News
Oct 17 2010
The Day of a Volunteer
A SART volunteer arrives with a smile on their face, a light step and cheerfulness knowing that they are going to be spending time with some of God’s most misunderstood creatures – cats. There is special food to make, washing to start, special scrub water to make in several buckets all of which have to be carried to each of the 6 rooms of SART. When you walk into the rooms you are greeted by all of the cageless cats in the room – there are 72 in one room, 63 in another room, 20 in a room, 19 in a room, and the nursery of 55. Not to mention the caged area where new arrivals, special needs cats, and waiting area currently holds 31.
Matthew West – My Own Little World[audio:MyOwnLittleWorld.mp3]
No matter the weather – whether it is 97 and humid, 42 and raining, or blowing everything across the shelter, the volunteer is there. There are 255 mouths to feed, litter to change, blankets to change, rooms to disinfect, and medicines to administer – but the cats are so appreciative. You are greeted with purrs, smiles of cats, eyes that dance, and cats who welcome you with leaps of joy.
SART is not a sad place. Yes, it is sad that 255 unwanted animals live there. Yes, it is sad that already 323 before them were there until their forever homes were found. But, it is not sad being in the rooms of SART. The cats are healthy, happy, free to be who they are, and there is Christian music playing and fresh air blowing, and much love in each room.
The hours of a volunteer vary. A volunteer can sign on to clean one room – which takes around 1 hour or so. Or, they can sign on to work as a team for as much as 6 hours in one day.
How does a volunteer feel at the end of the day? Exhausted, but with a filled heart. Weary, but knowing that for another day all has been done to make the cats of SART happy, healthy and content.
It is hard work, but the rewards are huge. You receive more than you give, you feel as though you made a difference, and you connect with so many wonderful animals and help them feel loved. If this sounds like something you want to seriously commit to, please contact Sue at Sue@sartohio.org and tell her why and how much time you want to give. Maybe there is a place there for you as well. It will do your heart good.
Aug 09 2010
A word from SART
As we have passed through the summer months and “kitten season” there are so many thoughts the people of SART have had, I felt that I needed to voice some of our thoughts and concerns. It amazes us how so many think that dumping a young life into the streets is the answer. It takes care of the people not having the responsibility, but all it does for the animal is put it in harm’s way. Like human babies, little kittens need a lot of care. They need to be fed, loved and medically cared for – who does that on the street? I know if you are reading this post, you are probably not a person who can dump a baby or litter of babies along a road, in a park, by the lake, or in someone’s trash, taped in a box, or in a bag. But you might know someone who has done this. Please tell them. The kittens either starve, resort to eating bugs and garbage, or are killed by other hungry animals trying to survive. We have received kittens that ate grass to survive, or have eaten so much garbage that their little insides are full of worms. It takes so much care to get these little ones healthy – what point were these people making when they chose to dump these little innocent creatures?
The answer is to spay or neuter your pets. It is the only way we will get a handle on the population and get control of the amount of cats there are. If you are feeding strays, please know that as you can you should capture and get them fixed. Even if you put them back out and continue to feed them. If you start feeding 2 or 3 strays, within a year you will be feeding 20. They will multiply so quickly and then you will be overwhelmed. But if you capture, get them cared for and then put them back out and continue to feed, it will remain the ones you are caring for and they will be better mannered, healthy and happy. It is amazing to see the transformation take place after a cat has been fixed. The wild instincts are gone, they do not fight, mate, mark or howl. Then you can peacefully enjoy watching these beautiful animals as they come to feed and greet you.
In the Bible it says: “Good people are kind to their animals, but a mean person is cruel.” Proverbs 12:10. I truly believe, as the volunteers of SART also agree, it is God’s intention for us to watch over the innocent and helpless. So try to open your hearts to the possibility of caring for the strays you see in your neighborhoods. If neighbors would come together, get these animals fixed, and enjoy what they have to offer, over time we will get to a place where our inn is less crowded, and only a few will have to come live here.
Take a moment and think about how you could help in this ongoing issue. Do you want to be kind, or do you want to be cruel? I would think we would all sleep a little more soundly at night knowing that we had done the right thing for one of God’s creatures.
Jun 02 2010
Fund Drive for Additional Cages
We have taken in several litters of kittens, some were hand fed, some are products of receiving in very pregnant mothers, and some are rescues we were able to handle. It is very important to keep these litters separate as they grow so that they do not cross-expose other litters with particular conditions that might exist. While they are very little, large dog cages work well to keep momma and babies content and safe. But, like all babies, our kittens are growing very rapidly, and we are seeing a need for larger cages to accommodate our little families to keep them safe.
We have already purchased 4 large cages that we can be in with the kittens to socialize, work with, and allow them space to run and play as they develop their motor skills and social skills. They work wonderfully for these situations as there is room, and it is easier to litter train, and keep everything categorized within their home to teach good habits.
We desperately need to purchase 4 more of these wonderful cages, and so are asking for donations to help with the expense that this will incur on our shelter funds.
If you would be willing, and feel pulled to help us keep everyone healthy, happy and safe in our nursery, you could donate money toward this particular need. Donating through this website is easy and your information is safely secured by Paypal. Alternatively, you can send donations marked for the cage purchase to us at:
P.O. Box 146
St. Marys, Ohio 45885.Click here to donate
We are in a situation where we need to get this done due to the large volume we have been able to rescue and need to care for. We are doing well, but know that the extra room is necessary for their healthy development. Please consider donating for this very worthwhile project. The cages will be used in many situations down the road as well when the nursery is not as full. It will be a good commitment on your part in helping our strays receive the care they deserve!
May 25 2010
Lovely, little kittens!
Not every family is suited for kittens. They require a calm atmosphere, slow and gentle movements, time to snuggle and play with the humans, and a gentleness that little children don’t quite understand. So, if you are an adult, have a nurturing personality, have been thinking about getting a companion pet, a kitten might be your best choice. You can grow together, and end up with an adult for many years to come.
At SART Inn we have two kittens that are a hardy 13 weeks old, have had their first CVRC shot, and are fun-loving and sweet. We also have a couple of litters that will be ready in a few weeks for adoption.
This is the time of year when kittens come very quickly to a shelter. Inconsiderate humans dump litters in the strangest of places, and if the kittens survive, they are definitely taken into shelters for their well-being.
Not everyone has the patience for a kitten. They need to be loved, snuggled, fed more frequently, visited with more frequently, and watched over as they mature to be sure they continue to be a healthy and strong animal.
Is this right for you? If so, contact us! You will have a wonderful time meeting all the babes!
May 24 2010
A Plus for the Farm Community
As most of you know, we are working with the City of St. Marys in getting the stray cats off of the streets. When a city caught kitty comes to SART, we work with the cat for weeks to get it to trust, respond, and socialize. We then get the animals fixed, inoculated and treated for any ailments they might have come with. Most are then acclimated through the shelter for adoption. But, unfortunately, there are a few that are just not ever going to be trusting of much human contact. BUT, we want to give them a much better life than what they come from. We are looking for clean, working farms that would welcome these cats to live in shelter, be fed daily, and appreciated for their beauty, their ability to keep away the unwanted, and to occasionally visit with at a distance. They will not be the type that will come up to the farm house, get underfoot, or even be around the humans more than likely.
If you are a good, clean farm and would be interested in having healthy, fixed adults and don’t already have a cat population, please contact me. We need to find a good safe place for these animals who so deserve more than eating garbage, and living under homes and in the alleyways of St. Marys.
