July Paw Prints! The Dog Days of Summer Begin!

July​ Newsletter

​VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR SUMMER FAMILY FUN FEST!

*This week, July 5-12- Flyer distribution to area businesses, Crestwood, Lagrange, Buckner, Norton Commons, Prospect. (5-10 people)

*Friday, July 22nd- set up anytime between 11-5. City Place in Lagrange.(6-8 people)

* Saturday, July 23rd- Various shifts between 8-4.
Early shift , set up signage, games, dog obstacle course, fill water balloons, etc (8-10 people)
During event, Sit inside at HSOC booth with adoptable animals,  help run kids games outside, check in table, runner etc.(15 needed)
Clean up and take down, 2-4 PM (8 needed)

Contact Bobbi @  bjsdewey@gmail.com or 502-500-0181

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Life in the Shadows
Understanding Community Cats

​Our domesticated kitties can seem like royalty in our homes where we pamper and dote on them, but what about the homeless community cat? How do they fare in the wild?

Cat colonies are made up of community cats, or feral cats, and number in the tens of millions. Any cat who was born in the wild or who was abandoned and had to turn wild in order to survive is a community cat. Even though their numbers are high, only 50% of kittens born in the wild survive. Most die of diseases and parasites in their first year.

Those who do survive have to endure weather extremes beyond simple cold nights and hot days. They endure storms, lack of shelter, and lack of resources, like not having access to water on hot days and are always facing starvation, infection, and attacks from other cats or other animals, and humans. 

Cats tend to live near reliable food sources and dumpsters such as apartment complexes, alleys & restaurants. You may not see them, but they see you.

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The Humane Society of Oldham County has volunteers that try to manage problem areas by trapping and bringing them to our clinic for spay/neuter, vaccinations, and medical treatment. This type of involvement ensures the colony sees minimal growth and remains mostly free from disease, particularly outbreaks that can spread into the rest of the community, potentially affecting other wild animals and domestic pets. When spay or neutered, their ears are tipped, so we will know at a glance if they have already been fixed.

A colony manager, with help from other volunteers, will also ensure there is some kind of shelter for the cats during inclement weather to help keep them from sheltering in and under cars. They will regularly fundraise and leave food for the cats to help ensure starvation and malnutrition are kept to a minimum. And they’ll make sure there is always a clean water source nearby.

In an ideal world, these cats would all become domesticated and would be adopted to wonderful forever homes. While stray cats are often friendly with humans and may find a good home with an understanding guardian, feral cats, those who were born and raised in the wild, are often unable to adapt to domestic life. And of course, there just aren’t enough homes for all the wild and stray cats out there. When a community cat needs to be relocated for its safety, we try to find someone with a barn or outbuilding who would like a "working cat" to help with rodent control. This is done through our Barn Cat Program.

​For those cats that were once pets, we do try to trap and adopt them out like this girl, now named Mama Mia, pictured below. She was living in a wrecked and abandoned car in an apartment parking lot with her kittens. She is now spayed, medicated, even bathed and blow dried, and showing her once loving nature again. All but two of her kittens have found homes.
​If you would like to help by offering your time to help manage a colony or help with Trap-Neuter-Release, please contact Shelley at shell44@aol.com
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Tips from a Trainer - Part 1

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Happy Adoptions!

​VOLUNTEER DRIVER NEEDED ONCE A MONTH

Need a van or truck. Visit Feeders Pet Supply stores ( Holiday Manor and Lagrange locations) to pick up pet food donations and deliver 
it back to HSOC. Choose any day during the last  week of every month.
Contact bjsdewey@gmail.com 

Volunteers needed for Cat Room Cleaning. For Info on times and training contact shell44@aol.com