Save a Dog, Save a Cat (SADSAC) is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization committed to saving the lives of dogs and cats by finding them loving homes. We are located in Prince William County, VA. We are especially committed to a high-population feral cat colony in our area, which easily numbers more than one hundred kitties!
SADSAC was formed in order to help save adoptable pets on an occasional basis. Every once in a while, I would become involved in a situation where a pet was to be needlessly euthanized, and I found myself trying to find a rescue group that could help. Now I am the one to try to offer help. Our focus is to save lives and prevent litters. There are so many that are euthanized every day--if we prevent one litter or save one life, it goes a long way!
Sherry Meier, President
President's Message
Merry Christmas everyone! Hard to believe it's that time already. I don't think I am ever truly ready for the holidays. As for the rescues, well they just keep coming!
We're working on several different colonies at the moment, and helping other rescuers with their colonies as well. It is very sad to know there are so many out there and not enough funds, manpower, homes, nor time to take care of them all. The good news is that we have taken in several adoptable kittens that other rescues have found homes for themselves. One such kitten was an 8-10 week old blue point Siamese. I believe he is headed to his new forever home as I type, thanks to Angie for displaying his picture at work and allowing a co-worker to fall in love with him. There were many people involved in his capture, taming, and adoption--thank you all. How nice to get a young one off the street. We have been able to assist a caretaker with her colony in her development by neutering and vaccinating several cats and finding homes for at least three cats so far. It is SOOO hard to find homes for cats these days. Everyone seems to want to give them up, and everyone already has a bunch of them! This is very frustrating, as I get calls at home, calls at work, and emails galore every single day. I wish I could help them all.
I am pleased to announce that my little Belle, the Princess, has been adopted to her forever home with the Purnells. Boy, has she ever got them wrapped around her little paws! HA! I couldn't have found a more perfect match! We were able to find a home for Annika, the black and white kitten Kari found in the middle of Dale Blvd. Way to go, Kari! This was a real challenge as Annika had nerve damage in her back and had been eating asphalt she was so hungry! Kari risked her life to save her, took care of her, had a yard sale to raise money to help pay for her treatment, and then even found her a new home! Thank goodness for people like Kari!
As for dogs, there are lots of those too. There's Maya, the 10+ year old chihuahua mix whose owner was dying in the hospital and who was about to be put down when I heard the story. The owner's son did not want to take his mother's animals back to his home out of state. We were unable to take in the cats, who I believe were also senior citizens, but at least Maya found a great home with a very good Samaritan, who knowing she was a senior and having sight in only one eye, still took her in anyway. Congrats to Deh & John for adopting Maya, the snaggle-toothed chihuahua mix. What a cutie she is!
We have finally found homes for all our canine rescues, including Daisy, the once pregnant, dropped off at the shelter to be euthanized dog, as well as her pups, a few pups we got from an accidental breeding of a 12 year old dog, and our little Layla who it seems waited patiently for just the perfect home! Layla was an intact female chow mix living outside with an intact male shepherd mix, and about 10 months hold when she suddenly felt the need to jump the fence or get out of the yard. My guess is there was a young man of particular interest. But anyway she ran away from home and was hit by a car. She was somehow picked up by animal control and was so badly injured they took her to an emergency hospital. The vets there told the shelter to euthanize her if the owner didn't come forward in 24 hours as it was cruel to keep her alive with her extensive injuries. I think I know why they didn't euthanize her though. She was unfailingly sweet, wagging and giving kisses to anyone she could reach. Her owner came by the shelter, walked around and didn't see her (she was being kept in the back due to her injuries) and went home. Finally they put 2 and 2 together, and a week after being hit, owner was reunited with dog. Several days later the owner brought her in because she couldn't walk. Well, her pelvis was crushed, her femur (thigh bone) was broken, and her hip was dislocated. How she could be so sweet and be in SO much pain was unbelievable. I still cringe to think of her x-rays. At that point, the owner signed her over to SADSAC, unable to pay the surgery bill. We felt that after all this dog had been through, she deserved a chance. I can't think of a dog this sweet and loving and so badly broken. Anyway, off to Dr. Bradley's she went for bone surgery, screws, and a plate. Then it was off to the foster home, then back to Dr. Bradley's again, and then to her forever home! Hooray! It has been a little tough getting her settled in--she jumped the baby gate when she was supposed to be resting and suddenly forgot to be house trained when she was confined to leash walking for potty breaks. Thankfully, she is still charming her way around and is one lucky little dog. Her new name is Lady. Ah, I just love happy endings. Congrats to the Simiones on their wonderful new addition. I just knew she was waiting for you.
I hope you all had great holidays and of course appreciate any help you can give us in our quest to save the cats and dogs we can. I promise to put your donations to good use spaying, neutering, and doing the best we can for the little furry ones.
Sherry Meier, SADSAC President
Foster Homes Needed!
We are in desperate need of foster homes! Please contact us at sadsac01@yahoo.com
or (703) 594-3324 if you can help!
CFC United Way and Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign
SADSAC’s Combined Federal Campaign of the National Capitol Area designation number is 90429 if you would like to make a payroll deduction contribution. If you wish to donate through the national CFC, they will accept write-in donations on our behalf. Also, we are happy to accept monetary donations which are tax deductible. You can drop them by the clinic at Independent Hill or put them in the mail to SADSAC, P.O. Box 972, Dumfries, VA 22026. We’ll do our very best to help all those we can. We can’t do it without you.
We have also been added to the Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign. Our designation number with CVC is 3057.
