Pet Care News (Gainesville, FL)

HOME VAN PET CARE NEWS PROJECT

Spring 2010

From Elizabeth Howard, Project Coordinator

We're coming up on a three year anniversary for the Home Van Pet Care Project. As you know, we are part of the Home Van, a local non-profit group. The Home Van feeds the homeless and hungry
people and we give food to the people for their dogs and cats.

As one thing leads to another, we have varied experiences with the animals and their people. Over the last month or so, another volunteer and I picked up a dog running loose and had him picked
up by Alachua County Animal Services. This particular dog was reclaimed by his
owner, but in the course of visiting him, we attempted to find a foster home or
rescue group for another dog at the shelter. Sadly, we were unsuccessful and
that dog was euthanized.

Thus, another life was lost because there are not enough homes for all the dogs and cats that live among us. The cause is primarily irresponsible human behavior.

So, with this newsletter, we want to ask you, first, SUPPORT SPAY & NEUTER. Be a good role model with your own animals, and speak up and educate others. “Just one litter” doesn't work
anymore. A spayed or neutered animal is a more healthy and safe animal. Diseases
like Feline AIDS transmit by blood in the mating process with cats, and dogs who
are not neutered tend to contract testicular cancer at an alarming rate.

We received absolute kindness at Alachua County Animal Services. They give every animal every chance. We have at least a dozen rescue groups in our county who seek adoption and foster homes for
the animals. We have Operation Catnip clinic on a monthly basis for cats and now
the Big Fix, a low cost spay/neuter clinic for dogs and cats. The St. Francis
Vet clinic helps dogs, cats and others of our homeless and low income
residents.

Pick up a copy of Critter Magazine, and you can find out about these groups. Each has a process to help with animal needs. You can pick up Critter at Mother Earth or Books, Inc., or call them at
352-372-6032, crittergville@gmail.com.
It's free and will help you become an even more effective advocate and educator
for the animals.

Thank you again for all your help and donations. We have a continuing need for dog food and cat food, both bags of food and canned food. With hot weather on the way we appreciate donations of
Frontline for the dogs and Frontline or Advantage for the cats.

All donations are tax deductible through our umbrella non-profit, Society of St. Vincent dePaul, and checks can be made payable to that organization. Mail to Elizabeth Howard, Coordinator,
Home Van Pet Care Project, P.O. Box 14305, Gainesville 32604. For more
information call Elizabeth at 352-337-2723 or holisticliz@hotmail.com.