Hi all,
Firstly, what can I say about the fantastic amount raised from the Christmas auction... it blew my mind to receive £2,138 for the foundation!! Thank you all so much for selecting the foundation, and for donating and bidding on items...
So you can see the reality of what this amount can do, the money will neuter:
168 female cats or 346 male cats!!
So, this is the plan I’m working on for 2014.
There is currently one vet operating the neutering scheme in Boston, Lincolnshire, on a weekday basis. Initially, I am going to be approaching new practices with the following idea, to try and encourage them onboard.
I will be asking for them to run the scheme on a weekday basis (Monday to Thursday, as Fridays are often an extremely hectic day in practice), and the costs will be based on our current figures, which may fluctuate a little depending on which suppliers they use for drugs/consumables, etc. This will be for stray and ferals initially that rescues and the public can take in for neutering, but if they’re happy to take in cats from those in receipt of benefits, they even better. I will be asking for this.
I have three practices who are interested in getting onboard already, which are based in Nottingham, Grantham and another one in Boston, and I am waiting to see if this will be a weekday/Sunday basis. I still have a large pool of vets and nurses able and willing to help on Sunday neutering clinics, so the options are open.
I am also in close contact with local frontline RSPCA officers who are able to tell me who are the proactive, welfare orientated vets are. I have been given a list of about four more practices!
Also, for those on the forum or from rescues who know proactive vets/practices, I more than welcome being informed about them, as the funding can and will be used nationwide. If they are not prepared to do the cost-price service, but a much-reduced service, then this could also be funded.
I have an ongoing deal for microchips, which I get for £1.19 inc. VAT for the foundation. From these chips we ask for a £7.00 donation, and the funds received from chips enable the fund to keep ‘topped-up’.
I also have a deal for FeLV/FIV snap tests to be used on stray and feral cats, which is done prior to neutering.
So, I welcome any ideas and thoughts on the scheme, any practices who may be interested in getting involved, any volunteers interested in helping out, and basically any help promoting and getting the scheme introduced in other areas.
If anyone would like a copy of the current presentation to see how things work etc, please feel free to message/email me and I’ll send it on...
Email: feralstrayfoundation@gmail.com
With the fundraising I have done privately, along with the supporters of the foundation who make donations, I have a decent fund to really get cracking with more clinics.
Thank you everyone again; I still cannot believe how well the auction did!!
Liz (I will also post this as a Feral & Stray Foundation update)
