to TNR so we cannot become complacent. We are making a difference! So, if you are feeding feral cats or know someone who is please contact the Spay Neuter Hotline at: 602-265-7729 (SPAY) or visit http://www.spayneuterhotline.org/. We can help.

Pam's TNR Blog - Week of 1/31/10

TN

Saturday/Sunday - 1/30 and 1/31

I released the cat from Friday in the AM. The caregiver had trapped one more cat that would have to be held for the Tempe clinic on Sunday. After the release I delivered 15 traps to a central Phoenix neighborhood group that was trapping for the Tempe clinic the next day. Three caregivers also picked up traps form my depot later that morning.

The dynamic duo would be out trapping Saturday night for Sunday. As often happens we needed a few more cats. I'd have 13 to go to the vet on Sunday. It was a two-vet clinic and we did over 100 cats that day. I worked at the clinic and aftercared the cats Sunday night while the caregiver set traps for the stragglers.

Monday 2/1

I had two releases to do in the AM. The second night trapping yielded two more cats for a total of 14 cats from this location. I took those two cats to the vet and aftercared them Monday night. I took a night off from trapping that night. The cats would be released in the AM.

Tuesday /Wednesday - 2/2 and 2/3

The three master trappers had a 10+ job in one of our target areas in Peoria Tuesday night. As we drove up to the "owned" trailer with what looked like an abandoned house in front, we knew there would be LOTs of cats. The caregivers had moved into the trailer when the house was condemned and the cats lived under the abandoned house. We caught a total of 14 cats that night and overnight. I'd have to pick up a pregnant cat for an emergency spay in central Phoenix as well. Those that know me know I'll go anywhere anytime to prevent kittens from being born.

Thursday - 2/4

The release of the 14 cats would occur later in the AM. I had to pick up seven tame cats for a lady with no vehicle. She got them in carriers but the vet was only able to fix three of them (all pregnant females) as four were too wild and needed to be in traps. I'd take those four in on Friday after transferring (carefully) into traps. These were all inside cats. Can you imagine four males competing for three females inside a small apartment? Unbelievable...I took the three females back later that afternoon.

Friday - 2/5

Very early in the AM I picked up two free-roaming tame cats living with a homeless man. I'd taken traps to him earlier in the week and he was supposed to have them in the traps when I arrived. Instead they were sleeping with him in the makeshift tent. He did get them in the traps OK and I headed to the vet with those two cats plus the four wild males from the day before.

Just when one thinks they've seen and done about everything to get a cat or cats fixed, one encounters another, even more challenging situation.

Helping the less fortunate requires donations. Many of these caregivers cannot afford to spay and neuter their cats and end up with too many cats. Most of these are free-roaming cats that become part of a "feral" colony. As the colony gets bigger, the caregivers become overwhelmed and some eventually call the Spay Neuter Hotline for help. These big colonies cost a lot to spay and neuter we are always looking for funding to help caregivers in need.

Please consider a tax-deductible donation to ADLA to help fix feral cats. You can donate on-line at our website: http://www.spayneuterhotline.org/

Or mail a donation to:

ADLA

P.O. Box 33093

Phoenix 85067

Thank you for your support!

Pam's TNR Blog - Week of 1/24/10

Note: Photo courtesy of Molly Wald of Best Friends

Sunday 1/24

I helped a caregiver with six cats for Sunday's Tempe clinic. These were the result a tame tortie in a neighboring apartment that had had another litter of kittens as well. They were able to do aftercare but my day was not over yet...we had too many cats at the clinic and 17 would have to go to the vet the next day! January was becoming a stellar month as planned. We always try to do as many cats before kitten season...hoping that we are making a difference.

Monday 1/25

I'd be at the vet with the 17 leftovers from Sunday. I'd be aftercaring and Suzie would be taking them back to the E. Valley then next day.

