Transcripts
Welcome back everybody.
2
00:00:01,340 --> 00:00:05,450
Today, I'm joined by Rebecca from
Helena's Community Cats of SOWGA.
3
00:00:05,480 --> 00:00:08,839
We'll be talking about the important
work her organization does to help
4
00:00:08,840 --> 00:00:13,520
community cats and improve the lives
of cats throughout their region.
5
00:00:13,540 --> 00:00:14,560
Let's dive in.
6
00:00:15,338 --> 00:00:18,308
hi, Rebecca, and thank you
for coming on Animal Posse.
7
00:00:19,132 --> 00:00:19,442
Rebecca: You're welcome.
8
00:00:19,822 --> 00:00:20,682
Glad to be here.
9
00:00:21,162 --> 00:00:25,712
Dixie: I am looking forward to hear
about all the work that you do with
10
00:00:25,732 --> 00:00:28,812
Community Cats with your new 501[c][3].
11
00:00:29,232 --> 00:00:33,402
Tell us a little bit about yourself
how did you get involved with Community
12
00:00:33,402 --> 00:00:35,652
Cats, and if you can tell us- Okay
13
00:00:35,652 --> 00:00:37,362
a little bit about your nonprofit as well.
14
00:00:38,852 --> 00:00:39,442
Rebecca: Sure.
15
00:00:39,532 --> 00:00:47,092
So I have always been an animal lover,
and that's going back , since I was a kid.
16
00:00:47,342 --> 00:00:52,682
And between that and my mom's
encouragement to just give back to
17
00:00:52,682 --> 00:00:59,292
the community, I started fostering
animals years ago dogs and cats and
18
00:00:59,342 --> 00:01:05,372
found that my my dog doesn't care for
foster dogs in the house but has no
19
00:01:05,372 --> 00:01:07,882
problem having more cats in the house.
20
00:01:08,102 --> 00:01:11,312
So I switched solely to fostering cats.
21
00:01:11,752 --> 00:01:17,792
And I moved to Georgia from California a
little less than two years ago now, and
22
00:01:17,801 --> 00:01:25,182
I noticed here where I'm at in southwest
Georgia, there isn't a lot of focus on
23
00:01:25,452 --> 00:01:28,232
the cat situation that we've got here.
24
00:01:28,562 --> 00:01:34,021
We have quite a lot of animal
dumping that happens here.
25
00:01:34,271 --> 00:01:38,932
Not a lot of people are spaying and
neutering their cats or their dogs
26
00:01:39,232 --> 00:01:44,632
and so surprise litters happen and
people just get rid of the puppies.
27
00:01:44,882 --> 00:01:49,902
And so I started fostering dogs
actually again here because they
28
00:01:49,902 --> 00:01:51,542
would just be on the side of the road.
29
00:01:51,882 --> 00:01:57,582
But I found that there were plenty of
dog rescues, and when I say plenty,
30
00:01:57,612 --> 00:02:02,682
they are at their max just like our
humane societies are, but we have them
31
00:02:02,712 --> 00:02:08,442
and I wasn't seeing anyone focused
on the cat community and felt like
32
00:02:08,782 --> 00:02:11,182
that was an area of opportunity.
33
00:02:11,442 --> 00:02:16,792
So decided to take my energy and put
it into trying to figure out how to
34
00:02:16,802 --> 00:02:21,702
solve the cat problem that we've got
here, like I said, in southwest Georgia.
35
00:02:22,112 --> 00:02:27,992
So we've got many colonies of cats
and those are feral cats born into the
36
00:02:27,992 --> 00:02:35,052
colonies as well as dumped cats which
are potentially great for adoption.
37
00:02:35,062 --> 00:02:40,692
And so my original inspiration
was to be a rescue sanctuary
38
00:02:43,082 --> 00:02:48,792
TNR g- vet services, like really thought
I could jump in and solve all of the
39
00:02:48,792 --> 00:02:54,662
world's problems and have very quickly
realized I need to start somewhere.
40
00:02:55,116 --> 00:03:01,506
And the initial focus is on
TNR and and then bottle babies.
41
00:03:01,776 --> 00:03:07,936
Kittens that are either abandoned by
their mother or or taken by a human
42
00:03:07,946 --> 00:03:12,856
from the nest that the mother has
created and created a situation where
43
00:03:12,946 --> 00:03:14,806
a kitten is dependent on humans.
44
00:03:15,146 --> 00:03:22,086
That's the initial focus of the nonprofit
right now with grand plans to continue
45
00:03:22,086 --> 00:03:27,656
to evolve that over the years as we
become known and are successful in
46
00:03:27,996 --> 00:03:30,616
grant funds and things of that nature.
47
00:03:31,616 --> 00:03:32,096
When did
48
00:03:32,096 --> 00:03:33,546
Dixie: you start the nonprofit
49
00:03:33,606 --> 00:03:33,786
Rebecca: yeah.
50
00:03:33,786 --> 00:03:42,376
So we officially started October 2025,
and it is Helena's Community Cats of SWGA,
51
00:03:42,386 --> 00:03:44,566
which is what we call Southwest Georgia.
52
00:03:44,956 --> 00:03:49,506
Helena is my mom's name, and
so I did open it in her honor.
53
00:03:49,766 --> 00:03:53,406
As I mentioned, she's was
very philanthropic and gave
54
00:03:53,936 --> 00:03:55,946
to all kinds of situations.
55
00:03:56,296 --> 00:03:59,966
Wasn't necessarily a cat person,
which is everyone's first question.
56
00:04:00,026 --> 00:04:01,186
"Oh, did your mom love cats?"
57
00:04:01,526 --> 00:04:01,846
Nope.
58
00:04:02,416 --> 00:04:06,046
But she loved helping and so
decided to do it in her name.
