Home Van Pet Care Project Newsletter

HOME VAN PET CARE PROJECT NEWSLETTER – JANUARY 15, 2011

From:  Elizabeth Howard, Project Coordinator

Home Van Pet Care Project is part of the Home Van, a local non-profit group that travels around our area to feed the homeless people. The primary mission of the  Home Van Pet Care Project is to give pet food for the animals of the homeless.

Many thanks to all who gifted the animals of the homeless with pet food supplies, toys, collars, leashes and everything a dog or cat could want. A couple groups got together and did a food drive for us – that was fun and exciting. We’ve been able to give extra food through the coldest weather so all are fed, and have shelters and are loved. We thank you so much for all your help.

During the last year, we have distributed dog and cat food at a downtown location on a weekly basis, made special deliveries where needed, purchased license tags for the dogs, and provided medical attention and spay/neuter for both dogs and cats on a regular basis. We have some new volunteers who are helping to organize the donations as well as helping with feeding and supervising the animals and keeping in touch with the owners. If you can help, let me know.

Little Cassie, a Tent City Kitty, was found by her owner at their campsite a few weeks ago, weak, uncoordinated and apparently unable to hear. Cassie can’t tell us what happened, however our vet did tests and observation and suspects some kind of trauma.  Cassie is greatly improved and is in a foster home, but she needs a safe, loving permanent home where she can live inside and be safe.  Cassie is about two years old and is spayed and fully vaccinated. If you would like to know more call me at 352-473-9423 for more info.

Those Pups: You may remember, the ones who were born under a bush at WalMart back in August of last year. With the aid of St. Francis Vet Clinic, we tried very hard to get these pups into a rescue group to find homes … the “owners” continued to refuse. We did obtain one pup who had a broken leg and she now has a permanent home. A son of the family turned up and took the remaining three pups for spay/neuter, which is good news. Those three remain with the mother dog and human family at their campsite. We will continue to keep in touch.

The Cat Colony continues to do well, but we need helpers to supervise and visit. Our longtime caretakers are having some problems and may need some help, so please call me for info. We continue to need donations of pet food, especially cat food. They like Friskies, Meow Mix and Purina brands, and prefer the fishy flavors. We have been going to Purina brands for the dogs, and they also like Pedigree and Kibbles & Bits.

To Donate: Call Elizabeth at 352-473-9423 or email holisticliz@hotmail.com to arrange for dropoff or pickup. In order to be tax deductible, financial donations to Home Van Pet Care should be in the form of checks made payable to our non-profit umbrella, the Society of St. Vincent DePaul, and mailed to P.O. Box 14305, Gainesville, FL 32604.