"Our job is never finished": Euclid Beach Feral Cat project
I have loved animals ever since I was a little girl. I met Ginger in early July 2010 at Euclid Beach where she is the guardian of more than 38 feral cats. Brian is cat daddy for over 100 cats that live at the Euclid Beach Trailer Park.
I was so amazed by their dedication to these cats. I did not know what a feral cat was, or about the terrible problems of over population of stray, feral and abandoned cats. I learned that there are more than 3,400 homeless cats just in the North Collinwood area. That made me cry…I was so sad to think that these sweet furry kitties had no one to take care of them.
I now understand that the overpopulation of unwanted cats and kittens is due to people not getting their cats spayed or neutered. It only costs $10 at the Cleveland Animal Protection League to have them fixed, and they receive all their shots. So, if only people would be caring pet parents and take them to the APL there would be no more unwanted kittens! I help Ginger every Sunday to feed and trap, you see, we feed those cats that have been fixed and returned to their original home outdoors because they are too wild to get adopted.
I have rescued seven kitties all by myself. The first time I helped Ginger we trapped three tiny feral kittens, they were like little wild squirrels. We took them to the APL but it was so sad because they had terrible mouth sores that couldn’t be treated. They were unable to eat so the vet had to put them to sleep. Again, I cried, but I know we saved them from suffering.
After that I rescued two adult male cats that had been abandoned. They were beautiful and wonderful and playful but they where not neutered. We surrendered them to the APL. The APL neutered them and gave them their shots. The boys were adopted within seven days. I was so happy that I had helped them find another home where they will always be loved and cared for. Recently, I rescued two more kittens living under the pier. We surrendered them to the APL and they were adopted in just a few weeks.
Our job is NEVER finished because people keep dumping cats and kittens on the beach. I get very sad when we find new cats that are sick, injured or starving, but I’m happy when I look at the healthy cats we feed and care for. I love helping with this work. I tell my friends at school about helping the Euclid Beach cats, and about the overpopulation of cats and dogs and how important it is to get them fixed. Now my friends want to do their community service hours helping the Euclid Beach cats or helping out at their local animal shelter.
I hope that some day there will be no more homeless dogs and cats but that will only happen if we care enough to spay and neuter our pets. Won’t you join the cause?
It costs a lot of money to feed, shelter, trap and transport and keep the Euclid Beach cats healthy. They are one of the luckiest feral cat colonies because they have Ginger, Brian and me, and we care enough to care for them every day. I love these cats so much; PLEASE HELP US CONTINUE TO HELP THEM!
Please make checks payable to Northeast Shores Development Corporation, a 501(c) (3 ) non-profit Organization which acts as fiscal agent for the Euclid Beach Feral Cat Project. Please write EBFCP on the memo line of your check and mail it to 317, East 156th Street, Cleveland, OH 44110. All donations are tax deductible