Tuesday 1/26 and Wednesday 1/27

On Tuesday I began what would have been one of the most stressful trapping weeks in months. I made the mistake of scheduling what appeared to be an easy trapping job in Laveen. I'd forgotten just how far Leveen was from N. Phoenix. Suzie and Barbara were also trapping that night in Laveen, not far from me. I'd be able to meet up with them for dinner. The sad part was I only trapped two cats - out of 10 total. Suzie caught 14 cats, almost all of them. I'd be at one vet and she'd be at another. I also had two more from the caregiver form Sunday I'd have to pick up and two tame cats I was transporting for a lady in S. Phoenix. then there was aftercare of the 14 cats cats and return of the tame cats to S. Phoenix.

Thursday 1/28

If I recall the caregivers in Laveen did set their own traps the second night but we'd be there in the morning to release them. After release at the first caregiver (with Suzie) I picked up one cat at that location and drove to the other location to pick up two more cats - now a total of four out of 10 cats had been trapped. I then set off to the vet in N. Phoenix with three cats. In the midst of all this I was able to get the four tame kittens born to the breeding tortie into a rescue group - I had to make sure these next generation torties did not become breeders also. At least I was able to fix the mother cats.

If this was not enough I had a two trapping job that night in central Phoenix...thankfully, they were close to one another. One had trapped before and the caregiver could watch the traps (she needed transportation). The other was at a hospital and required my sitting with the drop-trap for several hours - no luck at that location. I found food out under the outbuilding where I was trapping. I did catch one cat at the other location.

Friday 1/29

I only had one cat at the vet on Friday despite my efforts the night before. But before taking the one in I had the three cats from Thursday to release in Leveen - at two locations. Then, I'd be back at the vet with just one cat. By afternoon I was so sick of driving back and forth from Laveen I swore I'd never trap there again - ever! At least it was not Buckeye or Gila Bend.

Saturday 1/30

I released the one cat in the AM. I also had to deliver 15 traps to some trappers who were trapping at several locations in a neighborhood in Central Phoenix. However, we needed more cats for Sunday in Tempe and we'd set a trapping job for Saturday night to help fill the clinic. The week was not over yet.

Trapping can be fun and rewarding. Still, there are times when one takes on too many trapping jobs trying be the Red Queen while "running as fast as one can to stay in place". This is what it feels like at times. Statistics show that only about 8% of tame cats are not fixed. Still, many of those 8% are out there breeding with the free-roaming cat population and becoming part of this population. There is no way of knowing just how many free-roaming cats are out there or how many of them are fixed. A lot of numbers are floating around out there but no one really knows. the best we can do is fix them, making sure ALL cats in a colony are fixed. Regular follow-up by caregivers is essential to the TNR process.

To sign up for our TNR program please call our hotline at 602-265-7729 (SPAY) or email us at feralcats@adlaz.org. Our TNR program operates in Maricopa County in Arizona. Donations are welcome. Visit our website at: http://www.adlaz.org/.

Pam's TNR Blog - Week of 1/10/10

1/10

There were last minute cancellations for the Tempe clinic so on Saturday morning we called a couple of caregivers at the last minute and told them to pull the food. Beth and John were also trapping at a railroad park and I'd be transporting cats to the clinic for them. I'd also had a last minute call from an apartment manager with a stray, abandoned female cat needing fixing. I arranged to pick this cat up on my way to trap.

Barbara, Suzie and I planned to meet up at a trailer park in the West valley to trap approximately eight cats. I'd be stopping to pick up the cat at the apartment complex that was pretty tame and the caregiver had her confined. Suzie took five traps to a lady who could not figure out how to use the traps - yes, you heard it right. Between these three jobs we'd be able to make up for the cancellations.

I got to the trailer park early and started trapping. When Barbara arrived she indicated there were also cats at the dumpsters near the railroad tracks - a mom and four kittens (see photo of Siamese kitten with eartip - kitten trapped at the dumpster). We later found out there was a lady feeding them that had 10 cats at her trailer needing to be fixed but those would have to wait. Subsequently we found two other colonies needing to be trapped as well. This park needed help! There were also free-roaming dogs everywhere, many in terrible condition - some appearing homeless. This park had been there a long time and surely would become one of my long-term projects.

