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Thank you Interact Club Neuqua Valley High School!
The Feral Blog
Written by Sue Lee
Friday, December 28, 2018
Members of the Interact Club Neuqua Valley High School wrapped gifts at the Barnes and Noble in Naperville on Saturday, 12/22, through Monday, 12/24. Nora, Reesa, and Gatha (left to right) wrapped gifts to raise money for Feral Fixers. With 4 scheduled days of wrapping, various student volunteers raised $424. Nora Schneider, daughter of Gillian Schneider, and Gillian are long time Feral Fixers supporters, who have fostered many litters of Feral Fixers kittens.
Thanks much girls!!!
(Click on the thumbnail to see a full size picture)
December 15th Adoption Event
The Feral Blog
Written by Sue Lee
Sunday, December 23, 2018
Our adoption event on Saturday,12/15, at the Wheaton PetSmart turned out to be the ultimate dog test for our kittens! Our cages were set up next to the dog training area and an intermediate dog obedience class started at 11am. The result - a loud and frequent chorus of barking for the first 30 minutes of the event! Fortunately, the advanced dog obedience class at 1pm was much quieter. ARF was also conducting dog adoptions in the store for the first couple of hours. So there were a lot of canines for our felines to deal with! The kitties were on high alert with all of the barking initially, but things settled down as the day progressed.
Kudos to our brave kitties who endured all of this noise and still showed their sweet personalities to our guests and adopters. 15 kittens (Alonzo, Posh, Gladstone, Yori, Twister, Constance, Comfrey, Cotton, Hazel, Pasquale, Duncan, Keenan, Barbie, Pickles, Diego) and 1 adult (Aviva) were the stars of our show.
We were quite busy, particularly at the start of the event with lots of good foot traffic and a couple of pre-approved adopters. 3 adoptions occurred during the event and 1 immediately afterwards.
Barbie was adopted by a nice family from Hanover Park. She is their first pet. Barbie showed her out-going personality and handled the attention of their 2 yr old son well.
Although only his cute little face peered out from the fleeces he had crawled under to hide from all of the barking, Alonzo won the heart of a great couple from St.Charles. He will have a 5 yr old cat brother to help him feel comfortable in his new home.
Comfrey was the pick of a terrific couple from Carol Stream, as a companion for Baron, whom they adopted from his foster home, shortly afterwards. In addition to playing with each other, the 2 kittens will have 2 yorkies to keep them company.
Many thanks to PetSmart for hosting this event. Next time they promised to put in the center aisle - away from the dogs ;-) Thanks also for the generous food and cat bed donations they provided.
As a special holiday gift to our adopters in the upcoming weeks, we are giving each adopter a gift of their choice for each kitten adopted (cat bed, cat teepee, cat scratcher/perch, pet cushion), while supplies last. Many thanks to Catherine for bringing these gifts to the event and distributing them to the fosters at the event for subsequent distribution to adopters, when adoptions are completed in the foster homes.
Adoptions have definitely heated up with the approaching holidays. Many folks are looking for kittens to join their families while they have off from work and school and have time to get them acclimated.
11 kittens (Lancaster, Dinghy, Sea-Doo, Sugar Pie, Columbia, Cobbie, Pearlie, Penelope, Persia, Count, Squire) and 1 adult (Detroit) found loving homes since our last adoption event.
9 kittens (Duncan, Constance, Cotton, Star, Canfield, Cancun, Gladstone, Hazel, Pasquale) and 1 adult (Nina) have been adopted since the 12/15 event - a very busy week! And there are more visits scheduled for the weekend :-)
I think our numbers will be up in December!
Many thanks to the volunteers and fosters who made this event a success (Sara, Steve, Candy, Laurel, Diane, Joanie, Kevin, Erika, Jeff, Debbie, Michelle, Cheri, Kaitlyn). Set-up was smooth and efficient thanks to Sara, Steve and Laurel. Clean-up was also very efficient, thanks to Sara, Candy and Steve. Special thanks to Sara, Joanie, Diane, and Candy for help with adoption counseling and paperwork - your help was critical when we were busy. Thanks also to Debbie, Diane and Michelle for transporting kittens to/from the event.
