A Springfield nonprofit is seeking to have a little bit of enjoyable this Valentine’s Day whereas serving to the native feline group.
The Watching Over Whiskers Feline Fund, extra generally generally known as Watching Over Whiskers or WOW, is internet hosting a particular fundraising marketing campaign for Valentine’s Day. Through Feb. 15, anybody who donates $50 to WOW can ask the organization to call a feral cat after an ex. Upon seize, the cat can be neutered — this fundraiser is simply relevant for male cats — after which launched to its colony, as part of WOW’s trap-neuter-release program.
For these seeking to assist in a smaller approach, WOW will write the title of a donor’s former flame on one among its litter bins for a $10 donation.
Donations could be made by way of the WOW web site at watchingoverwhiskers.org/donate.html or by way of Venmo. WOW’s Venmo username is WatchingOverWhiskers2015. If donating by way of the web site, make sure that to enter an ex’s title beneath the “in honor” part. If donating by way of Venmo, enter an ex’s title within the cost feedback.
Marci Bowling, WOW govt director and founder, stated she hopes to lift sufficient money by way of the fundraiser to lure, neuter and launch 25-30 male cats. This is the typical variety of cats that profit from WOW’s trap-neuter-release program month-to-month.
As for why males particularly, the cost to neuter a male cat is cheaper than to spay a feminine cat. Neuter surgical procedure is about $50 and spay surgical procedure ranges wherever between $65-100, Bowling added.
This is the primary 12 months WOW is internet hosting a Valentine’s Day fundraiser. Bowling stated she understands it’s “tongue in cheek” however hopes it is going to encourage people to have some enjoyable whereas serving to animals in want.
As for a way WOW’s trap-neuter-release program works, Bowling stated the method normally begins with a cellphone name from a group member a few colony of cats of their neighborhood. WOW both encourages the group member to take the cats to a vet themselves or sends a trap-neuter-release volunteer out to gather the cats. If the latter, the cats are then transported to a companion vet — WOW works with a number of clinics in Springfield — for surgical procedure. These cats additionally obtain rabies vaccines and have one among their ears clipped to point that they’ve been mounted.
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Once healed from surgical procedure, the cats are returned to the place they had been discovered. On common, this course of takes about three to 5 days, Bowling stated.
The motto that Bowling likes to share with others is, “See one, save one. Feed one, repair one.”
Cat colonies develop shortly, as cats can go into warmth as early as 4 months old and may have as much as three litters annually, Bowling stated. She inspired people who see stray cats of their neighborhood to get them spayed or neutered earlier than pondering of feeding them.
Besides the plain advantages, spayed and neutered cats are much less prone to battle and spray and are usually a lot happier, Bowling stated.
In 2023, 450 cats benefited from WOW’s trap-neuter-release program, Bowling stated. This cost about $25,000. This 12 months, the organization hopes to assist 500 cats all through Springfield.
Greta Cross is the trending subjects reporter for the Springfield News-Leader. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretacrossphoto. Story thought? Email her at [email protected].