59
00:04:07,554 --> 00:04:12,494
Dixie: So now I have to ask, since you
did come from California and you go
60
00:04:12,494 --> 00:04:17,344
to Georgia- Yeah … i'm in Louisiana,
and the kitten seasons that we have
61
00:04:17,344 --> 00:04:19,853
here , it's absolutely brutal right now.
62
00:04:20,194 --> 00:04:21,103
Every- Yes
63
00:04:21,113 --> 00:04:27,114
spring and summer it is brutal, but this
year it just seems even worse than ever.
64
00:04:27,514 --> 00:04:31,924
So we have it here because
we're so warm in the South, we
65
00:04:31,924 --> 00:04:33,914
have constant kitten season.
66
00:04:33,924 --> 00:04:38,354
We might get two months off which
is usually January, February,
67
00:04:38,374 --> 00:04:39,404
and then after that's it.
68
00:04:39,414 --> 00:04:40,784
We're back into kitten season.
69
00:04:40,784 --> 00:04:43,524
And we're lucky if we get
January and February off.
70
00:04:43,914 --> 00:04:50,164
How- Yeah … does Georgia compare to
California in terms of the number of cats
71
00:04:50,164 --> 00:04:52,244
and kitten seasons and that type of thing?
72
00:04:53,874 --> 00:04:57,664
Rebecca: So I would say Georgia
is more aligned with Louisiana, so
73
00:04:57,664 --> 00:05:01,124
definitely kitten season is always on.
74
00:05:01,414 --> 00:05:10,054
And additionally in California there, the
regulations around just animal control
75
00:05:10,164 --> 00:05:14,464
are much stricter or, and enforced maybe.
76
00:05:14,464 --> 00:05:16,814
Not totally clear on
the politics of it all.
77
00:05:17,134 --> 00:05:23,124
But I will say you are not getting
an animal in California outside of a
78
00:05:23,124 --> 00:05:25,754
breeder that isn't spayed or neutered.
79
00:05:25,784 --> 00:05:29,314
So whether it's a rescue, whether it's
a humane society, wherever that animal's
80
00:05:29,334 --> 00:05:35,004
coming from it's, you're not gonna have
an accidental litter in your backyard.
81
00:05:35,274 --> 00:05:39,984
And which is just already controlling
the pet population more than what
82
00:05:40,004 --> 00:05:44,894
we see here where there isn't a lot
of that oversight on animal control.
83
00:05:45,454 --> 00:05:49,124
And I just think about Bob Barker and
"The Price is Right," like every day now.
84
00:05:49,154 --> 00:05:52,354
I'm like, "Please help
control the pet population.
85
00:05:52,414 --> 00:05:54,334
Have your pet spayed or neutered."
86
00:05:54,764 --> 00:05:59,514
Because here I, I literally see it
driving down the road, the impact of
87
00:05:59,514 --> 00:06:01,304
not spaying and neutering your animals.
88
00:06:01,764 --> 00:06:02,084
Dixie: Yeah.
89
00:06:02,084 --> 00:06:05,414
And it's funny with the whole thing with
Bob Barker and "The Price is Right,"
90
00:06:05,424 --> 00:06:09,344
because when I was a child, that's what my
grandparents would watch every single day.
91
00:06:09,344 --> 00:06:12,954
So every summer- we were watching
"The Price is Right," and that
92
00:06:12,954 --> 00:06:14,544
message really came through.
93
00:06:14,544 --> 00:06:18,454
And I think that's why there's so
many people that's in my particular
94
00:06:18,454 --> 00:06:24,464
age bracket, I'm a Gen X-er, that-
Same … are so pro-spay and neuter.
95
00:06:25,014 --> 00:06:29,994
And I really- Yeah … wish that something
like that would come along for future
96
00:06:29,994 --> 00:06:35,484
generations because, it seems you just
don't see it like especially now, like
97
00:06:35,504 --> 00:06:38,794
with the younger people coming up, lot
of them just don't even think about it.
98
00:06:38,794 --> 00:06:41,034
They just don't understand
why they should do it.
99
00:06:41,564 --> 00:06:47,034
Rebecca: Yeah, and there's a lot of
incorrect teachings around it in terms
100
00:06:47,034 --> 00:06:51,834
of, "Oh if you spay, then your female
dog is gonna get breast cancer."
101
00:06:51,834 --> 00:06:56,834
And I've heard some real crazy
things that people have spread
102
00:06:56,944 --> 00:07:02,434
incorrectly about what will happen
if you do spay or neuter your pet.
103
00:07:02,444 --> 00:07:05,684
And it's oh my gosh, can we
gotta stop that noise as well.
104
00:07:06,184 --> 00:07:08,024
Dixie: It's just like
a never ending cycle.
105
00:07:08,794 --> 00:07:12,484
Rebecca: I will say that I have
noticed that here in Georgia,
106
00:07:12,944 --> 00:07:17,334
spaying and neutering is more
expensive than in California.
107
00:07:17,344 --> 00:07:21,874
So I don't know if there are subsidies
that happen in California for that.
108
00:07:22,384 --> 00:07:28,214
We're gonna finally have a low-cost clinic
opening here in August, but until then,
109
00:07:28,304 --> 00:07:35,614
it's very, in my opinion, expensive to
spay like a healthy young animal compared
110
00:07:35,624 --> 00:07:37,554
to what you'd pay on the West Coast.
111
00:07:38,264 --> 00:07:38,754
Dixie: Yeah.
112
00:07:38,804 --> 00:07:44,284
Now let me ask you too, when you said that
California is so much stricter I know-
113
00:07:44,284 --> 00:07:50,734
… like here all, of course, all the rescues,
all the shelters here, they are spaying
114
00:07:50,734 --> 00:07:52,494
and neutering before they go out the door.
115
00:07:52,494 --> 00:07:53,944
Unless it's going to a foster.