Many thanks also for all of the other valuable contributions to this event - to Candy for the excellent photography & videography during the event; to Connie, Stephanie and Ted for promoting the event on our Facebook page and web site; to Steve for the professional-looking cage cards; to Debbie and Mike for the on-going updates to the Adoptable Cats & Kittens board and binder; to Sara for helping with the laundry; to Steve for coordinating our lunch run and carrier assembly.
Another great team effort!
With the holidays upon us, we will take a short break from adoption events, although I anticipate adoptions will continue to go strong from our foster homes. Our next adoption event is targeted for Saturday, 1/12. The location is still being worked, so stay tuned.
In the meantime, I hope you all enjoy the Holiday Season with family and friends (human and furry!) and ring in the New Year with a cat or kitten sitting on your lap or laying next to you ;-)
Happy Holidays!
Sue
December 1st Adoption Event
The Feral Blog
Written by Sue Lee
Tuesday, December 04, 2018
As a special holiday gift to our adopters at our December adoption events, we are giving each adopter a gift of their choice for each kitten adopted (cat bed, cat teepee, cat scratcher/perch, pet cushion). Our adoption event on Saturday, 12/1, at Bentley's Pet Stuff in Elmhurst was the kick-off of this promotion. More gifts will be distributed at our next adoption event on Saturday, 12/15, at PetSmart in Wheaton. Following the 12/15 adoption event, these gifts will also be provided to all adopters completing their adoption at our foster homes, as long as supplies last.
The rainy weather did not dampen our spirits at our adoption event on Saturday, 12/1, at Bentley's Pet Stuff in Elmhurst, although it did present some challenges. In the morning, we unloaded all of our tables, cages and supplies from my van into the store during a pretty heavy shower, and, consequently, had to dry everything off before using it. The set-up crew (Sara, Steve, Laurel) executed efficiently, as always, and everything was ready when our foster kittens arrived. The rain slowed or stopped for most of the event, which was good for our guests. But, unfortunately, we experienced another cloud burst while Sara, Steve, Joanie, Debbie and I loaded up the van after the event. Special kudos to the set-up and clean-up crew for enduring the inclement weather!
This was a kitten focused adoption event. 17 kittens (Allegro, Alto, Laredo, Lancaster, Lacey, Yori, Duncan, Keenan, Cowboy, Corazon, Pearlie, Penelope, Persia, Cobbie, Kayak, Sea-Doo, Sugar Pie) were the stars of our show. This was the debut appearance at an adoption event for many of these kittens, so some were a little frightened, at least initially. Rita brought a very cool motorized feather toy, which helped to engage and calm many of the kittens. Sara also brought some new wand toys for our guests to play with our kittens.
Foot traffic was pretty good, and we received applications for Cobbie, Lancaster and Keenan at the event, which are under review. A number of other folks also came to visit with our kittens and took cards for future contact. A couple also stopped by who is planning to volunteer for us and wanted to get some information.
2 kittens were adopted at the event to a pre-approved family:
Laredo and Lacey were adopted by a very nice family from Downers Grove. They will be the family's first pets, although mom & dad had cats previously. They are targeted to transition to their new home early next week, as the family is traveling next weekend.
Many thanks to Bentley's Pet Stuff for hosting this event. The staff is always so kind and accommodating! Thanks also for the food donations they provided.
We ended November with 21 adoptions for the month, down a bit from 31 in October, but the same as November 2017. Hopefully things will pick up in December, as they traditionally do. 6 kittens (Ashley, Ember, Cassidy, Casino, Landon, Pinot) and 2 adults (Jasmyn, Isabella) found loving homes since our last adoption event.
Many thanks to the volunteers and fosters who made this event a success (Sara, Steve, Laurel, Diane/Paul, Debbie, Joanie, Rita, Marilyn, Laura/Rick B, Tracy). The camaraderie and information sharing among fosters is so beneficial, and the adopters and potential adopters greatly appreciate getting the scoop on the kittens from their foster families.
