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FeralFocus
Spring 2005
A Quarterly Newsletter Produced by IndyFeral Inc.
IndyFeral Inc. is a resource for caretakers and friends of strays & ferals in central Indiana
Finding New Ground
INDIANAPOLIS- IndyFeral Inc. secured a near-eastside warehouse, which will serve as our base of operations. Due to the expansion and demand for our TNR programs, a central facility is vital.
In addition, the building can act as a transportation hub and as a small spay/neuter clinic facility. With the building, we hope to increase our monthly spay/neuter surgery capacity to nearly 300 per month.
Our food bank, outdoor cat shelters, trap hub and donations for the annual yard sale will be housed there as well.
Beyond the daily needs for IndyFeral, the warehouse will provide a facility for animal rescue groups to meet, work and collaborate. These groups can store materials to operate programs for the benefit of animals in the community.
IndyFeral already has made warehouse space available to Move to Act for their food distribution initiative. Through the efforts of their board and volunteers, over 30 tons of dog and cat food were distributed to Indiana animal shelters and rescue groups.
IndyFeral would like to thank Jody Hollett for donating her washer/dryer and fridge for the new building.
CAPTION: IndyFeral’s new building is located on the near east side of Indianapolis. The facility will serve as IndyFeral’s base of operations. Photo ©1986-2002 IMAGIS, ©1986-2002 City of Indianapolis - Marion County
Richmond Shelter Revives TNR Program for Park Ferals
HELP the Animals garners support from new mayor and IndyFeral
“So what are we going to do? What we both want - to reduce the number of cats in the park?” Monica Kinley-Kuhn, President of the Board of Directors of HELP the Animals of Richmond, said during a critical meeting with park board members, park superintendent, mayor, and citizens March 1.
The meeting would decide the fate of the feral cat colony of Glen Miller Park in Richmond, managedfor seven years by HELP the Animals. HELP operates a no-kill shelter and also serves as the primary animal welfare group in the Richmond area.
Kinley-Kuhn and Joyce Luckett, HELP’s Vice-President, convinced the park board to allow HELP to resume a TNR program for the feral cat colony. This was a major victory after a two-year battle with the Richmond Parks Department, which advocated for the removal of the cats.
Kinley-Kuhn said, in a letter to Alley Cat Allies, “(O)ur group, thanks in part to the help, information and support we received especially from IndyFeral, (was) able to debunk any resistance to the cats being in the park. Quite simply, we wore them down with information!”
The decision also came from the support of the newly-elected mayor Sally Hutton. Hutton encouraged an open forum among the Richmond parks board and superintendent, citizens and HELP. Prior to Mayor Hutton's administration, HELP’s pleas were dismissed or ignored.
With the parks board approval, Kinley-Kuhn moved quickly and approached IndyFeral again for assistance in a mass trapping.
In response, IndyFeral President Lisa Tudor and Vice President Greg Brush offered HELP the use of 40 traps and arranged for an unscheduled Spay Day in Indianapolis, with the help of volunteer vets and caretakers.
Thursday, March 10th, HELP volunteers came to Indianapolis to pick up traps for the mass trapping. The next evening, Brush and Tudor drove to Richmond to help get the trapping started. HELP volunteers monitored multiple trapping areas around the park until dark. Then the cats were transported to a holding area.
The effort continued the next afternoon and evening. With 28 cats and one mother, along with four new nursing kittens, nearly all of the unaltered cats from the park colony were trapped.
The next morning, Sunday, March 13, HELP headed for Indianapolis in two vans with seven volunteers in tow. At the Allisonville Animal Hospital, about 20 IndyFeral volunteers worked side-byside with HELP members.
By 1 p.m., all of the cats were out of recovery, and the HELP crew headed back to Richmond. All cats were released to their home park the following two days. Kinley-Kuhn said, “In two short weeks, thanks to a monumental partnership with IndyFeral, we took a situation that seemed overwhelming and a logistical nightmare and made it happen, all to the benefit of those 33 cats we were able to trap, (and neuter and return, except for the mom cat and kittens!)
“Our success is a testament to what can happen when two groups partner together to make things happen for feral cats.” She continued, “What (IndyFeral) did to reach out beyond their community to help us help the cats has been unbelievable.
“We had a board member who had never worked with ferals before say this weekend that this was, and I quote, ‘one of the most rewarding things I have ever done in my life.’ I think all of us agreed.”
