Feline Fix It Wagon

To the Editor:

Wow, another year! So many “thank yous” to say. Thanks to a caring community of businesses, veterinarians, individuals, coming together to reduce the number of homeless animals and offering the community much-needed services.

Paris Farmers Unions in Bridgton (next stop January 15) and South Paris (next stop January 31) have welcomed the RMAA Fix It Wagon. Monthly visits are focused on finding those cats who, for a variety of reasons, would not get to a doctor. Thanks to RMAA, caring individuals are turning street kitties into couch cats.

Ninety-five percent of the feline clients of the Feline Fix It Wagon have never seen a veterinarian and probably never would have if not for RMAA. Also, a majority of the cats brought to the Fix It Wagon had been strays, but found people willing to “fix” them and their situation.

Not only do RMAA services reduce the numbers of unwanted kittens, but also vaccinate all animals for Rabies; stray and feral cats can pose a public health issue.

RMAA holds monthly clinics as well as special clinics with different organizations, feral cat groups, humane societies, high school projects, hoarding cases, to name a few. The cat overpopulation problem is reflected in the overcrowded cat shelters throughout the state as well as the country. No matter which state, too many cats means euthanasia of adoptable animals.

Many people cannot afford to spay/neuter their pets, let alone travel to do so. In order to serve the feline community more efficiently and effectively, RMAA Board of Directors committed to a huge expenditure in 2012; the purchase of a state-of-the-art mobile spay/neuter trailer to go to the cats.

The RMAA Feline Fix It Wagon arrived in May 2012 and was on the road to Dover for its first mobile clinic May 15! Since then, RMAA has held two clinics a week from Gorham to Concord, NH, also Bridgton and South Paris. In 2012, to date, RMAA has “fixed” 1,498 cats and dogs (798 cats since the arrival of the mobile unit!)

The goal is to alter 20-30 cats a day while maintaining high standards of care, which include pain medications, antibiotic injection, quality anesthesia, nail trimming, ear cleaning and Capstar flea pill to protect all clients. Licensed veterinarians give all cats a physical exam before surgery. If any issues are found, the cat is referred to a full-service veterinarian.

The long term goal of Rozzie May Animal Alliance is to reduce the number of homeless and unwanted animals by spay/neuter and to ensure those animals' health and well-being by urging folks to select their animal family doctor.

Just imagine how many kittens and puppies will not be born homeless! Rejoice! Together we are making a difference.

Roz Manwaring

RMAA

Conway, NH