These kittens will be adopted out as soon as they are old enough.
-Photo: Sherry Everett
Save The Cats of Live Oak was formed by a group of concerned citizens
in Suwannee County three months ago and they are well underway. They hold
regular meetings each Thursday at 5:30 P.M. at Big Wheel Marketplace in
Live Oak.
Their mission is to save as many cats in Live Oak and the Suwannee area
as possible and they need our help. They use the TNR (trap, neuter & return)
method and strive to find homes for as many cats as possible. They feed
the cats in feral
colonies and educate the public about the importance of spay or neuter.
A benefit auction is going to be held during the June Bug Festival on June 16
at 6 P.M.
“People can donate anything that is sellable for the auction. We’re
asking folks to clean out their garages, barns, storage units, etc.,” said
Save the Cats coordinator Barney Everett. Donations can be dropped off at Big
Wheel Marketplace in Live Oak. They will also have a booth set up during the
June Bug Festival selling some of the donated items before the auction. 
Barney Everett feeding some of the feral cats. -Photo: Sherry Everett
Everett said, “We have (already) made a significant impact on the stray-feral
cat population in the city and county. To date we have trapped and spayed or
neutered approximately forty cats and kittens. We have adopted them out or released
them to a safe area.” They currently have twelve mother cats and fifty
kittens. They will foster them until they are old enough to spay or neuter
and adopt out. In the meantime they are feeding cats in many feral colonies
in the
area as well.
They are looking for volunteers to help with transportation, feeding, etc.,
and donations to help pay for food, medical and spay or neuter expenses.
For every
$75 donated they can spay or neuter a cat plus give them the necessary shots
and medical attention they need. “Although any amount helps, whatever you
can afford, it all adds up.” Everett said.
Along with their auction during June Bug, Save the Cats has several other
fund raising projects initiated. You may have seen donation jars on the counters
in various businesses around Live Oak. They also have a drop off for aluminum
cans
where proceeds go to benefit the fury felines. It is a 16 foot trailer and
says, ‘Save
the Cats of Live Oak’ on the side. They usually move it once a week,
so people can find it in various places in Live Oak.
Save the Cats of Live Oak has applied for their nonprofit status as an organization
and are waiting for their 501c-3 status now, so your donations will be tax
deductible.
“HELP US HELP CATS!” says Everett.
Why Spay or Neuter? Spayed or neutered cats are less likely to have behavior
and temperament issues. 
This cat condo was donated by Gret’n Daughaday
-Photo: Sherry Everett
Spaying and neutering makes cats less likely to roam the neighborhood.
They are more relaxed, affectionate, compassionate and often easier
to train. They
generally
live longer, healthier lives and it reduces their risk of cancer. Spay or
neuter is the ONLY humane solution to the cat population.
Anyone interested in helping in any way may attend their meetings held each
Thursday at 5:30 P.M. at 127 W. Howard Street in Live Oak (Big Wheel Marketplace)
or call
Barney Everett at 386-364-1006 or Ray Cobb at 386-688-0030.
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