When Suzie arrived we already had more than eight cats trapped. Barbara and I set off for the dumpster and caught all five cats within 15 minutes - they were hungry. This trailer park was right on Grand Avenue and the train tracks were less than 50 feet from the dumpsters. We set a few more traps at the trailer, went to dinner, and found all the traps filled upon return making a total of 17 cats trapped (so much for 8 cats!). All told we'd have 24 cats for the next day including the five Suzie trapped on her way over and overnight at the other place and the apartment cat. Now instead of too few we had too many cats. Sound familiar?

The Tempe clinic was a great success due to wonderful trapping weather. Only one of our crowd got fixed (the apartment cat) and we'd have 28 cats to go to the vet the next day including the railroad park cats Beth and John had trapped. They had been back trapping on Sunday morning and caught a total of six cats.

1/11

I took 17 cats to one vet on Monday and Suzie took 11 to another after feeding the cats at my place the night before. I'd have a few (28 cats) to aftercare that night before setting off for East Phoenix to trap 10-15 cats for a caregiver needing help. That night I only trapped 10 cats in a rather high-end residential neighborhood (Arcadia). What a contrast to the trailer park and the dumpsters on Saturday night.

1/12

I released the trailer park cats the next morning. while releasing the mother cat and 4 kittens at the dumpsters the train came by. The noise was deafening and I had to wait to release the cats. they all ran under a nearby trailer where I captured this photo of one kitten.

I took the 10 cats to and from the vet the next day. This caregiver would be trapping on her own that night trying to catch one last cat. One of the cats had an eartip I'd missed. It turned out the neighbor across the street had trapped a couple weeks before and I'd missed the address connection. Working on a really good database of trapped colonies is on our "to do" list. Barbara and Suzie trapped at two locations that night caught a total of 14 cats; 12 at one location and two at another. I'd be picking them up at two vets for aftercare and release the next day but unfortunately I'd be missing a nice dinner with them that night.

1/13

I released the 10 cats and picked up the one cat caught overnight and took it to the vet. Suzie has busy all day so I came home and loaded up all her cats to release at her two trapping locations. Just before I arrived at the second location I noticed the car listing to one side and feeling sort of mushy. As I pulled up to the curve I confirmed the worst - another flat tire! These were the brand new tires I'd just purchased. Fortunately I was able to release the cats as I waited for Honda Roadside to arrive to change the tire. I loaded up the dirty traps, unloaded them at home, and headed back to the tire store once again. This time there was a nail in the tire, probably picked up at the dumpster several nights earlier. The bad news was it was not repairable. Fortunately I had the extended warranty and they replaced it for free. I had to wait again but it was worth the wait.

That night I was set to trap three cats for a lady in another mobile home park (55+). I'd trapped for years in here and have written about some of these episodes in previous blogs. We were after three kittens. Well, I caught two of them, one right away and one the next night. I took them to the vet early and when I went to pick them up they were not fixed yet. The vet had been called away on an emergency. I decided to take them home and wait until Sunday's clinic in N. Phoenix to have them fixed. Fortunately I was able to catch the last kitten that night so I'd have all three for Sunday. Oh - and I had to release the one cat trapped overnight on Thursday as well as pick up my traps.

Next week - Back to the same trailer park for more cats.

Please consider a tax-deductible donation to ADLA to help caregivers in need like those at the trailer park we helped this week. To donate please visit our website at:

http://www.spayneuterhotline.org/

Thank you for your support!

Pam's TNR Blog - Week of 1/3/10

1/3

There was no Tempe clinic on 1/3 due to New Year's. It was now 1010 and 7,796 cats had been sterilized in 2009. What a way to end the year. Now it was time to charge ahead, to fix even more cats in 2010. With kitten season looming, it would be critical to fix as many cats as possible before kitten season begins.