CAPTION 1: Recovery teamsters Monica Kinley-Kuhn (left) and Wendy Neale (right) of HELP the Animals helped to revive the 33 Richmond feral cats spayed and neutered in Indianapolis March 13th. Photo ©2005 HELP the Animals
CAPTION 2: IndyFeral volunteer Kegan instructs Richmond volunteers in the finer points of recovery treatments at the Allisonville Animal Hospital in Indianapolis March 13th. Richmond-based HELP the Animals partnered with IndyFeral to spay/neuter 33 feral cats. Photo ©2005 HELP the Animals
CAPTION 3: IndyFeral volunteer Joyce Luckett hands over a Richmond cat to Marty Gallagher for post-op shots. Photo ©2005 HELP the Animals
2004 Annual Report
Spay/Neuter Surgeries
There were a total of 1844 spay/neuter surgeries performed during 2004. Of those, 221 were for people on our Feral Friends financial assistance program. Surgeries through the Feral Friends program are supported by individual donations and an ongoing partnership with Spay Neuter Services of Indiana (SNSI).
Without this program, these 221 cats would likely never be spayed/neutered or receive necessary medical treatment for injury and illness. We thank IF supporters and Spay Neuter Services of Indiana (SNSI) for their support of this program.
Shelter Program
IndyFeral produced a total of 415 shelters. Think of how many cats had a warm/dry place to sleep this year.
IF works in partnership with the Indiana Department of Correction’s Putnamville Correctional Facility (PCF) to produce durable, all-wood construction shelters from an original IndyFeral design. The feral cat program allows Putnamville staff and inmates to be involved with the community as a helping partner. PCF produced 315 of these shelters (50 were shipped out of state). Twenty PCF shelters were for Feral Friends.
Another program produced 100 shelters, all provided to Feral Friends caretakers, in addition to the 50 feeding stations, all of which were distributed to caretakers.
Food Bank Program
The Food Bank program distributed 5,280 pounds of food to low-income caretakers.
What a year!
CAPTION: In cold weather, shelter is actually more important for stray and feral cats than food. These insulated shelters provide protection from wind and water, even in harsh climates. Copyright IndyFeral Inc.
Kitten Season is Here
What to Do If You Find Kittens
Found kittens? It’s always best for kittens to be raised by their mama. She can do it better than anyone else, hands (or paws) down. But if the kittens have no mother, young kittens will need immediate help to survive.
Kittens should be alert and warm to the touch. If the kittens are cold and listless, they must be warmed immediately. Chilling is the major cause of death of neonatal kittens, and it can happen in just a few hours.
Do not attempt to feed chilled kittens. Place the kittens in a box or pet carrier with a towel-covered heating pad set on low inside the box. Be sure the heating pad covers only half of the bottom of the box, as the kittens must be able to move off the heating pad if it becomes too warm.
For more information, please read the Frequently Asked Questions link (#18 & 19) on the IndyFeral home page at http://www.indyferal.org.
Got Wheels?
You Can Help
As we enter kitten season, lots of cats and kittens will need a ride to our Spay Day to get spayed or neutered. If you would like to become more involved with helping the cats in our city, here is a great way to get started.
We have increased our surgical capacity to nearly 300 appointments a month! If you want to make a direct impact in helping to stop the overpopulation of stray and feral cats, this is it.
Just do it. We can’t do it alone and neither can the cats. These cats are part of our community, and they need our help. They need YOU!
If you want to give a feral a ride, please contact Lisa Tudor by phone at (317) 596-2300 or email her at lisa@indyferal.org. All transport volunteers will be instructed by and work with experienced volunteers.
Thank you for your support!
IndyFeral Inc.
CAPTION: Volunteer Michele Baker cradles two orphan kittens during the Feb. 20th Spay Day at Allisonville Animal Hospital. Baker began volunteering with IndyFeral in 2002. Photo by Ana Radovanovic. Copyright IndyFeral Inc.
Recovery Cages Help Injured and Ill Feral Cats
IndyFeral would like to thank Robert Sweet for generously donating the funds to build 15 recovery cages.
These special cages were designed for feral cats recuperating from medical procedures or illness.
Ferals need special handling and recovery methods. Eye removal, tail amputations and other common injuries require extended care and recovery.
These custom-built cages are equipped with a “loft” level and three secure access doors for food, water and litter box.
Design Copyright IndyFeral Inc.
Call for Entries
FERAL PHOTO CONTEST
They look like all other cats, with one exception. Cats in managed colonies bear the distinct cropped left ear. It is the symbol to animal control and humane agencies that this cat is part of a managed colony. In 2004 alone, the tipped ears have allowed IndyFeral to save more than 20 cats from local shelters.
To help spread the word about TNR and help people understand the life of a cat in a managed feral colony, IndyFeral is promoting a Feral Photo Contest, calling for photographs showing ear-tipped cats in any setting. Each month, we will select two grand prize photos. The judging will take place at the IndyFeral monthly board meeting.
The grand prize winners will receive an IndyFeral t-shirt (choice of available colors and sizes). Submitted photos will be used in internet, electronic and print publications to promote TNR, IndyFeral and the welfare of free-roaming cats. All photos will be credited.
You must be at least 18 years old to enter. You may submit entries as often as you wish, and there is no limit to the number of times you can win. However, due to limited stock, winners may receive only one t-shirt every six months.