Events/Fundraisers:
We are currently in need of one or two medium size plastic Dogloos to shelter feral cats during the coming winter. If you can donate a Dogloo, please contact us by email at sadsac01@yahoo.com or call (703) 594-3324. Thank you!
We have signed up with Food Lion's Shop and Share program! Each time you shop at Food Lion and use your MVP card, a portion of your total grocery purchase will be donated to the school, church or other local not-for-profit organization you have selected. Go to the Food Lion site at http://www.foodlion.com/ and click on In the Community, then Lion Shop and Share to select Save a Dog Save a Cat as the organization you wish to receive this donation. Thank you!
We are still microchipping at Independent Hill Veterinary Clinic. Please call (703) 791-2083 to make an appointment.
All our pets have been spayed or neutered and are current on vaccinations. Cats have all been tested for FeLV/FIV. Some of our cats are former feral cats. If you are interested in adopting a former feral cat, please read our tips below to help make the adoption a success.
If you are interested in adopting one of our pets, please contact us at the number or email address below. We ask a $100 adoption fee to help cover veterinary expenses.
Please note that we do not have a shelter facility for housing pets. Our animals are cared for in foster homes and may be met by appointment only.
Helping a former feral cat or kitten adjust to a new home and environment takes a little extra work but is worth the effort. Here are some suggestions to help make the adoption of a former feral a success. They are important in the adoption of any cat, but with a former feral, they are critical.
Some Feral Facts
Feral cats are used to an established territory.
Cats do not like change.
Feral cats take much longer to adjust to new situations and may never adjust completely.
Take your time!
There is no such thing as going too slowly when you're helping a former feral cat adjust to new surroundings. Please don't rush the process. It's vital to provide ample time to let your cat cope with a completely new enviornment.
Set up a "sanctuary" room.
This can be a spare bedroom, a small bathroom, or any other quiet, safe spot. Try to keep the space as small as possible--the larger the territory, the more difficult and longer the adjustment period. Ideally, you might want to begin by placing a large crate in the room, containing a litter box, water dish and blanket. Cat-proof the room, eliminating potential hazards such as electical wires or easily-tipped furniture. Provide plenty of hiding places for the cat to help reduce its stress. Cats don't like change and will want places to hide while they adjust to their new territory.
When you first bring the cat home....
Do not allow the cat to roam the entire house when you first bring it home. Place the cat in its carrier in the sanctuary room. If you don't have a large crate set up in the room, have a litter box on one side, and have food and water available in another area of the room. Open the carrier, then go out of the room and close the door. For the first 24 hours, only enter the sanctuary to provide food and water and to scoop the litter box. Keep the door to the room shut.
Start spending a little time in the sanctuary.
After the first 24 hours or so, you may begin spending a little time in the sanctuary room with your new cat. Bring a book or your laptop. This will give the cat time to adjust to its new human's presence without feeling threatened. Sit still and ignore the cat. Direct eye contact should be avoided as it is considered aggressive. You may or may not see the cat--this is okay. Let it hide while it adjusts to your presence and your scent.
Let the cat approach you on its own terms.
For the first week or so, continue to enter the sanctuary regularly to spend time with your cat, keeping the door shut at all times while the cat gains confidence and adjusts to its surroundings. You may, as you notice the cat's comfort level increasing, want to have an interactive toy (such as a fishing pole-type toy) to provide positive experiences in your presence. Tasty treats could also be helpful. Try to let the cat set the pace as far as touching goes. This could take weeks--each kitty is different. You may want to leave a radio or TV on with soft music playing while you're gone.
After the first week, pick up the food dish when you leave the room and bring it in with you at regular feeding times. It is vital that the cat knows you as the source of food. The cat may go a day or two without eating, and this isn't too problematic. If he or she hasn't eaten in two whole days, put a small amount of food in the room and leave. A hungry kitty (within reason--don't starve your cat) is a more friendly kitty!
Increasing the "territory" beyond the sanctuary.
After a few weeks, you may be able to leave the sanctuary door open to let the cat begin exploring further afield. Try to choose a time of day that is quiet when there won't be anything scary going on. A bad experience can set your kitty back weeks. Again, let the cat set the pace. Provide a litter box on every level of your home if at all possible, particularly while your cat is learning its way around.
Introducing your cat to other pets.
Please do not immediately introduce your former feral cat to other pets. Allow the cat time to adjust to its sanctuary and its new people before attempting to introduce pets. You may want to stack baby-gates in the doorway of the sanctuary room after you begin leaving the door open in order to allow your pets to become acquainted without risk of harm to anyone. Supervise all interaction between the animals once the cat begins to leave the sanctuary until you're sure everyone is getting along peacefully. Leash your dogs to be sure of avoiding a bad experience. Even cat-friendly dogs will chase an unfamiliar kitty if it runs.
Finally, use common sense.
If your new kitty is still hiding under the bed, it's not time to expand its territory. The more quiet, positive experiences, the better. Return your kitty to its sanctuary before company arrives, and expect some withdrawal whenever there is a change in the house.
Each kitty is different. Some adjust quickly, and some never adjust at all. Generally, they are slower to adjust to men. Acclimating a feral cat can be a long process, but it is well worth it when you are able to earn their trust.
At this time, we are not able to hold pet adoptions--our foster moms have had conflicts which have prevented it. We will be glad to meet with you at the clinic, however, if you are interested in a particular pet. Please contact us at the phone number or email address below to arrange to meet a pet and to get directions.