One of our vets had said he could take a lot of ferals on 1/4. Due to the holiday they only had a few surgeries scheduled and were looking for business. What an opportunity! So on Friday, Suzie and I looked at some possibilities for filling up the clinic. I called a caregiver in the West valley who had been waiting for help since June. She was feeding about 13 cats and the neighbor across the street was feeding 40 cats - a total of 53 cats. The vet said he wanted cats so we looked at each other and said; "let's go for it".

I filled my vehicle with 28 traps and Suzie packed in 25 for a total of 53 traps. We figured we could double them up if there were a few extras. Our caravan headed West to Surprise driving to an address almost the White Tank Mountains. It was a perfect trapping night. We kept driving and driving thinking it must be at the end of the road...and it was!

Upon arrival Suzie started trapping at the first caregiver's place on the E. side of the street. I started at the caregiver across the street. These cats were really all part of the same colony as many went back and forth looking for the most tasty dinner. When I pulled in the driveway there were more cats than I'd ever seen in one place. The photo gives some idea of the numbers but one had to be there to really appreciate it. Clearly there were more than 40 cats. With the help of the caregiver I started trapping with lightning speed. At least five cats were in the front seat of my car trying to get the tuna. This was a trapper's nirvana. When Suzie arrived after catching about 6 cats across the street I had already had filled up all 28 of my traps. We started baiting her traps and within a half hour or so her traps were also full. We then started doubling up cats. That night we trapped 63 cats before running out of smaller cats to double up. I hated to double up a couple of big tomcats so the rest would have to wait until the next night.

I texted the vet tech from the clinic that wanted lots of cats the next day and she confirmed that "a lot of cats" only meant 25 cats maximum. Well, we had 38 cats too many and there were six other cats scheduled for that clinic already. the new plan was for me to take 31 cats to Tempe, Suzie to take 22 cats to N. Phoenix and the caregiver to drive in 12 cats to one of our West side clinics.

1/4

I drove to Tempe very early to deliver 31 cats. I picked up the second batch of 20 cats later in the day and Suzie picked up the other 12 cats. We drove to Tempe together pick up the 31 cats. After unloading all 63 of the cats in my garage we headed back out for a second night's trapping. This time we went together in my vehicle with only 24 traps underestimating once again just how many cats there were. After doubling up again we ended up with 32 cats! These would go to three vets in the morning. The logistics of this was getting interesting. The cats we trapped had to be left there overnight along with a couple of traps we manged to free up by doubling cats. Since we were coming back in the morning to release the 63 cats we'd be able to them up. I knew ALL the traps would be filled and and we still saw cats!

We headed back to Phoenix, stopping at Suzie's so she could get her car. Our plan was for both of us to feed the cats at my place. When we got to my place we decided to load the cats up in bother vehicles after feeding them as we knew we would be too tired to do this in the AM.

1/5

After a few hours sleep I met Suzie and we both drove out to Surprise with 63 cats. Between the ones trapped the night before and the ones trapped overnight we had a total of 33 cats. After releasing the 63 cats we loaded up 19 cats in Suzie's vehicle to go to one vet and 13 in my vehicle to go to two vets as one of the three already was at capacity. If this was not enough I had received a call at 6:00 AM and the resort in Phoenix had another trapped cat. This one would have to wait until I dropped off 7 cats needing to be at that vet by 8:00 AM. I picked up the one cat in Phoenix and headed to the second vet with the six plus one for a total of 7 cats.

All cats were picked up and brought back to my garage once again. After that I had a trapping job nearby for about eight cats which I caught pretty easily that night and overnight. Those were left in the car overnight.

1/6

I released the resort cat very early...then took the cats in the car to the vet before setting out again for Surprise to release the second wave of cats. This time we had enough room for the drop-trap to go after some of the cats still alluding us. Before releasing we drop-trapped for several hours and caught four more cats including the calico on the E. side of the street. These cats would have to wait until Thursday to go to the vet. We took as many dirty traps back as possible but left the drop-trap for the next morning.

