Thank you!

To say this year has been a success is an understatement!  We will have TNR's over 500 cats by the end of 2016!   We have you, our supporters to thank for Lois, Lori and I being able to do what we have been able to do this season.   Without the support of our donors, we could not have helped so many cats have a better life or prevented thousands of kittens from the horrors of living the outdoor life they would have been subjected to.   We know that we have kept many from ever seeing the inside of a shelter from which they most likely would never have left alive and we know those same cats are now sleeping in the shadows somewhere until nightfall or waking up to the a full bowl of food and water supplied by a loving caregiver.

It "takes a village" though, and we also could not have done this without our wonderful vet partners, Dr. Sternberg and Dr. Joyce.   These guys are heroes in our eyes.   For them to be so flexible with us, never knowing for sure how many we are going to end up hauling in for spa treatments,  knowing they are going to be dirty, stinky,riddled with fleas and mites, possibly injured...these guys and their wonderful staff of techs and assistants treat each cat, no matter what, like they belong to a personal client.   We so appreciate everything they do for us almost on a daily basis.

So, the 2016 season ends.  We will take care of the 'fringe" trappings when the weather permits and we will start a new list for the new year.

The new year brings some changes to WIFCaP.   At the final  2016 meeting of the Board of Directors, Kathy asked to step away from the primary position of President and Executive Director, to allow her the freedom to travel, sell her house and actually "retire".   The board of directors unanimously voted Lois Hartje as new President/executive director and Treasurer, Kathy as Vice President, Becky as Secretary.   These positions will be in place for one year.

Kathy will continue to work on Facebook, the website and will mentor Lois.   WIFCaP is in good hands with Lois.  We look forward to 2017 so we can continue to help more kitties in Western Iowa.  Should you have any questions or comments, you may email Kathy at kathy@wifcap.org or Lois at Lois@wifcap.org

Good morning feral and homeless kitty lovers!

Ending the season with a HUGE trapping tomorrow.   I don't feel ready.  I feel exhausted!  BUT it is the last trapping for my 2016 season, so we might as well go out with a BANG!

I want to thank you all for your donations over this year so far.   Without you all, we could not do this project!  Depending on how many we get, our cost could be close to $3000!  I hope Dr. Sternberg eats his Wheaties tomorrow morning!   We will all need energy!  My thanks in advance to Lois and Laura for helping me trap and of course to Doc and Anne, Bri, Kim, Collette and Susie at the office who will all have to put up with us coming and going, and the stink of what will most likely be at least half male cats.

So today, I will get my car packed and ready.   Lois is actually getting a trailer to haul traps, as we will need all 40 of our traps and then some carriers.  We will be able to transfer some of the kitties from traps to carriers so we can reuse the trap.  This will be our biggest trapping ever.

I may do some live feed from the site if I think I have time to do it on Facebook.

That might be fun!

Have a great day.  Headbutts and Whisker Kisses.

Seasons, Stages and Changes....

I've been trying to decide how to make this announcement for weeks, but the time is here ...so here it is.

Hubby and I have decided to put our house in Walnut on the market and seek to move to Omaha. SHOCK!!!

I made the announcement to our board of directors at our last meeting earlier this month, but we've kept it under wraps until we had an appointment for the "FOR SALE" sign to go in the yard.  This is scheduled for this Tuesday.  I've been busy and overwhelmed with trying to get the house ready and uncluttered for a photo shoot etc and trying to maintain my cool and do all my WIFCaP work too.  I'm not so sure I've done a very good job of either one.

There are many reasons for our decision and mostly it's about age...we need to be closer to the city where the majority of our kids are (3 out of 4), where the majority of our grandchildren are (5 out of 8) and where 100%  of our medical resources are. With the accident that Larry had back in June and the activities of family and church, our trips back and forth to Omaha have quadrupled and we don't see it getting any better in the future.