116
00:07:53,944 --> 00:07:57,774
If it's going to a foster, they're,
maybe they're too young for spay or
117
00:07:57,774 --> 00:08:01,994
neuter, but before they're ever adopted,
they are all spayed and neutered.
118
00:08:03,390 --> 00:08:10,480
Now, the problem that we have is people
finding kittens and picking the kittens
119
00:08:10,480 --> 00:08:12,310
up, which is a whole nother thing.
120
00:08:12,770 --> 00:08:15,610
… they'll find the kittens, they'll pick
the kittens up, they'll take on to
121
00:08:15,610 --> 00:08:17,370
social media to just give them away.
122
00:08:18,610 --> 00:08:18,930
Rebecca: Yes.
123
00:08:19,400 --> 00:08:24,660
Dixie: And that causes a huge problem
here, because even as a rescue, I have
124
00:08:24,660 --> 00:08:29,540
made the offer to help people, hey, at
least, let us help you get them spayed or
125
00:08:29,540 --> 00:08:31,360
neutered before they go to their new home.
126
00:08:31,760 --> 00:08:36,419
Or make the offer, hey, we can take
them, and a lot of the times they'll
127
00:08:36,440 --> 00:08:40,289
go with somebody else just because
it's oh that person commented first,
128
00:08:40,340 --> 00:08:44,720
and it's- … just unfortunate because
some people might have the intentions
129
00:08:44,720 --> 00:08:48,300
of spaying and neutering them, and they
don't realize that when they reach four
130
00:08:48,300 --> 00:08:50,120
months old, they can be reproducing.
131
00:08:50,380 --> 00:08:52,110
And so it's like surprise litter.
132
00:08:52,110 --> 00:08:56,010
And then other people have zero
intention of spaying and neutering.
133
00:08:56,390 --> 00:08:59,730
So how does California
combat that problem?
134
00:08:59,730 --> 00:09:01,570
Or do you see that happening as well?
135
00:09:03,448 --> 00:09:07,178
Rebecca: So there's so many
things I wanna cover in that area.
136
00:09:07,258 --> 00:09:12,678
Before California, but specifically
here, we are going to be much
137
00:09:12,698 --> 00:09:14,818
more proactive in education.
138
00:09:15,118 --> 00:09:21,298
So I'm connecting in with social groups
like the Girl Scouts of America and
139
00:09:21,318 --> 00:09:27,348
other groups around town where we can
come bring these cute little kittens
140
00:09:27,358 --> 00:09:32,248
that I constantly have in my life now,
grab the attention of folks and then
141
00:09:32,288 --> 00:09:38,038
teach them about how quickly they have
babies and just cat math these people
142
00:09:38,098 --> 00:09:39,838
to death so that they can really get it.
143
00:09:40,138 --> 00:09:42,218
Because I am one of those people.
144
00:09:42,248 --> 00:09:48,738
I was a 19-year-old, had my first
two cats, and all of a sudden had
145
00:09:48,738 --> 00:09:55,578
a pregnant cat, and I had no idea
that before one year old my cats
146
00:09:55,588 --> 00:09:56,878
could get each other pregnant.
147
00:09:57,018 --> 00:09:57,798
I had no idea.
148
00:09:58,328 --> 00:10:02,838
And ended up having three kittens
that I had to find homes for.
149
00:10:02,848 --> 00:10:07,918
And so luckily, that was enough years
ago that I've now had generations of cats
150
00:10:07,928 --> 00:10:12,768
that aren't reproducing accidentally,
but you don't know what you don't know.
151
00:10:12,768 --> 00:10:19,498
And so I do think education is a huge
responsibility of those of us who do know
152
00:10:19,498 --> 00:10:22,288
to go out and help spread the good word.
153
00:10:22,598 --> 00:10:29,148
I also have been like you on social
media trying to get my hands on those
154
00:10:30,028 --> 00:10:32,618
animals that are out there for free.
155
00:10:32,868 --> 00:10:35,548
I'm really concerned
about it for two reasons.
156
00:10:35,558 --> 00:10:40,048
One is the overpopulation, also the
potential of using those animals
157
00:10:40,108 --> 00:10:42,458
as bait animals in dog fighting.
158
00:10:42,748 --> 00:10:48,478
So I like just feel compelled
to try to get the animals into
159
00:10:48,478 --> 00:10:52,968
a safe space, spay and neuter
them, and really vet the adopters.
160
00:10:53,248 --> 00:10:58,838
So there's a lot going on here that I am
trying to get involved in , to hopefully
161
00:11:00,180 --> 00:11:01,720
Help in both of those directions.
162
00:11:02,040 --> 00:11:06,550
In California but one of the things
on social media with animals is a lot
163
00:11:06,550 --> 00:11:13,110
of pages didn't allow, and I actually
thought it was a Facebook rule the
164
00:11:13,130 --> 00:11:16,810
gifting or selling of animals on Facebook.
165
00:11:17,270 --> 00:11:24,260
And now being here and seeing it, it's
not a Facebook rule it was rules of pages
166
00:11:24,460 --> 00:11:27,160
that happen to be based out of California.
167
00:11:27,510 --> 00:11:33,080
And so that's one thing is there just
wasn't a pipeline of those animals.
168
00:11:33,090 --> 00:11:37,460
Now, California has other ways to get
a free animal, like Craigslist which
169
00:11:37,460 --> 00:11:40,360
is definitely a way that you could
you could get an animal that's not
170
00:11:40,360 --> 00:11:44,350
going through a shelter or a rescue
and therefore not spayed or neutered.
171
00:11:44,710 --> 00:11:49,880
But it's a lot harder there to just
find an just to scoop an animal up off
172
00:11:49,910 --> 00:11:52,710
the road, which here that is not hard.
173
00:11:53,450 --> 00:11:56,000
I could probably go do
it right now if I tried.