All submissions must include your name, address, phone number, email address and the exact text for the photo credit. Please visit our website at: http://www.indyferal.org for complete rules and instructions for submission, or write to IndyFeral.
You may send photos through the website or mail to:
IndyFeral Inc.
Feral Photo Contest
P.O. Box 30054
Indianapolis, IN 46230-0054
CAPTION: Into the wild. Gus is on the move. Free-roaming cats live and “work” in a variety of settings from business districts and urban allies, to rural fields.
Here’s a chance to help spread the word about TNR and help people understand the life of a cat in a managed feral colony. IndyFeral is calling for photographs showing eartipped cats in any setting. Photo ©Amelda Butler
Spay Day Clinics Help Homeless Cats
262 Ferals “fixed” January 1 through March 31, 2005
IndyFeral provides low-cost spay-neuter and vaccination services to caretakers of stray, feral (wild) and barn cats. We provide these services through a network of participating veterinarians.
This service is part of our comprehensive strategy of free roaming cat management. The goal is to stop uncontrolled population growth and improve the lives of free-roaming cats. Spay Days are efficient, low-cost, high volume clinics in which up to 80 cats are evaluated, vaccinated and sterilized in a few hours. These MASH-style clinics are carried out by a trained staff of volunteers, which includes veterinarians, vet techs, and trained IndyFeral volunteers.
CAPTION 1: IndyFeral volunteer Ken Rohl stimulates a patient during a recovery session at the Feb. 20 Spay Day. Post-op cats are groomed and rubbed after surgery to help revive them. Sixty-two feral cats were spayed/neutered the first Spay Day of the year. Photo by Ana Radovanovic. Copyright IndyFeral Inc.
CAPTION 2: IndyFeral volunteer Mary Lee Pappas helps to wake a feral patient at the Feb. 20th Spay Day. Photo by Ana Radovanovic. Copyright IndyFeral Inc.
WishList
You can help IndyFeral make an impact in the community by reducing the number of cats euthanized in shelters.
Make a tax-deductable donation. Just $20 can fund a spay/neuter surgery and provide all necessary shots for one free-roaming cat. Every contribution helps.
Mail to:
IndyFeral Inc.
P.O. Box 30054, Indianapolis, IN 46230-0054
Other supplies you can donate to IF:
- Food Bank: dry and wet cat food
- Cat carriers, any size, for recovery of mother cats and kittens
- Towels & sheets, laundry detergent
- Shingles for the shelter program
Food Donations may be dropped off at any Indianapolis Pet Supplies “Plus” location, or call (317) 596-2300.
Thank you for your support!
IndyFeral Inc.
CALENDAR 2005
APRIL
23 Earth Day
MAY
7 Pet Fest, Indiana State Fairgrounds
15 Spay Day
16 Board Meeting
19 Volunteer Orientation, Glendale Library, 6-8 p.m.
28 Memorial Day weekend, Annual Yard Sale
JUNE
“Adopt a Shelter Cat Month”
(AHA/ASPCA Sponsor)
19 Spay Day
20 Board Meeting
25 Pet Supplies “Plus” Event Road Show
SAVE THE DATE: OCTOBER 9th
Jennie DeVoe benefit concert for IndyFeral
1-4 p.m. @ the Rathskeller, 401 East Michigan Street
Join the party!
IndyFeral Inc.
A resource for caretakers and friends of stray & feral cats in central Indiana
As part of our belief in respect and compassion for all living creatures, IndyFeral Inc. seeks to reduce stray and feral (wild) cat overpopulation through the non-lethal method of Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), not trap and kill.
What is TNR?
TNR is a process by which stray and feral (wild) cats are humanely trapped, evaluated, vaccinated and sterilized by a veterinarian.
Tame kittens and adult cats are adopted into good homes. Adult cats too wild to be adopted are returned to their familiar habitat.
Who is IndyFeral?
IndyFeral is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization staffed entirely by volunteers. We are dedicated to helping stray and feral cats in the Indianapolis area by creating resources to assist with the feeding, shelter, spay/neuter, and medical care for them.
IndyFeral was established as a means of changing the way stray and feral cats have been traditionally viewed and dealt with in our community. Acting as their advocate or voice, IndyFeral will strive to improve their lives and promote ideas that are more reflective of a caring and humane community.
Board of Directors
Corporate Officers
President Lisa Tudor
Vice President Greg Brush
Secretary Verna Boggs
Treasurer Debbie Marlett
Board
Amelda Butler
Maureen Owen
Rebecca Seifert
Get Involved
If you would like more information on how you can help feral cats in your community or know of a feral cat colony, please contact IndyFeral. We also encourage you to visit our web site to learn more about TNR and feral colony management.
IndyFeral Inc.
P.O. Box 30054
Indianapolis, IN 46230-0054
(317) 596-2300
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Newsletter designed by Ana Radovanovic. ©2005 IndyFeral Inc.