Ocracats Sponsors Sept 2012 Trap Neuter Release (TNR) Clinic
By Connie Leinbach
Gail Hamilton tried to hold back tears as she held three of the feral cats from her colony for the first and only time. Hamilton’s group was captured along Nubbin’s Ridge for an Ocracats, Inc., spay-neuter clinic of Ocracoke’s feral cats held in September at the Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department. “I’ve always wanted to hold them,” she said as she held and petted one of her sedated cats being prepped for surgery. She was at a loss for words as emotions started to overcome her. “It nourished my soul to touch them,” she continued. Although Hamilton feeds her colony twice a day, until now she has never been able to touch on of “her” cats.
This clinic fixed 73 cats bringing the total number of cats fixed this year to 227, noted Ruth Fordon, president of Ocracats. Grant support for this clinic was received from Alley Cat Allies Community Impact Award. Ocracats is one of 22 organizations in the US to be awarded this money for its commitment to the Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) approach to feral cat containment.
Dr. Howard Johnson, of The Animal Hospital of Boone, NC, who conducted the clinic encouraged volunteers to help. He conducted surgeries on one ironing board while volunteers assisted Johnson’s daughter, Katherine, 10, on another ironing board prepping cats—shaving the abdomens of the females, cleaning their ears and administering rabies and de-worming medicine. Ocracoke student Samantha Sutton, 10, who aspires someday to be a veterinarian, eagerly helped with all phases of the surgery, and Dr Johnson rewarded her enthusiasm by sharing his knowledge and experience as he worked. He also shared information on common pet care concerns to all who asked. A frequent visitor to Ocracoke, Johnson had read about the Ocracats’ clinics in the local Ocracoke Observer newspaper.
“I just called out of the blue and Gael Hawkins and I talked,” Johnson said, as he worked. Johnson brought his entire family for the week. Ocracats provided a 3 bedroom cottage and a golf cart for their use. A veterinarian who works on small, large and wild animals, Johnson said that he has treated feral cats in his clinic.
“This is the first time I’ve done a bona fide production run,” he said about the three-day marathon clinic.
“We have to give a huge thanks to the Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department for being so supportive of our work,” Fordon said about the site for the clinics. “They believe in supporting community service projects and have always opened their doors to our clinics.”
The mission of Ocracats, an all-volunteer group, is to help the feral cat population on the island by maintaining them in their dozens of colonies. It operates solely on donations and grants. After a November clinic, and possibly one early next year, Fordon says that the group will have fixed about 600 cats in four years with the goal of controlling the population growth.
This last clinic produced more kittens for the Ocracats kitten adoption program. To date, 40 kittens have found “forever” homes. Fordon said volunteers are needed to provide human interaction with the rescued kittens so that they can be adopted. For information on this, call: 252-921-0281. To help the Ocracats, tax-deductible contributions can be sent to Ocracats, P.O. Box 933, Ocracoke, NC, 27960.
Gail Hamilton holds one of her feral cats for the one and only time.
At left is Kate Johnson, holding another of Hamilton's feral cats.
Ocracoke student Samantha Sutton with Dr. Howard Johnson