I'm tired of the huge house.   It is a wonderful home and we have made SO many enhancements on it. Walnut is a great little town and its getting better with some restoration going on and revitalization happening.   It's difficult to leave it, but at the same time, there is about 4 times more room than we need and managing it all now is becoming  harder and harder. We are hoping for a smaller home, easier to manage, easier to get to Dr. appointments and easier to see the kids and grandkids.

All this being said, I know you are wondering about WIFCaP.   NOTHING will change other than I will not be able to do the physical trapping in my area any more.  I have been praying that others will come forward to help and that is happening.   I am gaining pockets of helpers in different areas and I know in my heart WIFCaP will not really skip a beat.  I want to keep doing the admin work, fundraising, accounting, teaching, marketing....and I can do that in Omaha.   With as much driving as I do now back and forth, I can still make trips back to Walnut/Harlan etc when I'm needed.

I know the biggest question on your mind.  It's the same one my 9 year old granddaughter asked when we told her.  "What about Mrs. Gray and Zeva??".  Trust me, they will be taken care of.  I am hoping someone will come forward to give them inside homes like Mr. Nelson.   If that doesn't happen, I have several other options I'm looking into.. What I do know is  I cannot take them with me.  Since we will be traveling 5 months out of the year, I  can't get them adjusted to a new place and then leave them or try to put them in carriers and expect two feral cats to travel 1800 miles twice a year.  That wouldn't be fair to them.   Who knows, maybe someone will buy the house and let them stay???  Be assured, they are my top priority if the house sells.

Life is about seasons, stages and changes...some easy, some difficult....some fun, some miserable....some elective and some necessary...

This season of my life,  this stage of the game, these upcoming changes are a little of all those things.  I am emotional about it and hope you will all understand that a LOT has gone into this decision.  We take it very seriously.  We want the best for us, for our family, for my porch kitties and of course for WIFCaP.

Please email me privately if you have comments.  You are all like family to me and your support will mean the world.
Kathy

Low Cost Spay and Neuter Day October 6, 2016

We cannot allow the summer to end without another Low Cost Spay and Neuter Day!  If you have been wanting to do the right thing for your pet and have been short on cash, now is the time.  "Spa treatment" includes spay/neuter and vaccinations for rabies and distemper. 
This event is for spay/neuter only...no additional services can be rendered for your pet during this appointment.
 If you would like to have a flea/mite treatment, that medication is available at the vets office for an additional charge!

When:   October 6th 2016

Where:   Harlan Veterinary Clinic and Referral Center

  910 Chatburn Ave

Harlan, IA

FEMALE: $60 
MALE: $50

How:  Preregister and prepay  fee by calling Kathy @ 712-784-2660

There is a limited number of slots available, so call early!

Western Iowa's Feral and Homeless Cat Program is holding a HUGE garage sale !

Friday and Saturday June 3-4th

8am-5pm

All sorts of items will be available....vintage, knick knacks, glassware, games, kitchen items, household items, wall art, misc other items.

NOTHING PRICED!

ALL items will be available for your generous free will donations.  All proceeds will help more homeless and feral cats in our area!

SATURDAY ONLY:  Our volunteers will be setting up a cupcake table and selling home made cupcakes for $1 each while supplies last! 

GIVE NOW thru May 25th to WIFCaP Biggest event of the Year!

Click here to learn all about Omaha Gives - Pottawattomie Gives

The time is here again and for the 3rd year in a row, WIFCaP will participate in Omaha Gives - Pottawattomie Gives.  This is a one day giving event where YOU, our supporters can join an online giving day with us as your charity and help us with our biggest fundraiser of the year.

Together, the Omaha Community Foundation along with The Pottawatomie County Foundation and the Iowa West Foundation, in addition to YOUR donations made through this page, we could gain more by being eligible for hourly prizes and random drawings!  Wont you help us by having fun with us as we watch our fundraising goals realized.   Last year we finished with nearly $8000.  Our goal this year is lofty...$10,000!  We can do it!

Just click here....OmahaGives24., sign in as a donor, choose WIFCaP and give a minumum $10 donation.  If you are only going to support once this year, let it be on May 25th!  Scared you will forget?  You can schedule your donation ahead of time too!

