All About Spay Neuter Inc.

December 2007 Newsletter

Happy Holidays from the Director In this edition ....

Once again, another record year for All About Spay Neuter Inc. Without the help, love, compassion, and generosity from so many of you, these great strides could have never been reached. I would like to take the opportunity to emphasize in this newsletter the importance of the feral cat issue in New York, especially Long Island. The population is growing exponentially.

Grant Received from Build a Bear Workshop Hugs Foundation

Director Attends Pet Smart Fix - It - Forum

Grant giving organizations are not realizing the importance of this issue as we receive rejection letters from two charities that we received grant money from in 2006. PetSmart Charities rejected our grant because there was not enough funding for all the grants they received. They stated that, “Since your application was a repeat of a previously funded program, the grant committee decided to accept a first-time grant proposal from another group.” Pet Peeves stated, “This year, we are focusing on Humane Education and Pet Therapy along with the spay and neuter of Long Island’s homeless pets.”

Huge TNR Project at Belmont Racetrack and Surrounding Community

After attending the PetSmart Fix-It-Forum in Chicago in October 2007, it appears that the rest of the country realizes the importance of spay/neuter intervention. Long Island is still hiding their heads, thinking the problem will go away.

Nassau County Legislators Feral Cat Hearing

As you will read in this issue that All About Spay Neuter Inc is determined to end the suffering of these homeless feral cats by opening up a low cost, high quality, high volume spay/neuter clinic with recovery. We will not change our mission - we will continue to stop the overpopulation of feral cats through TNR (trap/neuter/return).

Our Statistics for the Year 2007

Life on the Streets

This year we have sterilized more feral cats than ever before, coming across many home owners with more than thirty cats in their backyards. Tackling large projects such as Belmont Racetrack, low cost housing complexes, industrial areas.....basically sterilizing cats with “no benefactors”. I wish you and your families a very Happy Holiday season filled with joy, love, health, peace and happiness. My sincere thanks to all.

Joanne Monez, Director

Events of the Year 2007 All About Spay Neuter Receives Grant From Build A Bear Workshop Foundation In August 2007, All About Spay Neuter Inc. received a spay/neuter grant from Build A Bear Workshop Hugs Foundation. This money expanded our TNR (trap/neuter/return) efforts to cats with “no benefactors”. These cats live at homes of low income residents and subsidized housing projects. These people take great care of these cats, but do not have the funds to spay/neuter. Over forty (40) cats were sterilized at just one Town of Oyster Bay Housing Complex. Dusty poses with a Bearemy Kennel Pal

Dusty poses with a Bearemy Kennel Pal

The Build A Bear Workshop Bear Hugs Foundation is committed to making life more bearable for children, families, and pets in need of a helping paw. With the sale of each full-sized Bearemy’s Kennel Pal friend, one dollar is donated to domestic pet programs including local animal shelters, stray pet rescues and rehabilitation organization, and pet education programs around the country. Thank you Build A Bear Workshop Bear Hugs Foundation.

We Thank...... Suffolk County SPCA, Dr. Senk, and her Amazing Staff

Licensed Vet Tech, Lynn Carlson has donated her time and expertise to help our ferals.

This year All About Spay Neuter, Suffolk County SPCA and Dr. Senk teamed together to help more cats with “no benefactors”. These cats came from various locations on Long Island, including state parks, county parks, section 8 housing complexes, and Belmont racetrack. Four spay/neuter clinics, January 8, April 29, August 5, and September 5, 2007 were given to All About Spay Neuter. Over 115 cats were sterilized and returned to their colonies. Dr. Senk and her amazing staff donated their services while Suffolk County SPCA donated their mobile unit to perform the surgeries. Special thanks to Lynn Carlson, licensed vet tech, who donates her time to help all our animals.

Director Attends PetSmart Fix-It Forum The Suffolk County SPCA spay/neuter Clinic

Help Us Find A Location W e are presently looking for a warehouse, approxim ately 2000 square feet to open our clinic. The cost of real estate on Long Island is cost prohibitive. Anyone willing to lease a building to a not-for-profit corporation would benefit with a substantial real estate tax savings. Help your com m unity and save lives.

October 26 and October 27, 2007 PetSmart Charities sponsored a conference held in Chicago, called the Fix-It-Forum. The conference was attended by over 100 veterinarians and 400 other rescue organizations from all over the country. The emphasis was on low cost, high quality, high volume spay/neuter. The workshops were extremely informative and only emphasized the need of these clinics countrywide. Many clinics are already in operation, spaying and neutering thousands of animals a year. Though most of these clinics are primarily for companion animals, the Director feels the need for one of these clinics on Long Island to address the overpopulation of feral cats. A low cost, high quality, high volume spay/neuter clinic with recovery of the feral cats is necessary. Our goal for 2008 is to open this clinic. We are presently looking for a central location for this clinic. It would be open to all rescue organizations and individuals. A spay/neuter clinic with recovery would benefit the trappers and definitely the cats.

