Iron County group strives to address pet overpopulation
COLARS provides low-cost vouchers to help owners spay, neuter pets
By PAULA BARR
Daily Journal Staff Writer
Daily Journal Staff Writer
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
“We’re all different personalities, different ages, different lifestyles,” said Norma Ferguson. “But we are all concerned with overpopulation of dogs and cats.”
Ferguson is part of a group called Circle of Life Animal Rescue Society, or COLARS, that helps dog and cat owners pay to have their animals spayed or neutered. Since it began its program in December 2006, the group has paid all or part of the cost to spay or neuter more than 800 cats and dogs, said Amy Patterson, president of the nonprofit organization. With the help of volunteers who provide foster care for puppies and kittens, the organization also has placed about 60 animals in permanent homes.
The group recently received a boost in fundraising when the owners of the Open Hearts thrift store in Arcadia donated the contents of their business to COLARS. The group bought the building in late July and reopened the thrift store. The store contains a wide variety of items, including furniture, clothing, crafts, baskets, books, glassware and luggage. The group plans to add antiques. Proceeds from the thrift store support the spay and neuter program, called SNYFF (Spay and Neuter Your Furry Friends).
The Humane Society of the United States estimates that 6-8 million pets enter animal shelters each year. About half are adopted, and the rest are euthanized.
Unspayed female cats can have an average of three litters per year, each of which averages 4-6 kittens. Unspayed dogs have an average of two litters per year, with 6-10 puppies in each litter.
Abandoned or feral (wild) cats and dogs can pose safety and health hazards to humans, including bites from unvaccinated animals. Animals forced to find their own food can become a nuisance by getting into trash barrels or attacking other animals.
“This isn’t just about bleeding hearts,” Jeannette Schrum said. “Taxpayers dollars are paying for many of these animals to be put down.”
COLARS began in the spring of 2006, when the Humane Society shut down the local animal shelter in Pilot Knob. At first, a group of six people stepped in with plans to refurbish the building and run an improved shelter. Fundraising began under the leadership of Rita Hadley, who spent her days trying to drum up donations. Other members are Ferguson, Patterson, Schrum, Joann Morey, Debra Henk, Susan Degonia and Kevin Jenkins.
“We had never done anything like this before,” Ferguson said. “We worked extremely hard with fundraisers and we were very successful at it. Rita did a lot of standing outside Wal-Marts collecting donations.”
The building, however, was a “money pit” and there was not enough community financial support to run the shelter properly. Hadley suggested they instead try to prevent the problem of unwanted animals by addressing overpopulation. The group sold the shelter building for the amount owed on it, and used their donations and other funds to provide free spaying and neutering vouchers.
“We started out giving them free to anyone, regardless of income,” Hadley added. “We wanted people to take the responsibility to get it done. And who deserves a break more than working people?”
Support came from monthly donors and fundraisers at festivals and other events. They held a chili cook-off, bake sales and yard sales. Despite the financial support, the demand for their services strained the group’s finances.
“Our vet bills were averaging $1,000 a month,” Hadley said. “Somehow, we paid them. But the free vouchers were eating up our money.”
In April, the group switched to low cost vouchers. Cat owners pay $20 for a voucher that covers the cost spaying or neutering their animals. Cost for dog vouchers ranges from $20 to $50. Pets must be at least four to six months old. Vouchers are available at Open Hearts, by calling 573-546-7331 evenings or by e-mail at earthbilly@aol.com.
COLARS pays for neutering of rescued animals that are put up for adoption. The group also contributes to the cost of food and vaccinations for animals cared for by foster families. The number of animals they can care for is limited. There are no local shelters and those in other counties often are full, Hadley said. The group has had approximately 50 pregnant animals dropped off in the past month, even though COLARS is not an animal shelter.
“We need people to take puppies and get them cleaned up, vaccinated and socialized so they are ready to go to shelters and adoption agencies,” Morey explained. “They can foster for a month or so. Most humane societies don’t like to take animals right off the street.”
Eventually, Morey wants to bring a mobile spay and neuter clinic to Iron county. There are no veterinarians in the county, only a weekly vet clinic for vaccination and basic care, she said.
For now, the group is focusing on fundraising through Open Hearts and grants to keep up with the demand for their services. They also hope others will follow their lead and join the fight to end pet overpopulation, Ferguson said.
“If a group of six can get this started here, anyone can do it.”
Paula Barr is a reporter for the Daily Journal and can be reached at
573-431-2010, ext. 172 or at pbarr@dailyjournalonline.com.
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