Spring Low Cost Spay and Neuter Day is April 14th!

It's that time of year again and WIFCaP will be sponsoring a low cost spay and neuter day at Harlan Veterinary Associates and Referral Center in Harlan Iowa!
Your cat will receive spay/neuter surgery and vaccinations for rabies and distemper.  If the cat goes outdoors, we recommend a left ear notch for identification purposes, should he/she ever get trapped.

This event is limited to 30 cats - register early!

Cost is $50

Date: Thursday April 14, 2016

Time:  Drop off 8am   Pick-up same afternoon

Place:  910 Chatburn Ave - Harlan, IA

MUST Pre register and Prepay.   

Email cats@wifcap.org to register and to get payment informaion

Please pass the word....this is a one day only event.  

*Please note: the cost for this proceedure is $10-15 more per cat.  WIFCaP is covering the difference.  Your donation to help with this granted amount is appreciated.

Vetary Foundation is OnBoard!

Finance pet treatment with Vetary and give back to our pet shelter!

Well, this is cool!

Vetery Foundation has contacted us to inform us that we are eligible to recieve cash grants on a quarterly basis!  

All we need to do is let you all know that Vetary Foundation - Save a Bark! is there for you when you are looking for a vet in your area.  

Even if you have a vet you love, keep this in mind when you have a friend in a different area looking for one, or if you are traveling. 

Vetary Foundation also helps finance pet services when the going gets tough.  Take a look at their website and bookmark it, in case you need them. 

Welcome 2016

Happy New Year!
Wrapping up a year always has it's challenges.  As I'm working on year end reports, looking at numbers, receipts and statistics, many faces of the people we have helped and the felines we have made life better for come back in a vivid way.  It would be impossible and even unfair to highlight a few of them, because they were all equally important and poignant.  If you follow our Facebook page you know the stories.

Another year is over. Another year of helping to fulfill our mission: to reduce the over population of outdoor feral, homeless and community cats.

Our totals for "spa treatments" has grown.  As of December 31, 2015 we have fixed a total of 1353 cats.    In 2015 we fixed 425 cats ( 236 were female) .  Lots of hard work on the part of myself, my volunteers and those folks out there that care about the outdoor cats that have no one else.   This has made an impact in our communities in Southwest Iowa.  I will be making calls to regional rescues and shelters during this month to see if their intake numbers have gone down.   My paws are crossed that they are seeing a difference because of what we are doing.

Aside from that, I believe the other huge difference we are making is in awareness and sensitivity to the plight of the community cat.  Because of my volunteers that have the same passion I do, people are becoming more aware of the fact that not only do these cats deserve respect, they need us to care for them.   On the rural side, we have convinced many farmers and country dwellers that having cats is good, but having "Wifcap'd" cats is even better.   A healthy cat that is fixed and not breeding makes a much better employee.   We have placed many cats in home or shops. We continue to encourage all shops to have a kitty for rodent patrol and customer service.

I am amazed when I think about those out there that have taken on the responsibility of feeding feral cats.  Our volunteers that daily feed, water and watch over little broods of these sweet animals warm my heart.  Your commitment blesses me and while it may seem like your work goes unnoticed, it doesn't.  I wish you could be paid what you are worth, but for now, the look in those fed and cared for kitties must suffice.  If you are like me, that's enough.

So, on to another year.   My gut says we are about to enter the biggest year yet for WIFCaP.  We are small but mighty.  My heart says, I cant wait.  We have some very committed volunteers that are up for the challenge of big trappings and we have two committed veterinarians to help us.  All that only works with the cooperation of property owners, communities, feeders and of course our financial supporters.  Our annual budget is around $25,000.  That is a lot of fundraising, events and asking for donations, but we continue to up for the challenge and hope you are too!  Donations can be made by clicking our "donate" button at the top of this page.  We thank you from the bottom of our kitty loving hearts!

I am excited to start the new year and hope you are too. Thank you for hanging with us.  Thank you for following along and telling your friends about us too.

Happy New Year!  Watch and see what a small grassroots effort can do!