Three Boys
Sandhills Cat Coalition (SCC) is an all-volunteer 501c3 non-profit organization. The SCC mission is to alleviate the suffering of homeless, stray and feral cats in Moore County by providing TNR (Trap/Neuter/Return) services. SCC supports colony caregivers in the Seven Lakes, Eagle Springs, Carthage, Pinehurst and Robbins areas by providing food and veterinary care for their colony cats.
“When a caregiver alerts us to a new cat seeking food in a colony, the arrival of a pregnant female, or the birth of a litter, our work begins,” explained Board Member Diane Lisevick. SCC volunteers coordinate with the colony caregiver to capture the animals, arrange for spay/neuter services, rabies vaccinations, and transportation to the clinic. Animals scheduled for surgery have an overnight stay in a volunteer’s home before, and a one-or-two night stay after, the procedures.
“When a volunteer and caregiver determine that the felines are people friendly, we try to locate a foster home, removing the kitties from the colony. When in foster care, kitties become well socialized and receive any necessary veterinary care. Eventually they are placed for adoption in a permanent, loving home,” Ms. Lisevick added.
SCC’s goal for 2021 is to spay/neuter 400 kitties and rehome 100. Their greatest hurdle to helping more cats and kittens find permanent homes is finding more safe, warm and comfortable foster homes with caring foster parents! “When a foster home becomes available, we move the kitties in! More available foster homes means more lives are saved! It is such a joy knowing that kittens born under difficult circumstances will enjoy life with a loving family,” continued Ms. Lisevick.
For more information about becoming a SCC foster parent, please visit their website at www.sandhillscatcoalition.com and complete the Foster Application or call (253) 377-3820. The SCC guide “Introduction to Fostering” presents a realistic picture of what fostering entails and will be emailed to those interested. Once approved, new foster parents will be trained by a SCC Representative and provided all supplies, medications, and equipment necessary to care for foster kitties.
“If fostering is not possible, consider joining our TNR team,” encouraged Ms. Lisevick. It is estimated that anywhere from several hundred to over one thousand cats and kittens live outdoors in the areas served by SCC. The TNR methods used by the volunteers are proven to help manage the over population of homeless and stray cats. “Let’s work together as a community to solve this problem, one kitten at a time.”
Submitted By: Joan Trombini