174
00:11:57,390 --> 00:12:02,710
So again, I think there's probably some
regulations and how those regulations
175
00:12:02,710 --> 00:12:04,850
are enforced is a big part of it.
176
00:12:05,730 --> 00:12:05,970
Yeah.
177
00:12:05,970 --> 00:12:08,780
And I did talk to the Georgia
Department of Ag about that.
178
00:12:09,040 --> 00:12:12,430
Not an official, but an employee
of the Department of Ag and asked
179
00:12:12,430 --> 00:12:16,720
about the lack of severity in
our pet reproduction laws here.
180
00:12:17,060 --> 00:12:21,880
And what I was told, and again, not
from an official point of view, but just
181
00:12:21,930 --> 00:12:28,550
from a person that works there, is that
because breeding of animals, whether it's
182
00:12:28,550 --> 00:12:34,580
hunting dogs or other working animals in
Georgia that is what's gonna keep those
183
00:12:35,150 --> 00:12:37,960
reproduction laws loose as they are.
184
00:12:38,180 --> 00:12:41,380
That they're not gonna have a if
you're in this category, you must
185
00:12:41,610 --> 00:12:45,590
spay and neuter, and if you're in this
category, you mustn't spay and neuter."
186
00:12:45,880 --> 00:12:47,680
And I don't know how much
truth there is to that.
187
00:12:47,680 --> 00:12:51,940
Again, haven't been here super long,
but I am getting more connected with
188
00:12:51,940 --> 00:12:56,510
the Humane Society and if I need to
help, do any kind of lobbying I'm happy
189
00:12:56,560 --> 00:12:58,260
to get active in that way as well.
190
00:12:59,444 --> 00:13:00,464
Dixie: Yeah, that's great.
191
00:13:00,484 --> 00:13:03,354
And it's great that you're
gonna be reaching out to
192
00:13:03,364 --> 00:13:04,624
all those organizations too.
193
00:13:04,624 --> 00:13:07,594
That's actually something that
I was thinking of doing myself,
194
00:13:08,024 --> 00:13:09,994
just because it is such a problem.
195
00:13:09,994 --> 00:13:14,754
And at least if you reach the kids
or the children, they go home-
196
00:13:14,754 --> 00:13:18,244
Yeah … and sometimes they can be very
adamant about things with the parents,
197
00:13:18,304 --> 00:13:19,154
Rebecca: yes.
198
00:13:20,244 --> 00:13:24,024
I've known people who have quit smoking
because their kids learned about how
199
00:13:24,034 --> 00:13:29,374
bad smoking is in school, and they come
home and, they're like, "Oh my gosh,
200
00:13:29,374 --> 00:13:31,304
you're gonna die because you smoke."
201
00:13:31,324 --> 00:13:34,934
And and parents, you hear that from
this little person that you love,
202
00:13:35,434 --> 00:13:37,384
it, changes your views on things.
203
00:13:37,724 --> 00:13:42,984
I just happen to be in a fortunate
situation where I am connected
204
00:13:42,984 --> 00:13:46,014
with people who are connected
with other people, right?
205
00:13:46,014 --> 00:13:50,794
And through whether it's through the
Rotary Club or through the Master
206
00:13:50,794 --> 00:13:54,864
Gardeners, through University of
Georgia, there's just a lot of people
207
00:13:54,864 --> 00:14:00,434
that are like-minded in terms of caring
about the community, the environment,
208
00:14:00,704 --> 00:14:05,304
education of others, and it all comes
together, , in one way, shape, or form.
209
00:14:05,654 --> 00:14:08,494
And and so it becomes applicable.
210
00:14:08,524 --> 00:14:13,174
So whether, you're talking to folks
about the importance of spaying and
211
00:14:13,184 --> 00:14:17,984
neutering cats because the impact they
could have on your bird population or
212
00:14:17,984 --> 00:14:22,474
the importance of spaying and neutering
cats because how quickly they, they
213
00:14:22,474 --> 00:14:25,414
can make kittens and how is your
family gonna care for those animals.
214
00:14:25,604 --> 00:14:30,954
There's a lot of ways to look at
how the reproduction process has
215
00:14:30,954 --> 00:14:32,324
an impact in our environment.
216
00:14:33,634 --> 00:14:37,804
Dixie: The area that you're in
Georgia, are you in a suburban area?
217
00:14:37,804 --> 00:14:39,214
Are you in a rural area?
218
00:14:41,702 --> 00:14:45,222
Rebecca: I think we're
considered a r- rural area.
219
00:14:45,592 --> 00:14:49,772
It feels like a suburb, but
there's no city, so it's like
220
00:14:49,772 --> 00:14:54,262
suburb and then country, so I
think that makes it rural, right?
221
00:14:54,342 --> 00:14:59,982
Dixie: I know in Louisiana, in the more
country-type areas, that's where we have
222
00:14:59,992 --> 00:15:04,022
the least amount of resources and the
biggest problem with people dumping pets.
223
00:15:04,562 --> 00:15:09,272
In fact- Yes … we have country property
we were planning to put our sanctuary on.
224
00:15:09,752 --> 00:15:14,712
And We're a cat rescue, but our first
three adoptions were actually dogs because
225
00:15:14,712 --> 00:15:16,562
we had puppies dumped on our property.
226
00:15:18,202 --> 00:15:22,772
Rebecca: The reason I didn't become
a sanctuary is when I went to the
227
00:15:22,772 --> 00:15:28,932
city to actually just to switch the
electric bill over to the nonprofit's
228
00:15:29,022 --> 00:15:35,102
name for the building that the cats
would be in they said "Wait a second.
229
00:15:35,312 --> 00:15:42,452
We, we can't have you doing that right
now without having somebody on-site or
230
00:15:42,482 --> 00:15:47,752
at least somebody patrolling 24 hours
on-site because of animal dumping."
