April 1st is the final day to make a matching donation to our With Faith, Anything is Possible Challenge Fundraiser. As of this writing, we have raised $1330.00 in matching funds – which is fabulous! Our goal is $3,000 so we have a way to go and times-a-wastin’ Many people donate close to a deadline – it's here now, so please donate! These funds will give us that financial buffer so that we can neuter 160 ferals without worrying about where the money is going to come from. We are still finding colonies of 20+ cats where the caretaker has no resources to donate towards their neuter. 20 x $35 and you can see how that money goes quickly!
April 1st is also the last day to submit your Holiday Card photos. We’ve received some beautiful submissions so far, but you might have the one that really speaks to us!
We hope you have the April 6th, Shop 4 Strays Bazaar on your calendars! We have a wide variety of vendors coming to sell their wares, our bake sale, door prizes, a cat tree raffle, we always have fun people to talk to and share with!
The temperature is finally getting above 40 degrees! The deadline for our Flower Power Grow Funds for Feral Fixers is coming up! They have beautiful plants that come directly to your door at the right time for planting – which should be soooooon! Please share this fundraiser with your plant-loving friends!
We’ve Begun TNR 2014!
If you follow us on Facebook or get our blog updates, you know that we have begun TNR on a limited basis. Mostly cats that had garages or heated shelters or were “in & out” cats, so we could be sure that they stayed healthy after neutering. Even so, we held onto them longer than usual so that we could be sure their systems were able to cope. Last year at this time a large number of the cats that we neutered were actually kittens & friendlies, this year, many more ferals, which is GREAT!
We’re starting off the year with fewer people able to tranport, fewer able to trap/coordinate caretakers, fewer able to foster kittens and adults. It's scary. All we can do is neuter our butts off and hope we come out ahead – no kittens born that then need fostering and adoption, which take away from our TNR time. If you know someone who has an SUV, van, etc., and has time during the week to transport into PAWS in the AM or pickup from PAWS in the PM, that would be a huge help! If you know someone who would welcome the chance to change the life of one of our friendlies and be part of saving even more cats, please ask them to contact us! If you know someone who enjoys the challenge of seeing a problem and literally FIXING it, we can expand their impact on the world by teaching them how to do TNR!
Lots of Events Lined Up!
We will be posting more information soon as we get more details, but look for us at the Elmhurst College Canine Carewalk (April 26th), the Shred4Rescues (6/21) event in Westmont, we will be having an adoption event at Kriser’s in Glen Ellyn (7/19), and much more. Stop and say “hi” when you see us! And if you would like to volunteer to help at these events, please let us know!