Friends of Plumas County Animals reports it is seeking help from the community to support its fifth spayathon, set for Oct. 18.
Since 2023, Friends has worked with Plumas Animal Welfare Society and community members to curb the feral cat populations in Plumas County. Together they formed the Plumas Feral Spay/Neuter Project to tackle the countywide issue of community cat overpopulation.
Through a series of spayathons, the two nonprofits — with help from the Greenville Fire Cat Sanctuary — have been responsible for the spaying or neutering of 215 community cats, preventing these animals from reproducing and repopulating the feral colonies. The animals are also vaccinated for rabies before being released into their home territory. Organizers say the trap, neuter and return program has been a huge success and kitten populations are down.
Veterinarians Frank Merrill and Michelle Kelly, who both have ties and history with Plumas County, and veterinarian Maggie Lin all come to Plumas County and bring vet techs from their practices in the Bay Area to assist with preparation and the alteration surgeries. Dr. Doyle Rolston, of Indian Creek Veterinary Clinic, provides the space for the surgeries.
Volunteers from PAWS and Friends and volunteers from every community in the county trap, transport, house and care for the animals before and after the surgeries. Volunteers also provide the “grunt work” during the spayathon: they clean Rolston’s offices after the event and make sure everyone working is well fed during the day. “It is exhausting work, but most necessary to get and keep the numbers of feral animals down and kittens born without homes under control,” said Friends.
Organizers point out that each spayathon has expenses which have been funded in the past by grants from The Almanor Foundation, The Common Good Foundation, Bread for the Journey, The Summerlee Foundation and kindhearted citizens.
The veterinarians do the work for a mere $25 per cat and Rolston rents his offices for a minimal fee, say organizers. However, medications for the surgeries must be purchased, along with rabies vaccines for all the cats. Costs for lodging and food and reimbursement for travel costs for the vets and the techs also must be covered. Organizers say spayathon costs have increased to $10,000 and they need $8,000 more.
The group’s last spayathon in March resulted in spaying or neutering almost 100 cats. “Please help us to keep it up!” say organizers.
Tax-deductible donations can be made out and sent to Plumas S/N Project at P.O. Box 182, Quincy, CA 95971, or sent online or through Venmo. Organizers ask that donors note that the funds are for TNR.
