A P R I L   2 0 1 8
A-PAL Humane Society initiated a Community Cats Program (CCP) in 2013. The program enabled A-PAL to take feral cats from the animal shelter, spay or neuter them, and return them to their original colonies. This is "TNR" (Trap/Neuter/Return). The adoption of TNR in Amador County eliminated the mandated 72-hour-hold and euthanasia of feral cats. Instead,  ferals are humanely trapped, spayed or neutered at no cost to the individual, and returned to the location where they were captured, with a clipped ear tip to show they have been treated There is still disagreement concerning the effectiveness of this program but, to most animal organizations, it is a humane program far preferable to the "Catch and Kill" method of feral population control, because it  eliminates reproduction without killing the animal. It encourages community participation by removing the threat of death from the process--people who feed feral cats need not worry that "their" cats might be euthanized should they elect to participate in the program. Neutered cats show far less aggressive behavior once back in their colonies. Returned sterilized cats serve as place-keepers, eating food and keeping other cats from moving in. Colony managers/feeders must watch for new cats entering a colony that do not have the clipped ear designating them as sterile. A-PAL's program is now 5 years old. We will share the data here, as it is collected. We hope to see encouraging trends. Please, if you are feeding stray cats, get them fixed through this valuable program. FEED IT? FIX IT!
CALENDAR of EVENTS
2018
JANUARY 
ADOPT a WORKOUT
PARTNER

FEBRUARY
ADOPT 'THE ONE'
 
MARCH
SPAY and NEUTER AWARENESS
 
APRIL
TRAP/NEUTER/RELEASE

MAY
Find your MISSING PET

WHISKERS & WINE 
Friday the 18th at  Jackson Rancheria

JUNE  
FELINE FRENZY
  
JULY 
ADOPT a SENIOR PET

AUGUST
$9 for 9 LIVES for 9 DAYS

SEPTEMBER 
ADOPT your MVP

PAWS & CLAWS (TCWC)
Friday, the 14th
American Legion Hall

BARK in the PARK 
Saturday the 29th at Detert Park, Jackson

OCTOBER  
ORANGE & BLACK
All Treats, no Tricks
NOVEMBER  
GIVING THANKS 
Animals and their people

DECEMBER  
Bring JOY to your WORLD

SANTA PAWS
Saturday the 8th
at the Feed Barn
LINKS
Check these links for more information on TNR.



Providing for your pets in case of death or incapacity


from the HUMANE SOCIETY





FOOD for THOUGHT: Reproduction among cat colonies

MAKING PLANS for your PETS
Benjamin Franklin is attributed to have coined the phrase, "In this world, nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes."  Well, it's April, and if we haven't already, we'll have to pay taxes by April 15.  It might also be a good time to think about our mortality and make arrangements for our pets after we are gone.  As a responsible pet owner, making plans for your pets in the event of your death or incapacity is a very important part of your commitment to them.
Here is a checklist of what to do:

I F  Y O U  H A V E  A  W I L L 
You can specifically designate a caretaker for your pets.  It's important to discuss your decision with the potential caretaker and ensure that he or she is willing and able to take on this role.  You may also consider designating a second caretaker as backup. 

I F  Y O U  D O  N O T  H A V E  A  W I L L 
You can still specify a caretaker (and a backup) as mentioned above.  It's best to have this decision memorialized in writing and give a copy to each of your potential caretakers and your vet. Notify your veterinarian, in writing, of the identity and contact information for each of the designated caretakers. 

Designate a Power of Attorney whom you can trust to take care of all your financial and personal affairs, including the care of your pets, in the event you are incapacitated.

For more information, check out the links in the LINKS column at right..
Spotlight on Staff: CHRISTY CAMPBELL
Who drives a mean golf cart, loves to garden and has been working in the veterinary field for over 25 years?  It is our very own Christy Campbell.

ACAC & AC was lucky to get Christy as an Animal Care Technician. She is Animal Control's most recent hire, and has been here for just over two years. Like all employees of Animal Control, Christy has multiple duties, including daily updating of volunteers, feeding and caring for the resident animals-- including keeping their enclosures scrupulously clean--and interacting with the public.   

Her very first job was as a rural route mail carrier in Plymouth. She then started working with local veterinarian Alison Pillsbury, staying with her for 10 years through different locations.
 
Christy and her husband, Korey, have been married 10 years and have four daughters and eight grandchildren between them. Korey is an accomplished airplane pilot and mechanic who travels all over the world. Their two cats, Mortie and Lucy Fur, round out the household.  They all live at Lake Camanche where "you've got to like the wind."  Trailer traveling is one of their favorite pastimes. They have also been as far as Hawaii and Mexico together, and Christy hopes to join Korey for one of his future business trips to Europe. When at home, she is an avid gardener. There is always a project.
ANGEL and JOY: a sweet letter from a reader, a shelter with a heart

Three years ago I came home to find that the person who had been my best friend since childhood had moved out and surrendered her two older dogs, Angel (a full sized Aussie) and Joy (a border collie/lab mix) to the animal shelter. I was beyond distraught. Angel was 12 and Joy was 11. They were not socialized and had no training. Angel had arthritis in her hips and her knees, and Joy suffered seizures. Both had an aggressive fear of men. I was so afraid that, because of these issues, they would be deemed unadoptable and euthanized. I was told that I had to wait for a 10 day holding period before I could adopt them. Just because my "friend" didn't want them anymore, I did. I decided to talk to the shelter director the next day. I spent a long, sleepless night worrying about those sweet girls on the cold concrete. I watched the clock, waiting for opening time to come so I could state my case to her. The phone rang and it was the director. She told me that the volunteers had paid the adoption fees for both girls, they had been heartworm tested (negative), micro chipped, and they were mine! She said there was no reason that two dogs who had a loving home waiting should take up space when there are so many dogs out there who need the shelter's roof over their heads. Overjoyed, I ran out the door with nothing but my keys and their leashes. Now, it is three years later. Angel is 15 and slowing down.  Joy is 13 and still jumps backwards through the house when it is meantime. My Chihuahua mix loves romping with Joy while Angel soaks up the sun. Joy is off all meds and no longer has seizures. I cannot thank or praise our shelter enough for the wonderful gift of my  girls.




DO YOU HAVE A GREAT ADOPTION STORY FROM OUR SHELTER? 
We'd love to hear from you. Send your story, with photos if you have them, to Lisa Peterson.

Thinking of becoming a VOLUNTEER?
We are always in need of volunteer help at Amador County Animal Control & Adoption Center. I f you think you'd like to join our ranks, drop in to the shelter at 12340 Airport Road in Martell and request a volunteer application. You can review  the  APPLICATION for VOLUNTEER WORKER  form used by the county . here . You will need to fill out a pink copy, available at the shelter. 
Help us build our BARN
PHASE 2 of the original building plan for ACAC & AC's new facility called for a barn. That project has stayed on the shelf since the shelter was completed (in 2005), until a recent endowment from the estate of a local and generous animal benefactor got things moving again. Look for an article in an upcoming Newsletter on the past, present, and future of this project, plus details on how you can help get our barn built.