Winning Race for Belmont Ferals For years, Laurie has TNR’ed hundreds of cats at the racetrack, rescuing many to be her personal pets. More cats were starting to appear at Belmont Racetrack, a 430 acre park, located in Elmont. A mass trapping was set up. Since Belmont has a Spring and Fall horse racing schedule consisting of ninety-three (93) days, trapping had to be done while the horses were not at Belmont. Opening day.....trappers prepare to trap cats at the various barns at Belmont.

These feral cats live everywhere, mostly in the barns, where they have wonderful shelter as they live in the hay lofts. Laurie, Kim and Joanne went from barn to barn trapping over seventy (70) cats. Many kittens were also rescued and placed for adoption.

Dusty poses with a Bearemy Kennel Pal

If that was not enough, Laurie initiated TNR projects for all the Belmont employees that lived in Elmont. Another forty (40) cats were done in the surrounding community. We should all be more like Laurie, who spends her time, efforts, and funds to help the homeless cats to make their life better.

Belmont feral cats are well cared for with shelter and regular feedings.

Please Open Your Hearts.... to Help Us Help the Homeless Our rescue operates through your generosity. Please remember that there are only a limited number of great homes for kittens and cats, that is why spay/neuter is so important. Please remember how we have helped you with TNR, found safe adoptive homes for your kittens, taken dumped friendly cats and placed them in great homes, and how many other rescue groups said NO to you when you were in need. YES, I will donate to help All About Spay Neuter Inc. Name _________________________________________ Address _______________________________________ City __________________ State _________ Zip _______

Enclosed is my tax deductible donation $ _____________ Please return to : Peace officers pet friendly cat that was probably left by seasonal employee.

All About Spay Neuter Inc. P. O. Box 140098 Howard Beach, New York 11414 THANK YOU !!!!

The Story of Scarface Please help us continue to help the homeless animals by pledging your support.

Please mail your tax deductible donation to :

Director Presents Facts to Nassau County Legislators A feral cat hearing was held February 27, 2007. Nassau County Legislators Diane Yatauro and Denise Ford scheduled the hearing. Joanne Monez, Director of All About Spay Neuter presented to the legislators a factual speech and a possible solution. She informed the legislators that she had written over 70 assemblyman, legislators, town supervisors, town council members, city managers, and city council members of Nassau County on January 12, 2007. Only three responses were received, all being form letters.

Scarface was a feral cat trapped at a

All About Spaycomplex, Neuterloaded Inc.with Section 8 housing P. O. Box infection from140098 a wound that started at his eye and ended New at his shoulder. Howard Beach, York 11414

Phone : (516) 967-4648 (516) 850-1061

E-Mail : [email protected] He was immediately rushed to Dr. Feinsod, who cleaned out his wound and inserted a drain for his infection.

Please visit our website : www.AllAboutSpayNeuter.com

ALL (100%) of your donation will be used to help an animal in need. Scarface was a resident with us for over four months. During this time he endured four different surgeries to keep his wound clean and free of infection. He was also neutered and eartipped.

The Director’s speech pointed out the organizations that should be helping with the reduction of the overpopulation of feral cats. Nassau County SPCA had been contacted on numerous occasions, just to have our requests fall on deaf ears. She stressed how the shelter system is failing, overburdened and overpopulated with cats. There are some Nassau County municipal shelters that have budgets in the millions, with large staff personnel and no veterinarian on staff. An effort to enact mandatory spay/neuter legislation is currently underway in New Mexico with HB 1106. Our neighboring New York City requires sterilization for all animals originating from pet shops and shelter facilities. Taxpayer dollars are being wasted euthanizing animals at municipal shelters. The cost to euthanize a cat which includes trapping, transporting, sheltering, euthanizing and disposing ranges from, $ 61 to $ 175 per cat, all at the expense of the taxpayer vs. the average surgical cost for $ 35 to $ 65 per cat for spay/neuter, vaccination and eartipping. “We all hear how Nassau County is in debt. According to Nassau County Comptroller Howard Weitzman, the county achieved another budget surplus in 2005 or $ 78.3 million, being the fourth annual surplus under the Suozzi administration.” The meeting was attended by many rescue groups and individual caretakers. All got a chance to speak. After the meeting a feral cat advisory board was formed.

Packages Under Our Tree All About Spay Neuter Inc., is a 501c(3) non-for-profit animal rescue. We primarily rely on private donations to keep our rescue operating. Besides monetary donations, we are always in need of the following items : W et kitten or cat food Dry kitten food Cat litter - any type Baby Food - Gerber Stage 1 or Beechnut Stage 2, chicken and broth or turkey and broth

After his long recovery, Scarface was released to his colony. Whether feral or friendly, all injured and sick cats deserve the same treatment.