Many thanks also for all of the other valuable contributions to this event - to Steve for the excellent photography during the event; to Connie, Stephanie and Ted for promoting the event on our Facebook page and web site; to Steve for the professional-looking cage cards; to Debbie and Mike for the on-going updates to the Adoptable Cats & Kittens board and binder; to Sara for helping with adoption counseling and paperwork as well as with the laundry; to Steve for coordinating our lunch run.
We will have 1 more adoption event before the end of the year on Saturday, 12/15, at the PetSmart at 63 Rice Lake Square in Wheaton from 11am-3pm. Details to follow.
Thanks,
Sue
Thank Goodness its December! Oh, My Its December!
From The President
Written by Tammy McAuley
Thursday, December 20, 2018
Are you sure this is a good idea?
As you can imagine, as the calendar rolls by, conflicting emotions are produced. Here it is already December and we have so much more to do! December, we can take a little break! While we cease neutering ferals because of the cold, etc., there is the rush to neuter all the kittens still on hand - which we have done! December is the time for our Holiday Card, our print newsletter, preparing for Frosty Claws, catching up on all the things there has not been time for all year, increased adoptions, more calls about ferals that are sick or injured and need intervention, other than s/n.
2018 has been a really tough year, fewer volunteers, movement in key positions in the organization, we're all getting older and that has new responsibilities and time pressures for each of us. We have been unable to find the right location for our building as of yet, unexpected roadblocks, and again, time constraints as we still have all the original responsibilities to manage.
Load 'em up!
2018 has been a great year, we neutered 654 cats, the overlap between caretakers is resulting in colonies being neutered more completely, we don't have to go to Chicago for all our s/n - DuPage County Animal Services has stepped up in a vital way, ADOPT Pet Shelter has done a huge number of surgeries for us. Residents are much more willing to shoulder the responsibility of fostering kittens and adults themselves, working with us to get them adopted. DuPage County Animal Services will schedule appointments with caretakers to neuter ferals, release them back to caretakers. Feral Fixers is being acknowledged and respected for our work, more and more.
Donation of a "new to us" vehicle, which has enabled us to use fewer vehicles to make a trip for s/n or to increase the number of clinic trips in one day. Rescue Bank, a nation-wide organization, has been helpful with food donations as well as connecting with vendors for other supplies that are a huge benefit.
We've ended the year with several trips in December for s/n. On 12/6 we sent 17 friendlies to ADOPT, 8 males and 9 females. On 12/12, a friendly male popped up, no other solution, ADOPT squeezed him in at the last minute. On 12/13, we sent 9 cats to ADOPT. 4 ferals - two that had been held onto in hopes they were going to be friendly, a cat that was allowed in/out, a mom cat that was finally ready for spay, 5 friendlies - the last of the kittens! Of those, 6 were female and 3 were male. This brings us to 27 for December, 654 for 2018 and 10,971 since our beginning in 2007! Many thanks to Debbie, Dedra and Charli for transporting!
Join us at Frosty Claws!
Traps in the snow...
We are working on Frosty Claws – our 11th annual – join us on January 20th at the Villa Park VFW, 39 E St. Charles Rd, Villa Park, from 12 noon to 4PM. Huge number of cat-friendly people, lots of fun, lots of food, a great time is had by all! We will have Silent Auction, door prize raffle, stick raffle, our boutique - great stuff! Many people love to participate by donating gifts – please keep in mind that it should be items that are new, collectible, handmade – we’ve had an antique toboggan, wall hangings, a Lake Michigan sailboat trip, Chicago Blackhawks tickets, cat shelters, quilts, you name it! Can’t re-gift to family members? Gift cards that you cannot use? Make handmade prize-winning pottery? We’ve received some surprising things that our attendees have loved! Please contact Tammy at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or call 630-881-3977 about donations. Still wanting to bake after the holidays? Please contact Sue at 630-661-8509 if you would like to share your special recipes with an appreciative crowd!
