REDFOSA PROGRAMS

Each day there are injured and suffering animals that enter the shelter system and most often they are humanely euthanized.  For many cases of euthanasia, medical care could have made the difference between life and death.  Often the City budgets do not allow for major medical.  Instead of putting the animal down when vet care could make the difference, the shelter can reach out to us for assistance.  Once the animal is recovered it can then be put up for adoption.  Annually we expend over $25,000 on these interventions and are only limited by the funds we can raise, there are many more in need of this intervention.

TNR (Trap, Neuter and Release) addresses the problem of feral cat populations.  The average mature cat can have three litters with a possible total of 12 kittens per year.  by spaying and neutering one male and one female cat more than 2,000 unwanted births can be prevented in four years, more than two million in 8 years!  Those numbers add up, and even life on the streets can be rough for so many.  They will die from disease, hit by cars, eaten by coyotes, and much more.  We can help those that feed and trap feral cats by paying for the spay/neuter so that they can continue addressing the many cat colonies within our community.

The "Crystal Project" was the brainchild of one of our members, Tracy Cranfill.  As an active shelter volunteer she saw daily what kennel stress does to the animals.  They pace in their cages, jump at the bars, cower in the corner, and exhibit other behaviors that never get them a meet and greet.  And without a meet and greet, time at the shelter runs out.  Healthy animals, who are simply stressed, are euthanized.  Our program was designed to allow us to adopt the animal to REDFOSA.  We then take responsibility for them and their care.  Our goal is to place them with a foster home if it is a edical concern, or with a boarding facility and a trainer if the issue is behavioral.  REDFOSA pays the vet, training and boarding facility till the animal is ready for adoption and successfully placed into a loving home.  Our goal is to take in a new Crystal dog or cat after the previous one is adopted.

REDFOSA has grown into the role we play in our community.  We started with a couple of folks who hoped to make a difference and today with a volunteer team of fifteen, plus countless connections and donors make a difference every day.  We do save lives.  We do rescue animals from shelters that will be euthanized.  We do control feral cat colonies, so no new kittens are born facing a life of stress, danger, and unknown future.  We do provide vital medical care that would otherwise place the animal in danger of euthanasia or death from disease that may be preventable with proper care.