The Colony Chronicles
Volume 2, Issue 1
Promoting Non-traditional Feral-free Roaming Strategies
WS/FC Career Center and Fur-Ever Friends Donate Feral Cat Houses to FFF
Forgotten Felines of Forsyth recently received several feral cat shelters constructed by the first year carpentry classes at the WS/FC School’s Career Center under the direction of instructors, Barry Stewart and Scott Crews. Building the cat shelters is an annual project of the Career Center, in cooperation with Fur-Ever Friends, a Winston-Salem based umbrella rescue organization. 2008 is the 3rd year that the Career Center students have built feral cat shelters. More than 50 shelters have been constructed so far.
The design is similar to a design by Alley Cat Allies and features a hinged, shingled roof, vinyl floor and two doors. The shelters are either painted or stained to blend into the environment. Larry Danner, with Salvage Building Supply, Smith Phillips Lumber, the Career Center, and Fur-Ever Friends, donated supplies for the feral cat shelters. Fur-Ever Friends oversees the distribution of the shelters to individuals and local non-profit groups who care for feral cat colonies, including Forgotten Felines of Forsyth, Animal Rescue of Stokes County, Feral Cat Assistance Program, 4 Paws Pet Foundation, Humane Solutions and Save The Animals.
Melody Hawkins, who serves on the board of directors of Fur-Ever Friends, was inspired to start this program after learning of a similar program with the Career Center called Houses for Hounds. She encourages organizations in other areas to talk to their schools about starting such a program. "It's a win-win, with community suppliers donating most of the needed supplies, students learning to build and being informed/educated on compassion and shelter for feral cats," said Hawkins. And of course, it is also a "win" for the colony caretakers who need to provide shelter for cats in their managed colonies. See our related article on shelter for feral cats in this newsletter.
FFF volunteer, Robin F., loaded the shelters onto her flatbed trailer and delivered them to the recipients earlier in the fall. FFF gets many requests from the community for shelter for feral cats and was thrilled to receive this donation to pass on to caretakers. Thank you to the Career Center and Fur-Ever Friends!
Forgotten Felines of Forsyth hosted several end-of-year fundraisers to raise money for our spay/neuter clinics. On November 1, the FFF Yard Sale at Buchanan Street in Winston-Salem was a big success! We raised over $980!
Left: FFF Volunteer Robin F. (center) with a family who attended the sale.
Below: FFF volunteers who helped at the yard sale. Left to Right, Back Row - Pam, Sue, Carole, Robin F., Leslie, Rebecca. Front Row - Khristin, Diana, Shirl
On
December 20 and 21, Santa Claus went to Pet Supplies Plus on Reynolda Road in
Winston-Salem to help feral and stray cats in the community! FFF hosted a "Photos
with Santa" Fundraiser, for folks to have their pet's photo taken with Santa.
Left: Khristin, Santa, and Deb
Below, manning the table at Pet Supplies Plus "Pet Portraits": Sandy and Anna
Right: FFF volunteer, Robin F. delivers the cat shelters donated by WS/FCS Career Center and Fur-Ever Friends.
Below: Diana shows Shirl the escape flap.