Baby blankets or small pet beds

Thank Yous and Purrs Once again, our number one thanks goes to Dr. Randon Feinsod, who has left New York to pursue his dreams. He has helped us tremendously and we miss him terribly. To Dr. Weinstein and the other doctors at Howard Beach Animal Clinic, we thank you. Thanks to Lucy, Kim and the rest of your amazing staff. Chris, Cindy, the staff and doctors of the APSCA, WE LOVE YOU !!!! Your continued compassion to the feral cats of New York City is unbelievable. Angela, Debbie, the veterinarians and staff of Island Rescue - kudos to you - providing top quality, high volume, and low cost feral spay/neuter to Long Islanders. Dr. Senk and her amazing staff, for their commitment to the plight of the feral cat. Grace, from Second Chance Animal Rescue, for always lending a helping paw. Jessica Frohman, and the staff at Alley Cat Allies, your guidance and constant support is much appreciated. You have shown New Yorkers the importance of protecting these beautiful creatures. Hailey Greenberg, and the staff of Greenberg and Merola LLC, who proved to us that it is all about the animals welfare. And to our new friend, Ashot from Urban Cat League, who has made us feel we are not alone in our fight to save to homeless. .

All About Spay Neuter Inc. P. O. Box 140098 Howard Beach, New York 11414

Happy Holidays to All !!

Stocking Stuffers Some of our adoptable kittens

Life on the Streets A small pictorial essay of some of the cats/kittens we have rescued. It shows the how important spay/neuter is. These cats were found sick or injured. We do the best we can for most, but some still do not survive.

How sad do I look ??? I am one of the lucky cats that was trapped, neutered, given flea treatment, treated for ear mites, and returned to my colony. Unfortunately I live at the Bronx Garbage Transfer Station. Luckily my seven kittens were rescued and found safe adoptive homes.

I was a female that was trapped at a section 8 housing complex. Luckily while I was being spayed the doctor removed a huge tumor on my neck. I recovered nicely and returned to my colony.

I was not one of the lucky ones. By the time I was trapped I was so ridden with infection I was found wandering in the middle of the and my leg was not salvageable, the doctor street. The neighbors would not touch me suggested humanely euthanizing me to end because I looked so sick. Thank goodness my suffering. I was rescued, treated, and placed for adoption.

Yes, that is my eye. I am so lucky that I was trapped, spayed, and had my eye removed. After recuperation I was returned to my colony and live a happy and healthy life.

Aren’t kittens supposed to be cute ? Well this poor kitten was treated for 3 weeks before it passed away. Sometimes all the treatment in the world cannot help.

Where do we Live ??

2007 Statistics The year 2007 has been incredible for us. To date we have spayed/neutered over eight hundred thirty (830) feral cats and kittens and December has just started. This far surpasses our amount from last year. Since September 2004, our grand total is over two thousand one hundred (2100) cats that have been trapped, neutered, and returned. Just imagine how many births have been prevented by spay/neuter intervention of 830 cats and kittens....and still more to be done.

Parking Lots And these are not random cats, they are all TNR’ed by colonies. We do not leave a location until 95% of all the cats are sterilized. It has been a pleasure to see how many people have made these feral cats part of their families, providing them with the life essentials of food and shelter. Special thanks to all that make this possible.....the veterinarians and staff of wonderful organizations like the ASPCA, Island Rescue, Dr. Senk, Suffolk County SPCA, and Howard Beach Animal Clinic.

Junkyards

We cannot forget all the trappers that spend countless hours and time to trap, transport, and recover these cats. This year, one hundred thirty (130) kittens and cats have been placed into safe adoptive homes. Since September 2004 over four hundred thirty (430) cats and kittens have been adopted.

Seasons Greetings to All !!

Parks

Each year we meet people that make what we do worthwhile. Even thought the plight of the feral cat is a sad one, there are people that brighten our lives daily that keep us doing what we continue to do. To our supporters, who understand our mission - to reduce the feral population through TNR, you keep us going. To our wonderful feral caretakers, we love you for helping those that cannot help themselves. You have shown your love by opening up your backyards, places of employment, places you visit, to make a home for a homeless cat. Food and sheltering is an integral part in the survival of our feline friends.

Dumpsters

Wooded Areas

To our adopters, we applaud you for rescuing a kitten or cat so that it does not have to live the life its feral parent do and they will show you the gratitude every day of their lives. Our rescue is built on the dedication of our volunteers. Florence, Marion and Rosemary, our beach girls, have been such a help in every way they can. Without the help of Chris, the Pet Expo would not have been such a success this year. Laurie and Kim, the Belmont girls, we have shared too many laughs and fun times, and done a great job at the same time. And we cannot forget Rob, my trapping partner, who puts the cats before all others.