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Sinclair Project
Her coat was dirty and matted with flies darting irritatingly about the open sores on her body. Her soft mew could be heard as we walked toward her. She looked up from inside the trap with resignation but with a flash of fire in her eyes. We quickly draped a sheet over the trap, covering and calming her, and carried it to our car, gently placing it inside.
We then set off to check the other (humane) traps.
It's hard to believe it's been a year this October 2005 since that first trap was set. So much has happened! When we first began this project, it almost seemed insurmountable. We estimated 200 or more cats. All seemed ill and starving. It was hard to know where to start, but with dedication and lots of caring, compassionate volunteers, we HAVE begun to make a big difference in this colony.
To date, we have spayed or neutered over one hundred cats. We have prevented over 80 kittens from being born and placed over 20 cats in our adoption program or in other no-kill adoption programs. In addition to being altered, the cats that have been trapped have been tested for disease, vaccinated and had their ears 'notched' for identification.
One of the most basic needs of the cats was food. Our volunteers really come to the aid of these cats each and every day! Rain or shine, they committed to a long term feeding schedule that allow the cats access to food and water that has enabled them to put on weight and regain their health. With good nutrition and basic veterinary care, the cats have begun to show improvement.
Our goal this month is to provide shelter and warmth for the upcoming winter months by placing more donated houses and shelters discreetly about the area for them.
Food, shelter, the freedom to live their lives without constant breeding...these cats are benefiting from proven methods of feral cat control — Trap, Neuter, Return and Manage.
However, we can not do this without the continued support of people like you. We still have scores of cats still to be trapped and altered. We need food and more food. We are all volunteers that have been brought together by a love and compassion for animals. We need more people with a similar passion that can commit to long term involvement in Shadow Cats and the cats that we care for. We need trappers and feeders at our colonies. We need YOU!
And what about that first cat trapped last year? Well, today she lives her life free of constant breeding and she has gained several pounds. Her coat is smooth and black. She lives in relative safety. The biggest benefit she sees? She doesn't have to endure the deaths of countless litters of kittens every few months. She is not hungry. She has shelter. She has a life worth living.
UPDATE! August 2006
We continue to work to stabilize this area. It has a larger feral cat population than first estimated! To date we have spayed and neutered over 300 cats from this area. We have prevented hundreds of unwanted kittens from being born and placed scores of kittens and cats into our ongoing Adoption Program. The process is slow but the reward is endless. To even think about how many kittens 300 cats could have produced over a few years is amazing. Even more amazing is what commitment, resolve, and great volunteers are capable of doing. If you care about feral cats and ways to humanely prevent overpopulation, and provide food and shelter, please consider contacting us and making a difference in the their lives
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Hwy 79 Project
Sinclair Project
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