By CAROL DAWSON
The little orange-striped kitten was born in a deserted New Albany garage. She was the tiniest of seven, and her mother dutifully cared for the kittens the best she could with her frail and emaciated body. It was her sixth litter in two years, and she was tired. Hunger was so much a part of her life that she had learned to disregard the ache.
Four weeks after the kittens were born, the devoted mother’s body gave up the struggle, leaving the fragile creatures alone and cold in the dark deserted garage. The only warmth came from their tiny cuddled bodies, curled around their mother. They pushed for further nourishment and cried into their mother’s fur, confused and scared. Nobody heard their cries. Two of the strongest kittens survived and would go on to have multiple litters of their own; however, the tiny orange-striped kitten never made it beyond the garage.
Ten volunteers for the Floyd County Animal Rescue League Feline Fix want to stop the population growth of unwanted cats. These volunteers assist Dr. Barbara Pepin every three to four weeks with a neuter/spay program for cats. They know there are more cats in Southern Indiana than we have owners for, and they want this to change.
Ann Dean-Simpson, a Feline Fix volunteer, wrote, “I would like to alert you to some Extra Milers in Floyd County.”
Ann wasn’t nominating her group of volunteers, but instead the individuals who bring in their cats to be neutered/spayed.
“These are kind-hearted people who often pick up a stray cat in their neighborhood, bring it in to be fixed and pay the special $40 fee in an effort to help control our cat population,” she explained.
While those who bring in their cats are sincerely commended as Extra Milers, it was immediately apparent that the primary Extra Milers to be featured should be the Feline Fix volunteers.
Once or twice a month, the volunteers meet before 7 a.m. to welcome customers, complete paperwork for 35 to 45 cats, collect the discounted fee, load the cats into the van to be transported to the surgery center, return at night to unload the recovering cats, welcome back the customers, provide post-op instructions, and distribute the cats to their owners.
The dedicated volunteers are Jean Maxwell, coordinator; Sandra Heishman; Betty Pruitt; Inez Wolfe; Walter Wolfe; Darleen Cox; Michaelle Fisher; Ann Dean-Simpson; Betty Hays; and Dave Cox. Customers make appointments through the rescue league, and Dr. Pepin provides the service at a reduced fee because of the volunteer assistance.
I made a trip to meet the volunteers one night during a Feline Fix. The volunteers were returning the cats after surgery. I arrived at the rescue league to find a room full of customers. Families — including several fidgety children — were crowded in the small waiting room, anxious to ensure their pets were doing OK and to take them home.
Skip and Cyndi Lesslie were picking up a cat they adopted after realizing previous homeowners had left it behind. They feed and care for her but don’t want kittens.
“A friend told us the Feline Fix was a good deal,” Cyndi explained.
Skip and Cyndi fully expected to have a long wait to drop off their cat; however, that wasn’t the case.
“We paid for the fix and were out within 15 minutes, and it appears the volunteers will be just as efficient tonight,” Skip stated.
The mutual respect of the cat owners and volunteers was evident that night as the volunteers began calling numbers for the owners to pick up their pets. Even after working with more than 2,000 cats, these Extra Milers are not jaded. Their love for these wide-eyed creatures was evident as they peered into each cage to ensure the cats were comfortable.
Several of the Feline Fix volunteers also work with the rescue league in other capacities, such as serving on the board, assisting in the shelter or with rescue efforts.
These Extra Milers are on a mission. In controlling the cat population, they can control the number of cats and kittens who are living wild — without a home and without love. They know they cannot stop the problem in its entirety. However, they know their efforts do make a difference in Southern Indiana — one helpless, tiny orange-striped kitten at a time. Thanks to each of the volunteers of the Feline Fix and their customers for being Southern Indiana Extra Milers.
Kindness Tip of the Month
The Floyd County Animal Rescue League is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit — surviving on donations. If you have a cat that needs to be neutered/spayed, the Feline Fix is available to Southern Indiana and Louisville residents. If you have been caring for a stray cat, consider bringing it in to be fixed. If there is a feral cat in your neighborhood and you live in Floyd County, there is a Trap, Neuter, Release program through the rescue league, too.
For assistance or guidance regarding rescue league services — or to donate — call 812-949-9099 or visit its Web site at www.fcarl.org. The rescue league is having a fundraiser — a 1950s sock hop and silent auction at 6 p.m. March 14. For ticket information, contact the number above.
Carol A. Dawson is a resident of Jeffersonville and owner of EEO GUIDANCE Inc. If you have seen or been a part of an act of kindness or know an EXTRA MILER, please contact her. To submit an Extra Miler, a story or act of kindness, contact Carol via e-mail: Extra.Milers@newsandtribune.com or mail: THE EXTRA MILERS, The Evening News, 221 Spring St. Jeffersonville, IN 47130-3340.