231
00:15:48,222 --> 00:15:53,052
And and while a lot of people
were like, "That's not right.
232
00:15:53,062 --> 00:15:56,942
They shouldn't be getting involved with
that," I was like, "Oh, my goodness.
233
00:15:56,942 --> 00:16:00,332
No, I'm glad that they said that,"
because it didn't actually occur to
234
00:16:00,332 --> 00:16:04,752
me that people are gonna say, "Oh,
look, animal rescue," and all of
235
00:16:04,752 --> 00:16:06,292
a sudden that's a dumping ground.
236
00:16:06,292 --> 00:16:10,232
And so all of a sudden you've got these,
either cats that are running loose
237
00:16:10,272 --> 00:16:14,972
that are now either have been rehomed,
but they didn't know that they just
238
00:16:14,972 --> 00:16:18,542
got rehomed, or dogs running into the
street 'cause they just got dumped,
239
00:16:18,972 --> 00:16:20,572
and the building is on a busy road.
240
00:16:20,592 --> 00:16:22,412
And to me, that's the right thing to do.
241
00:16:22,412 --> 00:16:29,222
And until we have enough funds coming in
to be able to have 24-hour surveillance I
242
00:16:29,262 --> 00:16:34,982
can appreciate why we are not okay to have
a sanctuary in that particular location.
243
00:16:35,162 --> 00:16:38,622
I could do it outside this
city boundaries, right?
244
00:16:38,622 --> 00:16:41,532
Where you're not gonna have dogs
running into traffic if they're dumped.
245
00:16:42,142 --> 00:16:45,832
But but now I would not feel good
knowing that, we're not open on
246
00:16:45,842 --> 00:16:49,192
the weekend or something and there
could be an animal starving on the
247
00:16:49,192 --> 00:16:50,742
doorstep because nobody's there.
248
00:16:50,772 --> 00:16:56,492
And really have to think about the impact
of people knowing safe place to dump
249
00:16:56,492 --> 00:17:02,022
an animal means that somebody's gonna
have hands on that animal in a quick
250
00:17:02,022 --> 00:17:03,782
enough time that it won't be harmed.
251
00:17:05,136 --> 00:17:06,576
Dixie: Yeah, that definitely makes sense.
252
00:17:06,596 --> 00:17:09,215
I am foster-based right now.
253
00:17:09,296 --> 00:17:14,406
Our long-term goal is to build a sanctuary
up in the country and, but when I say in
254
00:17:14,406 --> 00:17:16,195
the country, we're really in the country.
255
00:17:16,496 --> 00:17:18,836
Our clos-closest neighbor
might be like a mile away.
256
00:17:19,516 --> 00:17:26,376
And but still, it's like out where that
is, you still see people dumping dogs.
257
00:17:26,406 --> 00:17:31,516
There's cats too, but like the dogs,
they dump on the side of country roads.
258
00:17:31,586 --> 00:17:31,966
Rebecca: Yeah.
259
00:17:32,066 --> 00:17:34,396
Dixie: It's so sad and, it's insane.
260
00:17:34,886 --> 00:17:39,986
And you try to look for an owner because,
you don't know what the situation is,
261
00:17:39,986 --> 00:17:43,766
but most of the time they are just
dumped, it's a accidental litter.
262
00:17:43,766 --> 00:17:45,806
They didn't want them,
so they just dump them.
263
00:17:46,306 --> 00:17:47,736
And it is very sad.
264
00:17:47,746 --> 00:17:52,166
And I've seen it too with the rescues
that we do have in the city that have
265
00:17:52,176 --> 00:17:57,066
physical locations, with the amount
of times, and even the shelters,
266
00:17:57,076 --> 00:18:01,546
they'll post videos of people
dumping animals, and it's really sad.
267
00:18:01,556 --> 00:18:01,576
Yeah.
268
00:18:01,586 --> 00:18:02,336
It really is.
269
00:18:03,316 --> 00:18:07,526
Rebecca: We have a bunch of dog
rescues here that are very active,
270
00:18:07,526 --> 00:18:14,986
but we have one specifically that
the founder is constantly the like
271
00:18:15,326 --> 00:18:18,866
almost 100% of the time, if someone
posts it's Peanuts and Friends.
272
00:18:18,886 --> 00:18:22,546
I don't know why, but that's where if
an animal's found or seen or whatever,
273
00:18:22,556 --> 00:18:27,546
It's almost always her that is going
wherever a dog has been posted, and she's
274
00:18:27,546 --> 00:18:33,436
picking that dog up, and she's picked
up just the skinniest starving dogs.
275
00:18:33,446 --> 00:18:37,356
She's picked up beat up dogs that looks
like they've been hit by cars, like
276
00:18:37,366 --> 00:18:39,156
just all kinds of terrible things.
277
00:18:39,626 --> 00:18:44,876
And she's always the one who is
rescuing them, and it's amazing.
278
00:18:44,896 --> 00:18:48,546
And she has a full dog rescue
kennels, like the whole nine yards.
279
00:18:48,646 --> 00:18:51,786
But , we don't have that for cats,
which is why I wanted to do the
280
00:18:51,786 --> 00:18:55,876
sanctuary with the cats because
it's a bit of the same thing where
281
00:18:55,916 --> 00:18:58,066
we, people are dumping them too.
282
00:18:58,226 --> 00:19:02,546
And you know when you go up to a colony,
if you could pick up a cat, that cat
283
00:19:02,546 --> 00:19:07,016
probably, lived at a house not, hasn't
been a colony cat its whole life.
284
00:19:08,224 --> 00:19:08,554
You said
285
00:19:08,564 --> 00:19:09,944
Dixie: you do the bottle babies too?
286
00:19:10,721 --> 00:19:11,291
Rebecca: Yes.
