PRESS RELEASE -- May, 2009 Contact: June Hatlestad, CatBugs Pet Rescue
Phone: 904-673-5813
Email: catbugno1@comcast.net
"NEW FUND ESTABLISHED TO SAVE CLAY COUNTY ANIMALS"
CatBugs Pet Rescue, Inc, is excited to announce the recent formation of the CLAY COUNTY ANIMAL WELFARE FUND within its organization.
A donation of $50,000 to establish this fund was recently made by Clay County resident and animal lover Gail Arrowsmith.
The newly created Clay County Animal Welfare Fund will be used to provide services for Clay County’s homeless animals.
It is Arrowsmith's hope that individuals and businesses will donate to the fund in an effort to make it self-sustaining. "Calculations indicate that all of the initial donation could be depleted within a few months if additional donations are not raised," said Arrowsmith.
To donate to the Clay County Animal Welfare Fund, please send your check to: CatBugs Pet Rescue, Inc. (note Clay County Animal Welfare Fund on the memo line). The mailing address is P. O. Box 1193, Green Cove Springs, FL 32043.
Initially, funds will be used to pay for spay and neuter surgeries for the animals before they go up for adoption at Clay County Animal Care and Control (CCACC), which is a procedural change. This expenditure will become unnecessary once the county commissioners vote to increase the adoption fees for the animals. The increased adoption fees will then cover the expense of the surgeries.
"Altering the animals before they are adopted will save the adoptive families money since First Coast No More Homeless Pets (FCNMHP) will be altering the animals at reduced rates,” said June Hatlestad, founder of CatBugs Pet Rescue. “This procedural change will improve the efficiency and pace of adoptions and will result in less overall cost to the adoptive families."
Hatlestad noted that in Lee County when altering animals before being placed for adoption was instituted, the adoption rate increased by forty percent.
Additionally, The Clay County Animal Welfare Fund will be used for underwriting costs involved in hosting regular off-site mobile adoption events or a permanent off-site location. Jacksonville Animal Care and Control has operated such a storefront adoption center in Mandarin for nine years. The Mandarin satellite facility adopts out approximately the same number of animals on a monthly basis as their main facility.
“Just by implementing and then maintaining the pre-adoption spay or neuter services, regularly scheduling off-site mobile adoptions, and in the future opening a permanent satellite location, it has been estimated that animal adoptions in Clay County could potentially increase by one hundred and forty percent!," exclaimed Hatlestad. "The end result is that animals' lives will be saved at Clay County Animal Care and Control."
Both Arrowsmith and Hatlestad point out that no donation is too small, and all donations are tax deductible. If you or your business are interested in donating, simply send a check to: CatBugs Pet Rescue, Inc. (note Clay County Animal Welfare Fund on the memo line) at P. O. Box 1193 Green Cove Springs, FL 32043.
DONATE NOW (BUTTON #1 - ANIMAL WELFARE FUND)
We greatly appreciate any and all donations, cash or otherwise. If you would like to donate dog or cat food, litter, wire cages or pet taxis, or other supplies, please contact us so that we can make arrangements to pick it up or have you drop it off. We are currently feeding about 60 kitties and 15 dogs/puppies on a daily basis, including a feral cat colony that our volunteers have managed for over 6 years via TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return).
CatBugs volunteers and foster parents care for many pets with special needs - elderly pets with chronic disease, dogs with heartworm disease, animals with broken bones, and many others that were in danger of being euthanized before they were rescued by our agency.
The costs for ongoing quality medical care far exceed the amount we receive in adoption fees and we rely on donations to continue saving lives. If you'd like to donate to help us care for these animals, some in our adoption program, some in foster homes permanently due to their health issues, please donate below.
