As you will learn during the tour, Miami Beach was originally a swamp, infested with rats and crocodiles. Thus the idea was hatched to bring in cats to rid of the rats. While this solution did achieve the primary goal, unfortunately it has led to an epidemic in Miami Beach--thousands upon of thousands of homeless cats that are not spayed/neutered and reproducing and suffering. This year we have reached record high totals due to a combination of our year-round warm weather and now the recession. Many owners have literally dumped their indoor cats into the streets. Tragic but true!
Often these cats face a host of dangers, injuries and illnesses. The personal stories I've encountered would move you to tears--a kitten with fur and skin torn from the muscle, hanging from her limb. She suffered a fractured leg. Another older cat, hungry, tired and missing an eye! The city streets are no place for a cat. Soon I learned that the general public knows little to nothing about homeless cats. I know--I used to be one of them until I stumbled upon these cats and could not ignore their plight. I picked up the phone and volunteers from the Cat Network came out to meet me and taught me everything I know.
As a true animal lovers, we are making a difference, slowly but surely. Your donation helps us fund efforts to humanely trap adult, homeless cats, get them spayed/neutered, feed them, and ensure they live humanely. But we're also aiming higher-- to create a local campaign with full media to educate the public.
Currently Christine feeds and watches over 21 cats daily! It's a tremendous commitment of time and money. The Riverfront cats are all spayed and neutered. Recently five new black cats were dumped in the area and Christine discovered they have no shelter from major rainstorms. The only refuge is the transformer room at the neighboring FPL lot. One cat was already electrocuted! Now were desperately trying to collect donations to get a cat house built for them before Hurricane season. Please consider a donation of any amount. Just visit http://www.riverfrontcats.com/ and click on the DONATION button and you can easily make a donation with your credit card.
If you would prefer to send a check, please send me an email to riverfrontcats@yahoo.com for the address.
At the same time Christine is volunteering her marketing skills to help The Cat Network to spread the critical message to spay and neuter. Remember, if you feed a stray cat, it is your responsibility to have it spayed/neutered. There are many low-cost clinics ranging from $25-$40. Also, the Cat Network will teach you how to trap a feral cat, and care for it after surgery. If you are physically unable to, for only $70 a cat, a professional will take care of the whole process from trapping the cat, to taking it to the veterinarian for surgery, and caring for the cat after surgery before the cat is returned to its environment. Please send me or the Cat Network an email if you would like this service to help stop the stray cat population from exploding in your neighborhood. To recognize if a cat is sterilized, the tip of the ear is sliced off (during surgery). It is called a "tipped ear". Sometimes a v-cut is made instead.
Please help spread the word to
"Prevent Animal Cruelty, Spay & Neuter your pets!"
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