SPAY DAY for NJAFA

Kathy McGuire and her volunteers spayed and neutered FIFTEEN cats on a recent Saturday. Dr. Honey Rothberg volunteered her time and spent her entire day off spaying and neutering cats. Thanks Dr. Rothberg!!!

Nicole, (not just another pretty face) Miss September from the Pinups for Pitbull Calendar, also helped scrub surgical instruments for the entire day.

Here are our dedicated volunteers, Lisa, Mill and Jen who in the last few months have trapped over 25 feral cats Some have even been socialized and adopted, ten were translocated and are living on a feral farm that the ladies maintain but ALL have been removed from a feral location.

We also helped out one of the great rescues with partner with, Animal Sanctuary, with seven of their cats too.

Thank goodness we did this when we did. One of the females had a very large stomach and we thought she may be pregnant. It was a severe case of pyometra. In fact, Dr. Rothberg was surprised it hadn't died of infection already. Once "Snowball" was opened, it was discovered her uterus was full of pus and bacteria. How she survived no one knows.

Immediately out of surgery, Snowball was warmed by our volunteers filling surgical gloves with hot water and placing them around the little girl. We did not think she would make it out of surgery. But she did and she is recuperating in a private home. Guess who her new doctor is going to be? Dr. Rothberg ....who probably saved her life.

After the cats come out of surgery, NJ Aid for Animals' PEP (Pet Enrichment Program) ensures the life of a dog or cat we spay or neuter also has additional services given to it to enrich their lives. Many times as in the case of spaying and neutering feral cats that will be re released, we will never have them in our possession again. So, on a big spay and neuter day like this, once the animal comes out of surgery, our own volunteers set up a warm table nearby and comb the cats for fleas and treat with frontline if necessary, check for ticks, clean out their ears and treat with Milbemite (a very expensive treatment). The volunteers then cut all the nails so the cats leaving especially if they are feral are ready to go back with their systems not more compromised because of fleas or ticks. Their ears are no longer infected by mites.

As in the case of animals we take from Camden City to spay and neuter and return the same day, we provide ALL the necessary components to ensure the animal is being returned l00%. Again, we pay for their rabies and distemper shots, heartworm or lyme test a dog, cut all their nails and treat them for fleas. We also provide a worming pill for the owners to give the animals the day after surgery.

Once we were done with ours, our volunteers STAYED AND CONTINUED to groom, clips nails, clean ears and comb through for fleas and mites on all the other cats that were done TOTALLING over THIRTY CATS! These dedicated volunteers also helped to check in and write up all the paperwork for another rescue,

Our cat volunteers are the best ever. Thanks to Lisa, Millie, Jen, Nicole (and Lynn from Animal Sanctuary). Everyone worked nonstop from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm. One small break for food and it was back to work! Thanks again to everyone!!!