Blending Holistic and Traditional Veterinary Care for Cats with Dr. Gary Richter, MS, DVM
January 11, 2022
Beverly Means, LMSW, Founder and Executive Director of Transitions Pet Care
January 18, 2022
An elderly woman who regularly feeds 8 cats.
A disabled resident with dozens of cats on their property.
An abandoned warehouse, known as a site for abandonment, with more than 40 cats.
Suburban homes. Urban apartment buildings. Mobile home parks. Crowded commercial areas.
They are stories we all know so well. One cat becomes two cats, becomes six cats. Kind neighbors start feeding cats, but soon become overwhelmed. Compassionate citizens want to help, but lack the means to safely trap, transport, or pay for the cats’ veterinary care.
There are so many cats that need our help–so many people unsure of where to turn or what to do.
That’s why we created the Community Cats Podcast Grants Program. To help more organizations do more for cats and the people who care for them. And that’s just what the organizations in Group 12 were able to do.
Photo by Indy Neighborhood Cats
Group 12 of the Community Cats Grants Program consisted of eleven different groups from all around the country. From Arizona to New York, Virginia to Alabama, each group embraced the challenge and committed themselves to the process of fundraising in order to first qualify for the matching grant. They then used that money to help the cats and people in their community who needed it most.
Jins Bottle Babies in Phoenix, Arizona managed to TNR a total of 72 cats from seven different colonies. The grant increased their TNR capacity for the year by 46% and provided some much-needed support for the caregivers in their network.
Fix West Texas in Midland, Texas covered the cost of TNR for 40 community cats from residents who could not afford services otherwise.
Homeless Animal Rescue Team (HART) of New Mexico in Los Lunas, New Mexico used the grant as an opportunity to assist a disabled individual who had 36 cats on their property. Thanks to the grant, they were able to coordinate targeted trapping efforts to trap all 36 cats over two clinic days. In the end, 8 kittens were pulled for socialization and adoption, while 28 cats were spayed/neutered, vaccinated, ear-tipped, and returned to live in their outdoor home.
Photo by Indy Neighborhood Cats
Indy Neighborhood Cats in Indianapolis, Indiana was able to kick off a targeted trapping project for a mobile home park with 68 cats on site. They worked closely with management and residents to train trapping volunteers and identify long-term caregivers. They even built permanent feeding stations and shelters for the cats. The project was a success, and they are hoping to expand the model to all 40 mobile home parks in Indianapolis.
Collectively, Group 12 raised over $20,914. Using those funds, and the matching grants they received, they were able to provide spay/neuter services for over 564 community cats.
Since its beginning in 2017, the Community Cats Grants Program has worked with 174 organizations to supercharge their fundraising and provide over $165,000 in matching grant funds. Through the program, more than 9,000 community cats have been spayed/neutered.
Congratulations to all grantees in Group 12:
Photo by Indy Neighborhood Cats
The Community Cats Grants Program is open to all grassroots nonprofit organizations who can commit to organizing a brand new fundraiser for their organization, with a goal of raising at least $1,000 in order to receive a matching grant of $1,000 from Community Cats Podcast. Learn more about the grants program and apply online.
Apply now! Applications for Group 15 are due by February 28, 2022. Organizations selected for the grants program will be notified by March 25, 2022.
Starting in 2022, the Community Cats Grants Program will have two grant cycles per year. Applications for the spring/summer cycle are due by February 28. Applications for the fall/winter cycle are due by July 31.
Questions? Start by watching our short webinar here (scroll to the very bottom of the page). More questions? Email us at grants@communitycatspodcast.com.
