Philanthropy Friday: Colony Cats

Thousands of animals are euthanized. For most they are not vicious, behaviorally unsound or have major health issues, instead they were given up due to owner abandonment, owner surrender, pulled from high-kill shelters or strays. Colony Cats (& Dogs) offers a safe haven for the cats/kittens, dogs/puppies that come to them from varying situations. They give them respite, unconditional love and vet care to get them back on their four feet.

Colony Cats was started in 2002 as a Trap-Neuter-Return operation for feral cats. After volunteering with a rescue group, it was realized the bigger picture involved aggressive spay/neuter of the feral and free roaming cats to really bring the numbers down and stop the killing of healthy animals being turned into shelters.

One of the first large projects was at a local prison over run with cats and kittens. An employee asked what might be done to help the cats. Colony Cats started trapping about five a week, having them spay/neutered, and returned to the prison for continued care and feeding. Over 85 cats were ultimately sterilized and there have been no new kittens from the facility in over two years. The remaining cats are fed and have shelter, giving them the kind of life they prefer.

Today, Colony Cats’ primary mission is to address cat overpopulation in central Ohio through public awareness and spay/neuter efforts. Since their beginnings, they have facilitated spay or neuter of over 6,324 animals. I interviewed this organization to find out more about the work they are doing.

M: Who do you serve? Who can benefit from your organization?

C: We try to respond to all calls from just about every neighborhood in the central Ohio area. The calls usually involve stray cat issues and people needing help dealing with strays. Any one that loves cats and wants to make the world a better place for them can benefit from our organization.

M: What are the services you offer?

C: We can set up veterinary appointments and provide transportation to the vet for folks unable to get there on their own. We loan traps for feral cats people cannot get into carriers. We can instruct them on how to trap, how to provide shelter for these cats living outside, and we can help with minor vet care and parasite control. We provide food for low-income folks when we have it. We try to remove friendly, abandoned pets and kittens from outdoor settings and find forever homes. We have a cat adoption center where people can meet and spend time with some of our adoptable cats.

M: Do you have any fundraising campaigns going on? How can people donate? Wish list needs?

C: Fundraising is an ongoing thing, usually highlighted on our website. We have a couple of fundraisers coming up in the next 3 months, but there are always injured animals needing vet care that takes a big chunk of our funds. People can donate by mail, P O box 163904, Columbus, OH 43216 or on our website www.colonycats.org via PayPal.

Our emergency funds are always low so there’s always a need for donations to help with the injured animals we try to help. We have our 4th annual Garden Party on September 16 at The Barn off Hayden Run. It is $25.00 for an evening of great food, drinks and raffle items. We also have the Black Cat Ball on October 20 at The Lakes condominiums community center in Grandview. This event is a silent auction with many great items to bid on. All funds raised will go for veterinary care of the animals in our care.

Our current wish list includes cat litter, cat and kitten food, paper towels, garbage bags, cleaning supplies, $10.00 gas cards, humane traps, postage stamps, gently used blankets and towels, and of course monetary donations.

M: What types of volunteer opportunities do you have within your organization?

C: We are an all-volunteer organization. We are always looking for volunteers to help staff the adoption center during open hours, to clean prior to opening daily. We also need people to attend adoption events at other venues, as well as talking to the public at community-based events. We can also use volunteers to transport animals to and from the vets we use, pick up donated food and deliver food and supplies to people, and help people trap feral cats if they aren’t comfortable doing it themselves. We are always in need of foster homes to care for the kittens and cats while they receive vet care prior to adoption. Visit colonycats.org to download and fill out a volunteer or fostering application form.

Colony Cats uses social media to help spread awareness. Follow Colony Cats on Twitter or become a Facebook Fan. For more information about Colony Cats visit ColonyCats.org.

Philanthropy Friday is a feature article by Michele Savoldi that will highlight a Columbus area non-profit organization every other week. For more nonprofit information follow Michele on Twitter at @cbusimpressions and @inkindconnect.