DONATE NOW (BUTTON #2- CATBUGS ANIMAL CARE FUND)
** EVENTS**
Wed, JULY 222ND, 2009: DINNER & BINGO- 5:30 PM
Magnolia Point Golf & Country Club, Green Cove Springs, FL
Magnolia Point is going to the dogs...and cats. Join the pack at a fundraiser for CatBugs Pet Rescue and the Clay Humane Society.
Bingo * Cash Prizes * Door Prizes
$25.00 (All Inclusive for Dinner & Bingo)
INFO / RESERVATIONS: Call 904/269-9276 - Ext. "0", or email: dyal@magnoliapointgolfclub.com (You must be 18 yrs of age to participate in the fundraiser),
**ADOPTING A FRIEND**
Adopting a pet involves a serious commitment by the new pet guardian. Before an adoption is finalized, we ask applicants to complete a "Lifestyle Questionnaire" so that we can determine the needs of the adopter, and the needs of the animal being considered. Getting a good "match" is very important to us.
Preventing pet overpopulation and euthanasia of healthy animals is also very important to us. Because of this, we have a Mandatory Spay/Neuter Policy. All animals are sterilized before any adoption is finalized.
We require that kitties be adopted as primarily indoor pets and that dogs also be housed indoors, unless outside for elimination or supervised exercise/play time with the family or other pets. A fenced yard is preferred for large breed dogs that need alot of exercise, and absolutely no chaining or tethering is allowed.
Our adoption donation for cats/kittens ranges from $75.00 to $100.00 which includes spay/neuter, testing for feline leukemia/FIV, age appropriate vaccinations against infectious diseases (FPLRC and Rabies if old enough) deworming, and flea preventative as needed. >
Our adoption donation for dogs/puppies ranges from $100.00 to $200.00, which includes spay/neuter, microchip, heartworm testing and treatment if necessary, monthly heartworm preventative while in our care, age appropriate vaccinations against infectious diseases (Distemper/Parvo/Bordetella, and Rabies, if old enough), deworming and flea preventative as needed.
**COME VISIT US**
CatBugs Pet Rescue is an Official PETSMART Adoption Partner! Our animals available for adoption will be showcased on various Saturdays throughout the month.
Sat, July 5th 12:30 pmto 4:30 pm, and July 11th and 18th: 12 pm until 4:00 pm / PetSmart, 6000 Lake Gray Blvd, West Jacksonville / Orange Park 904/779-4944.
Kittens/cats are also available for viewing/adoption 24-7 at the Orange Park/West Jacksonville PetSmart 6000 Lake Gray Blvd, Jacksonville - see one you like??? Give us a call at 904/673-5813 - adopters are required to complete and Adoption Application prior to finalizing an adoption. Your new kitten/cat must leave the adoption site in a carrier for safety reaons.
We do not have our own shelter at this time, but what we DO have, is a foster care network comprised of wonderful caring volunteers who take the animals into their privates homes where they are loved and nurtured and socialized with normal homefront activities occuring all around them. Keeping them in foster homes enables us to get to know the animals individually, and it also allows us to monitor their health more closely than if they were living in a shelter environment. It also enables us to detect any behavioral issues that might need to be addressed before the animal is placed with an adoptive family.
**WHO WE ARE**
We are a small group of volunteers dedicated to helping homeless animals in Bradford, Clay, Duval and Putnam Counties. Several of our volunteers have extensive hands on experience working with animals or in animal rescue; others have vet tech experience and some even work as dog trainers and pet sitters. One thing we all have in common is a genuine love for animals and a shared mission to help educate the public about the importance of spay/neuter and responsible pet ownership.
Primarily our focus is to rescue animals from death row at local animal control facilities, and to rehab them and provide for them medically and emotionally until they can be placed into suitable permanent homes, based on their individual needs and those of their adoptive family.
We operate solely from donations and the generosity of animal lovers who support our mission of helping homeless animals.
CATBUGS PET RESCUE, INC. P. O. Box 1193
Green Cove Springs, FL 32043-1193
Phone: 904/673-5813