If you would like to volunteer for Frosty Claws, help set-up, transport, help during the event, clean-up at the end of the day, please contact Tammy 630-881-3977. Many hands make light work!
Thank you all for all the gifts we have received in 2018 and wish you a
GREAT NEW YEAR!
Last trip for Ferals...
From The President
Written by Tammy McAuley
Tuesday, October 23, 2018
Keenan
This has been a very hard year. Many changes, fewer volunteers, fewer hours to do the same amount of work. Ferals result in more friendlies, without more fosters, the flow in must be halted. Therefore, our feral surgeries will stop on 11/1. The friendlies we have on hand at that time will get their surgeries as they get old enough but no new kittens will be accepted after 11/1.
This is not easy to say “no”, but we are working with a limited resource – our time and our health. There has to be a reduction in workload somewhere so that the people involved in Feral Fixers can go on next year.
If you trap, you are responsible for arranging spay/neuter, contacting rescues for placement of any kittens/friendlies. You can contact DuPage County Animal Services, ADOPT Pet Shelter, Catnap From The Heart, PAWS, SPAY IL or your own local vet. We will not be doing any scheduling until the weather breaks in the Spring – around April most likely.
Two Girls & a Boy
Every shelter is currently full of cats and kittens. Despite our efforts, kittens are still being born and there are not enough adoptions. Rescues continue to bring cats in from out of area and out of state, further limiting our resources. Rescues continue to allow females to give birth, even when they are not sure how pregnant the female is – sometimes waiting almost the entire gestation period of 9 weeks.
We currently have 44 adoptable cats and kittens on our Petfinder page. We have more kittens that just came in and will have to be fostered and neutered before posting for adoption. Please share our adoptables with friends and family so that we can get our “new” friendlies into foster and on their own way to new homes!
30 Cats and more to come!
This post has some pics from today, 10/23. There are 30 traps and transfers in my garage, a few with multiple kittens inside because I ran out of traps on hand! Hopefully no one will poop on another’s head! Tomorrow a very few kittens will be going on to foster but the rest will most likely stay in traps for another few days until they can find a foster. Or be in a cage in my basement – not a bad place but not ideal. Fall kittens are kind of late this year, usually the rush is at the beginning of September, not towards the end of October.
Remember, we count on you, our “public” to speak for us, forward our adoption event information – this weekend, 10/27, tell people to fill out our adoption applications in advance, be pre-approved for that special cat that is coming their way!
And bear with us during this year end, we want to be here, neutering our butts off next year!
October Trips
Since our last update, we have made 4 s/n trips and one single cat was neutered at Glen Ellyn Animal Hospital. In all, there were 36 ferals, 23 friendlies, with a few already neutered cats, there were a total of 54 surgeries for October so far, bringing the year’s total to 534 and the total since our beginning to 10,851. Many thanks to Charli, Debbie, and Dedra, for transporting cats this month! Couldn’t do it without you!
(Click on any of the picture thumbnails to see a full size picture)
Our adoption event on Saturday,12/15, at the Wheaton PetSmart turned out to be the ultimate dog test for our kittens! Our cages were set up next to the dog training area and an intermediate dog obedience class started at 11am. The result - a loud and frequent chorus of barking for the first 30 minutes of the event! Fortunately, the advanced dog obedience class at 1pm was much quieter. ARF was also conducting dog adoptions in the store for the first couple of hours. So there were a lot of canines for our felines to deal with! The kitties were on high alert with all of the barking initially, but things settled down as the day progressed.
As a special holiday gift to our adopters at our December adoption events, we are giving each adopter a gift of their choice for each kitten adopted (cat bed, cat teepee, cat scratcher/perch, pet cushion). Our adoption event on Saturday, 12/1, at Bentley's Pet Stuff in Elmhurst was the kick-off of this promotion. More gifts will be distributed at our next adoption event on Saturday, 12/15, at PetSmart in Wheaton. Following the 12/15 adoption event, these gifts will also be provided to all adopters completing their adoption at our foster homes, as long as supplies last.
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