1/7

I took the third wave of cats to the vet in the AM after releasing the previous day's cats from the other caregiver. I can hardly remember much of what happened that day. We were approaching over 100 cats not including the other ones I'd trapped at other places. I know I managed to set traps at the nearby place that night but caught no cats and I aftercared the third wave of cats.

1/8

We headed back in the AM to release cats fixed on 1/7. We had left the dropper there and planned on trying again for a few more. This time we caught only two cats making a total of 101 cats total. This was the largest single colony I'd ever trapped. I'd trapped 110 cats over a 4 day period in a trailer park in 2008 but cats were at several different locations. It took a total of seven days from start to finish as these two cats would need to go to the vet late on Friday and would not be ready until Saturday morning (thanks to one of our wonderful vets who took them late and held them overnight for aftercare).

1/9

Suzie picked up the last two cats from the vet and released them in the morning. We'd have to swing into action that night to try to fill up the 1/10 Tempe clinic as once again there were last minute cancellations. At least we had a day to wash traps. There were several more out there including a dilute tortie we could not catch. The caregiver also had 21 tame cats in the house we'd be going back for in a month or so - with the drop-trap to catch that tortie! One breeding tortie can cause a LOT of damage and she needed to be caught.

The sad part of this story was that nine cats out of this colony had to be euthanized. When colonies are allowed to get this big, even as many (or few) as 30-40 cats, there is a lot of inbreeding and disease. The cats were well fed and the caregivers truly cared about the cats. However, things quickly got out of control until the point where they did not have the resources to fix them. Being well fed allowed them to breed prolifically while all the while the colony was "trying" to stabilize. The result was a lot of suffering. This is why I cannot emphasis enough how important it is to fix the cats before this happens. It is also important to fix ALL the cats and to continue to monitor the colony for any new unsterilized cats. Also, do not look for cats to feed. Unfed, truly wild cats, produce fewer litters and have fewer kittens per litter. One is not doing cats a favor by feeding them and not fixing them - in my opinion this is animal cruelty and I saw it first hand. This is the way nature works.

Please consider a tax-deductible donation to our TNR program to help caregivers in need. Our vet costs are higher this time of year due to in-heat and pregnant cats. We need your help. Visit our website at:

http://www.spayneuterhotline.org/

Next week - More trailer park tails!

Pam's TNR Blog - Week of 12/27/09

12/27

There was no Tempe clinic on Sunday due to the Christmas holiday. I had set up a job for Sunday night but it fell through. At the last minute I called a couple in a mobile home park not far from me who I'd trapped for before. There were about 10 new cats. I'd already trapped over 40 cats thee years but there were more. I'd put this off for a while as the woman never stops talking - never. This may sound like an exaggeration, but it is not, believe me. I like to be stealth in my operation and constant chattering disrupts the process - not to mention I have already heard "who beget whom" numerous times. When this happens I tell the caregiver to go inside and only come out only infrequently to shake the dry food and call the cats. I then ask them to go back inside as the cats tend to wait to be fed rather than make an effort to go in the traps. I call this "conservation of energy". Funny how cats spend the least amount of energy possible to get by whereas humans seem to spend the more than they need to to accomplish everything. Still I did catch 10 cats there that evening and overnight despite these obstacles.

12/28

I checked traps in the AM and headed for the vet. Monday was a light day due to the holiday - well, at least the vet where I was. Wayne Begun was off work this week and was trapping every night for the Tempe clinic. He had 15 cats in on Monday - go Wayne!

12/29

I was back at the MHP that evening to set traps. I had picked up a cat that another caregiver had drop-trapped during the day. Suzie was on a drop-trapping extravaganza this week and had caught a last cat for a caregiver. We'd have a total of four cats in and I'd be picking them up for aftercare. Wayne was out on a couple more trapping jobs and had a bunch of cats in. Wayne was beginning to see what it is like to be a full-time trapper. Just keeping track of all the cats and caregivers is often challenging.