287
00:19:11,361 --> 00:19:13,081
So that's what we're focused on.
288
00:19:13,111 --> 00:19:16,551
So TNR and bottle babies is the focus.
289
00:19:16,591 --> 00:19:20,581
Until we've got more fosters,
like you said, or have the
290
00:19:20,581 --> 00:19:25,161
sanctuary in place, we just aren't
able to be, intake for animals.
291
00:19:25,171 --> 00:19:28,631
So we only take bottle
babies and then TNR.
292
00:19:28,631 --> 00:19:32,381
So I've got three right now
on me literally on my body.
293
00:19:32,481 --> 00:19:33,661
Dixie: Yeah, I could hear them.
294
00:19:34,741 --> 00:19:35,071
Rebecca: Oh, can
295
00:19:38,851 --> 00:19:38,931
you?
296
00:19:38,931 --> 00:19:41,721
They're not on a bottle anymore,
but they were when they got here.
297
00:19:41,721 --> 00:19:45,521
Dixie: Are they in the swim in cat
food phase, or are they past that?
298
00:19:46,791 --> 00:19:47,981
Rebecca: Yeah, they're about there.
299
00:19:48,351 --> 00:19:52,211
They're getting better without
all their paws needing to be
300
00:19:52,241 --> 00:19:53,311
in the food at the same time.
301
00:19:53,311 --> 00:19:54,211
That's what you meant, right?
302
00:19:54,321 --> 00:19:55,511
Dixie: That's absolutely it.
303
00:19:55,511 --> 00:19:55,751
Yeah.
304
00:19:55,751 --> 00:19:58,061
They get so messy- Yeah … when
they're learning to eat, and
305
00:19:58,381 --> 00:20:00,721
everybody thinks kittens- Oh my
gosh … are like wonderful, and
306
00:20:00,721 --> 00:20:02,391
I'm like, "Kittens are so messy.
307
00:20:02,401 --> 00:20:05,641
You have no idea how messy
little bottle kittens are."
308
00:20:07,751 --> 00:20:07,771
Rebecca: Yeah.
309
00:20:07,771 --> 00:20:09,191
It is so funny, I'm like,
310
00:20:09,201 --> 00:20:10,281
what are you doing?"
311
00:20:10,291 --> 00:20:12,971
But nope, all the paws are
gonna go right in there.
312
00:20:12,981 --> 00:20:15,371
And then also like the
whole face in the food.
313
00:20:15,621 --> 00:20:19,891
Like not just the mouth, but
just the whole entire thing.
314
00:20:20,181 --> 00:20:23,078
It's like watching when a human
child starts feeding itself and
315
00:20:23,088 --> 00:20:26,388
you're like, spaghetti's on the
forehead for a good reason I'm sure.
316
00:20:26,508 --> 00:20:28,518
But totally the same thing.
317
00:20:29,341 --> 00:20:32,291
Dixie: I imagine you have a big
problem with the people that kind
318
00:20:32,291 --> 00:20:34,221
of catnap the baby kittens too.
319
00:20:36,417 --> 00:20:36,687
Rebecca: Yes.
320
00:20:39,267 --> 00:20:40,487
So they think they're helping, bless them.
321
00:20:40,687 --> 00:20:42,567
They think that they're
doing the right thing.
322
00:20:42,637 --> 00:20:48,827
They don't realize that
the mom is coming back.
323
00:20:49,127 --> 00:20:53,397
And there's a partner organization
that is a little bit newer than
324
00:20:53,397 --> 00:20:56,907
us, but has been around the folks
have been around the town longer.
325
00:20:57,147 --> 00:21:00,907
And we've been partnering in our efforts
just 'cause, the more the merrier.
326
00:21:01,247 --> 00:21:07,777
And and they're Southwest Georgia
Fix-Fixers and, We've been trading
327
00:21:07,777 --> 00:21:11,877
off, who's taking in bottle babies and,
who's full up kind of thing so far.
328
00:21:12,277 --> 00:21:16,657
And when we are able to, between
the two of us, talk people down
329
00:21:16,657 --> 00:21:20,087
from removing the kittens, it's
"Oh my gosh, thank you so much."
330
00:21:20,117 --> 00:21:24,357
And then we try to make sure that once the
kittens are weaned, that we will be the
331
00:21:24,357 --> 00:21:29,757
ones that get those kittens because we've
got the pipeline to PetSmart for adoption
332
00:21:29,777 --> 00:21:36,417
or other places to get the kittens out
and adopted through vetted partners.
333
00:21:36,467 --> 00:21:37,997
And that's the big goal.
334
00:21:38,057 --> 00:21:41,577
But people get mad when they
find out their cat had kittens.
335
00:21:42,637 --> 00:21:44,707
That continues to surprise me.
336
00:21:45,237 --> 00:21:48,077
And they take the kittens away 'cause I
don't know what they think that's gonna
337
00:21:48,087 --> 00:21:50,027
do other than put the kittens at risk.
338
00:21:50,057 --> 00:21:52,887
But they are like, "Oh, my cat
shouldn't have gotten pregnant.
339
00:21:53,347 --> 00:21:54,507
Take these kittens from me."
340
00:21:54,507 --> 00:21:56,197
And it's "Oh gosh,
that's not how it works."
341
00:21:56,207 --> 00:22:00,127
But and then those poor mama cats, what
they go through, I can't even imagine.
342
00:22:00,737 --> 00:22:02,827
But there's also sometimes good stories.
343
00:22:02,837 --> 00:22:06,267
So I have been contacted
before had a mama cat…
344
00:22:06,367 --> 00:22:10,147
a woman had a mama cat whose kittens
didn't make it, and she was fully
345
00:22:10,147 --> 00:22:16,707
lactating, and I had bottle babies
that we put with her, and they
346
00:22:16,707 --> 00:22:18,317
took to each other right away.
