A Message to our Supporters
During the Coronavirus Pandemic
It seems like just yesterday I was trapping and wondering how to juggle all of the appointments for the mobile spay van.
One thing, in uncertain times, is that CHANGE is a constant. And that staying connected is the medicine that will sustain us.
As a small, volunteer-driven group, safety and the reality of the situation led us to
- Pause trapping AND trap lending,
- Continue to express our GRATITUDE for volunteers, supporters, caregivers — each and everyone of YOU,
- Encourage you to save space in your home for pets who may lose their owners — these animals who do NOT know how to live outside, and
- Share advice from experts that we hope will be helpful..
Please consider our messages below concerning you, your pets, and how to continue helping during this time of great change and uncertainty.
And if you have fur babies, hug them tightly.
This is a marathon, not a sprint.
Take time to purr.
At this time there is no evidence that COVID-19
can be transmitted from humans to animals or animals to humans.
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Do not abandon your pets.
Cats that thrive outdoors in your neighborhood were born there or have already learned to adapt if abandoned. Your indoor pet cat that has never been exposed to the dangers that can come from living outside will have difficulty finding food and defending himself from predators. Please do not put your cat out. Make plans if you can to have your animals taken care of if you become sick.
For more information about your pets, go to: Best Friends COVID 19 and pets
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If you have pet food to spare, now is the time to donate to your local food bank. Call ahead to confirm operating hours and drop off times. If you are helping out THANKS! and encourage food banks to accept and distribute pet food.
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Leave kittens where you find them.
REMEMBER: Best place for kittens is with mom.
Chances are, mom has gone to find food and will return to care for them. Even if mom does not return, do not take kittens inside unless you are prepared to care for them.
For kittens that are not yet weaned, you’ll need to bottle feed them. That means having enough supplies on hand to do so, and feeding them every 2-3 hours. That’s a big commitment even when cash flow is at its highest and vet offices and clinics are running normal hours. What if something were to happen to you? Do you have someone else who would be willing to take on such a big job?
Here’s a link with so much more information from Alley Cat Allies. Best place for outdoor kittens is with mom
Alley Cat Allies Caregiver Update
PLEASE CLICK ON THE ABOVE LINK AND READ THE LATEST ADVICE FROM ALLEY CAT ALLIES.
Many of you take care of outdoor colonies:
MEOWY THANKS! for all you do for the animals.
We urge you to practise safety for you first as well as continued care for your colonies. CPAW NJ echoes this statement from Alley Cat Allies:
If you are an employee of or volunteer at an organization that has policies regarding care for community cats, please confirm that it is understood by your organization that the community cat care you undertake on your own time is something you are doing as an individual citizen and not as a representative or employee of that agency. Likewise, in any communications you might have about your role as a cat caregiver, please be sure to not give the impression that you are an employee or representative of Alley Cat Allies, as this would be inaccurate. Be truthful and proud about being a compassionate concerned citizen who is committed to providing on-going care to cats in the community. If you encounter any pushback, please let us know.
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Clinic Closures and Spay/Neuter Van Cancellations
We regularly take cats to be spayed and neutered at People for Animals clinic in Hillside, New Jersey. They have made the decision to temporarily close to reduce potential for exposure to Coronavirus.
Our two Associated Humane Society mobile unit spay days for this month have also been cancelled.
We will continue to update our supporters on the status of low cost clinics in the coming weeks and months. Our social media pages will have the most up to date information.
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Unless you’re an essential worker (and if you are, you have our endless gratitude for all that you do!) you’ve been encouraged to #StayHome. We’d like to remind you that The Cat Rescuers film is available for streaming on iTunes and Amazon.
Watch the official trailer: https://www.tugg.com/titles/
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SUPPORT THE SPAY IT FORWARD FUNDRAISER
When this is all over, and we get back to normal – or whatever the new normal is – our mission will be more important than ever. With clinic closures and volunteers pausing on their activities, the number of kittens born outside will be higher than ever. Please help us continue to spay and neuter, whenever that opportunity comes again.
Suggested donation amounts:
- $25 to feed a cat
- $100 to spay/neuter a community cat
- $150 to sponsor vet care for a kitten
- $350 to spay/neuter five community cats
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MARCH RESULTS ARE IN!
CPAW NJ Report Card as of March 24, 2020
Spayed/neutered (feral): 23
18 females and 6 males
Spayed/neutered companion: 1
1 cat, HOPE, was given long term care for a side wound and has now been released!
Since April 1, 2017
1,315 spay/neuter
MEOWY THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THIS LIFESAVING EFFORT
Copyright © 2017 CPAW NJ, All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is:
41 Watchung Plaza, #317
Montclair, NJ 07042