We had decided earlier in the week to ring out 2009 with a HUGE trapping job. This would mean releasing cats on New Year's day as one vet was open on New Year's Eve and was looking for business. We jumped at the chance to fill a clinic.

After picking up the four cats at the vet and loading up traps I met Barbara and Suzie at the trapping location, an older neighborhood in central Phoenix. There were a lot of foreclosed vacant homes in the neighborhood and the caregiver was feeding over 30 cats. When I arrived, there were cats everywhere! It was dinner time and tuna was on the menu tonight. They were already trapping cats as fast as they could and still there were cats, cats and more cats - cats everywhere. We caught a total of 30 including some trapped overnight. We also has a nice dinner at Pei Wei, one of our favorite restaurants.

12/30

I checked traps left out overnight before heading to the vet. It is strange that many caregivers (like this one) cannot even wake up in the early AM to check traps to see if there are cats in them. I am so anxious to check them I can hardly sleep waiting to check them in the AM. I headed off to one vet with 10 cats and then met Suzie at the 2nd vet to help check in 20 cats.

All the cats came back to my place for aftercare. Suzie was off to drop-trap that night on the far West side so I set traps at the previous night's location for stranglers. We had seen a few more cats lurking around. After setting about seven traps I headed to S. Phoenix where I had two trapping jobs. Fortunately they were neighbors. This was a pretty unsafe neighborhood. I'd been there a couple of times before and would never be alone there at night. These caregivers had lived there a long time and were just the kind I love to help - grateful and appreciative of getting first class service! They both really cared about the cats. I caught three (all) at the one neighbors and four at the other's.

12/31

I got up early to check the traps I'd set the second night at the big job and I'd caught 5 more! We were now at 35 cats - this job was finished. I headed off to S. Phoenix and she'd caught one cat overnight. Then, she caught the last one after I was half way to the vet and I had to turn back to pick him up. The good news was we had caught them ALL! I then headed off to the vet with the last five cats from second night trapping, and the seven cats from S. Phoenix. Suzie drop-trapped the last cat she was after on the W. side and was also at the vet. This make a total of 13 cats in on 12/31 at one vet. What a way to end 2009. Wayne, of course, was ringing out the year in the E. Valley bringing a load of cats to the Tempe clinic.

From there we headed to my house to load up the 30 cats in my garage for release. Seeing those beautiful eartips and knowing there would be no kittens this Spring was delightful.

Later in the day I was out and about running errands got in my car and the key would not turnin the ignition. I solicited several able bodied folks to help be to no avail. I then called Honda Roadside and they sent help. First they mistakenly sent a guy with a battery charger and it was the ignition. Then they sent a tow truck. The car was towed to the Honda dealer and the driver took me home to get my spare key as they suspected it was a bad key. No go. I needed a new ignition. By this time it was after 4:00 PM on New Year's Eve and I had 13 cats to be picked up from the vet by 5:00 PM. Bill was out of town so Suzie came to my rescue. She picked me up at the dealer, we picked up the cats, and she dropped me and the cats off at my place for aftercare. The photo shows the jacked up car being pushed to maintenance. They'd be installing the new ignition on Saturday - thank goodness. We had the biggest job ever set for next week starting Sunday night and I needed my car.

1/1

In the late AM we returned all the cats on New Year's morning - the five to central Phoenix, the seven to S. Phoenix and the one to the far W. Valley. Suzie drove as my car was in the shop. It was indeed a Happy New Year for all! I do think the cats were the happiest of all of us...

I never would have thought 2009 would end this way. Last March I almost gave up and even cried at the vet thinking everything had fallen apart. But it didn't. This year has been a challenge in many ways but many fewer kittens will be born this Spring thanks to all of you who have supported the Spay Neuter Hotline in spirit and financially. For this I will be forever grateful.

Next week - Ringing in the New Year...trapping the biggest colony ever!