347
00:22:18,357 --> 00:22:23,447
And so that mama cat automatically
had two babies, and those two babies
348
00:22:23,887 --> 00:22:25,467
didn't have to be bottle babies.
349
00:22:25,987 --> 00:22:28,237
So those are fun stories to have too.
350
00:22:29,287 --> 00:22:32,067
Dixie: Yeah, and that always
makes it so much easier too.
351
00:22:33,047 --> 00:22:34,327
Rebecca: Oh my gosh, yeah.
352
00:22:35,057 --> 00:22:38,147
Dixie: Do you have an incubator
for them or do you just do like the
353
00:22:38,157 --> 00:22:39,657
heating pad or the heating disc?
354
00:22:41,107 --> 00:22:45,657
Rebecca: I do a heating
pad in a baby playpen.
355
00:22:45,697 --> 00:22:46,647
Trying to think of the name of it.
356
00:22:46,897 --> 00:22:50,467
So they have their heating
section and non-heating section.
357
00:22:50,737 --> 00:22:53,907
When they're little, eyes
closed, still little, they're
358
00:22:53,967 --> 00:22:55,357
obviously just on the heating pad.
359
00:22:55,767 --> 00:22:59,627
They don't move much, but plenty
of space in case they need to.
360
00:23:00,917 --> 00:23:04,957
Dixie: Yeah, I just got some incubators
from a grant that we received.
361
00:23:04,967 --> 00:23:04,977
Oh.
362
00:23:05,817 --> 00:23:11,637
And I will say the incubators I
got They were RCOM Brooder B90Ns
363
00:23:13,887 --> 00:23:14,367
I think.
364
00:23:14,417 --> 00:23:20,217
But absolute game changer, 'cause for
years I did either the heating disc or
365
00:23:20,217 --> 00:23:26,161
the heating pad And you know how sometimes
the kittens will get fussy, and it just
366
00:23:26,161 --> 00:23:29,311
seems you- can't do anything to get
them to be quiet, and they'll just, you
367
00:23:29,311 --> 00:23:33,751
could feed them, you can make sure that
they have their heat, but they just, for
368
00:23:33,751 --> 00:23:34,986
some reason - Yeah … get very fussy.
369
00:23:35,746 --> 00:23:40,096
I found with the incubator, you
feed them, you make them go to the
370
00:23:40,096 --> 00:23:43,526
bathroom, you put them in there, and
they're quiet until the next feeding.
371
00:23:44,786 --> 00:23:45,106
Rebecca: Really?
372
00:23:45,596 --> 00:23:48,846
Dixie: Yeah it is like
a total game changer.
373
00:23:48,876 --> 00:23:51,786
I never expected that aspect of it.
374
00:23:52,196 --> 00:23:57,276
I expected it more to be for the
consistent heat, and then if- … I needed
375
00:23:57,276 --> 00:24:01,116
to hook up like a nebulizer or something
like that to it, then it's contained.
376
00:24:01,416 --> 00:24:04,266
Which you could use for the kittens with
a respiratory or something like that.
377
00:24:04,666 --> 00:24:08,386
But- Yeah … I got it more for
the constant heat so that I didn't
378
00:24:08,386 --> 00:24:13,266
have to worry about getting up and
checking the heating pad or, heating
379
00:24:13,266 --> 00:24:17,166
up the heating disk or, worrying
about it being too hot for them.
380
00:24:17,956 --> 00:24:21,486
And- Yeah … I never
expected that aspect of it.
381
00:24:21,486 --> 00:24:26,106
So I think I'm on my third litter that
has been in the incubator and, like I
382
00:24:26,116 --> 00:24:32,306
said total game changer because they
get in there and even when they start
383
00:24:32,306 --> 00:24:35,266
getting old enough, on that like kind
of two-week stage where they start
384
00:24:35,266 --> 00:24:38,376
playing with each other a little
bit, you'll just watch them- Yeah
385
00:24:38,376 --> 00:24:41,826
and they rolling around in there,
and they're entertaining themselves.
386
00:24:41,826 --> 00:24:45,386
They go to sleep, and- Aw … they're
just so comfortable in it.
387
00:24:45,416 --> 00:24:47,046
Absolute game changer
388
00:24:48,778 --> 00:24:52,448
Rebecca: I will have to look into
that because I would do anything to
389
00:24:52,508 --> 00:24:54,008
make it more comfortable for them.
390
00:24:54,878 --> 00:24:58,828
I thought we'd hit the jackpot with
this setup now with the the playpen,
391
00:24:58,848 --> 00:25:02,958
'cause it just gives them so much space
and is a little bit off the floor,
392
00:25:03,248 --> 00:25:06,588
so I'm not like getting into a pet
pen that's all the way on the floor.
393
00:25:06,598 --> 00:25:08,088
And I was like, "Oh, I'm winning now."
394
00:25:08,978 --> 00:25:12,868
But if there's something even better,
then we definitely would wanna get it.
395
00:25:12,888 --> 00:25:18,588
Although, one of the things that we're
finding is even to get fosters for the
396
00:25:18,588 --> 00:25:24,738
bottle babies, having to get the whole kit
of items that they need is so expensive.
397
00:25:24,818 --> 00:25:33,218
And so that's a whole nother area of,
that we're noting of at what age do we do
398
00:25:33,218 --> 00:25:38,278
fosters later in the bottle feeding era.
399
00:25:38,518 --> 00:25:43,558
Maybe at four weeks we put them with
fosters and stick with my friend
400
00:25:43,558 --> 00:25:47,178
and I are the ones that just take
the itty bitty ones so that we don't
401
00:25:47,178 --> 00:25:52,018
have to have all of the special
equipment at all foster locations.
402
00:25:52,598 --> 00:25:54,088
What's your solution for that?
403
00:25:55,388 --> 00:25:58,548
Dixie: We have a very difficult
- time finding bottle feeders here.
404
00:25:59,788 --> 00:26:00,168
Rebecca: Okay.
405
00:26:00,508 --> 00:26:03,738
Dixie: We have the people that
either don't have time, with
406
00:26:03,738 --> 00:26:05,418
their jobs, and I understand that.
407
00:26:06,028 --> 00:26:09,708
But then you also have the people that
are just, very scared of bottle feeding.
408
00:26:11,218 --> 00:26:15,748
I have tried to do bottle feeding classes.
409
00:26:16,398 --> 00:26:20,168
… And so we have had several of those to
kinda get people on board and at least
410
00:26:20,198 --> 00:26:21,808
introduce people to bottle feeding.
411
00:26:21,808 --> 00:26:23,788
Even if they don't do it,
at least they know about it.
412
00:26:24,988 --> 00:26:25,308
Rebecca: Yeah.
413
00:26:25,508 --> 00:26:27,928
Dixie: And, we've had quite a
few people sign up for those,
414
00:26:27,938 --> 00:26:29,128
so , that's a good thing.
415
00:26:29,188 --> 00:26:32,098
I was thinking of putting together
some kinda kit for the people who
416
00:26:32,098 --> 00:26:38,068
did wanna bottle feed, but as far as
fosters, I'll kinda leave it up to them.
417
00:26:38,328 --> 00:26:42,608
I will do it to where if they're
comfortable taking the litter,
418
00:26:43,288 --> 00:26:47,228
from bottle feeding to up ready for
adoption, then they'll do it that way.
419
00:26:47,638 --> 00:26:50,268
There are some people that
prefer to just do bottle babies.
420
00:26:50,738 --> 00:26:54,218
So for those people, once the
kittens are weaned, then what we'll
421
00:26:54,218 --> 00:26:56,298
do is put them with another foster.
422
00:26:57,638 --> 00:26:57,998
Rebecca: Okay.
423
00:26:58,148 --> 00:27:01,638
Dixie: So it really kinda just depends
on the foster that you're dealing with.
424
00:27:02,808 --> 00:27:02,858
Rebecca: Yeah.
425
00:27:02,868 --> 00:27:06,988
Dixie: But I find fosters are in short
supply, period, and then when you're
426
00:27:06,988 --> 00:27:10,148
talking about trying to find a bottle
foster, that's even harder to find.
427
00:27:12,714 --> 00:27:13,124
Rebecca: Yeah.
428
00:27:13,264 --> 00:27:17,584
I agree with you that there definitely
aren't as many fosters as we would like.
429
00:27:17,704 --> 00:27:19,434
Yeah, it's everything.
430
00:27:19,474 --> 00:27:23,524
Looking for donations and the people
whose eyes glaze over when I say it's
431
00:27:23,894 --> 00:27:29,614
for cats versus, what about all the
children that need something or the
432
00:27:29,614 --> 00:27:35,424
dogs or the everything that people put
in front, put ahead of cats in creating
433
00:27:35,424 --> 00:27:42,034
that compelling story to get people
to, to put money in place where, you
434
00:27:42,034 --> 00:27:47,284
know, for the benefit of cats has been a
struggle as well as the foster situation.
435
00:27:47,654 --> 00:27:54,464
But the people who love cats really
love cats, and those are the people that
436
00:27:54,464 --> 00:27:58,324
we're finding for fostering, which is,
always amazing because then you know
437
00:27:58,324 --> 00:27:59,904
that somebody's heart is really in it.
438
00:28:00,924 --> 00:28:02,224
Dixie: Yeah, absolutely.
439
00:28:02,954 --> 00:28:07,364
Thank you- … so much for taking the
time to speak with me about your endeavor,
440
00:28:07,384 --> 00:28:09,334
and I wish you much success on it too.
441
00:28:09,334 --> 00:28:09,904
Yeah.
442
00:28:11,254 --> 00:28:11,704
Rebecca: Thank you.
443
00:28:11,714 --> 00:28:14,374
It's been great talking with you
and hearing about what you've got
444
00:28:14,374 --> 00:28:16,264
going on in Louisiana as well.
445
00:28:16,264 --> 00:28:19,274
And I've been listening to some of
the podcasts that you've already
446
00:28:19,284 --> 00:28:24,734
had, have posted and it's been super
informative too 'cause, still being
447
00:28:24,734 --> 00:28:27,394
very new to this every story helps.
448
00:28:27,404 --> 00:28:30,714
So I appreciate you being out
there and sharing all these great
449
00:28:30,714 --> 00:28:32,394
stories from around the country.
450
00:28:32,604 --> 00:28:33,634
Dixie: Yeah, absolutely.
451
00:28:33,634 --> 00:28:36,534
And when you listen to the episodes,
there's a lot of people too that are
452
00:28:36,534 --> 00:28:39,124
willing to help if you have any questions.
453
00:28:39,804 --> 00:28:40,134
Oh, good.
454
00:28:40,144 --> 00:28:42,694
If you come across any of them,
if you have any kind of questions,
455
00:28:42,694 --> 00:28:45,104
you can always reach out to me
and I can hook you up with them.
456
00:28:45,104 --> 00:28:47,674
But usually we'll put the information
in the show notes as well.
457
00:28:48,194 --> 00:28:52,794
But- Okay … i'm so happy that everybody
is so into sharing the information
458
00:28:52,794 --> 00:28:54,024
Thanks for listening.
459
00:28:54,034 --> 00:28:55,834
And I'm glad to hear that the- Yeah
460
00:28:55,844 --> 00:28:58,264
episodes are helping you out,
'cause that's what it's all about.
461
00:28:58,264 --> 00:28:58,411
Yeah.
462
00:28:58,411 --> 00:28:59,484
And that's what my goal was.
