Moose Jaw's Stray Cat Rescue and Protection Society (SCRAPS) is readying for two important upcoming fundraisers, with its adorable cat and kitten 2024 calendars almost ready to go, and a holiday photo session fundraiser by Brice Photography coming up on Nov. 25.
SCRAPS is a volunteer-run not-for-profit organization whose members are passionate about helping felines in and around Moose Jaw live better lives. Not only do they rescue, care for, foster, and adopt out cats and kittens, they also feel strongly about caring for the wild ones, too, following guidelines from HumaneCanada.ca.
It has a Trap, Neuter and Release (TNR) program that takes in feral strays, spays or neuters them, vaccinates them, and provides minor wound care. Once these wild animals have been released, volunteers keep looking after them through cat colonies that provide food, water, and shelter, and they are monitored for illness and injury.
"We've been in operation since 2011. Our mission is with the feral cat population, so our main goal is reducing the numbers of homeless cats surviving on their own in the community," explained SCRAPS volunteer Anne Marciszyn.
"Any kittens that are able to be socialized, we bring them into our foster program, which is huge, we have over 120 cats being fostered right now. And then the ones that are out in the community, who can't be homed, we provide ongoing care for them.
"We don't just abandon them, which is a common misperception — they're all spayed, neutered, fully vaccinated, they're microchipped for identification, and are otherwise healthy as far as we can tell. ... Cats that live in the wild that aren't in our program don't do all that well.
"They're fighting, getting sick from diseases, most kittens don't survive past six months, especially with our winters and hot summers. But when they're managed, they can actually live a long, healthy life."
Marciszyn acknowledged that caring for ferals can be controversial, but pointed out that the alternatives are worse. Moreover, by caring for feral cats through a TNR program, their numbers can gradually be reduced.
One day, SCRAPS hopes, all cats will be living in safe, happy homes. One vital step is to spay/neuter your own pets, and never abandon cats or kittens outdoors — homed, yet unfixed cats are a major contributor to the feral population, and abandonment is not only illegal, it is inhumane.
Supporters of SCRAPS' mission can volunteer with them (by fostering, caring for a colony, or adopting), donate food or funds directly, or buy a calendar or a family photo session. SCRAPS is active on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mjscraps.
SCRAPS calendars
"Our calendars are in the printing process now and will be out very shortly, which we're really looking forward to, because we've had lots of people inquiring about calendar sales already," explained Sandi Connolly, a SCRAPS volunteer on the calendar committee.
The 2024 SCRAPS calendars feature cats and kittens that have been successfully adopted out to loving families. Each month is sponsored by a local business, such as Carpet One and Penna's Welding. Producing the calendars is a community effort, with all proceeds going to caring for SCRAPS cats.
"We're showing pictures of them as rescued kittens, or as a younger cat, and then the version of them now in a wonderful home," Connolly said. "So, it's then-and-now, and it's very touching."
The calendars will be available from the SCRAPS store (9 Nine Lives Boutique & Adoption Centre in the Town 'N Country Mall), Pet Valu, veterinary clinics, and at sponsoring businesses in Moose Jaw.
Brice Photography holiday photo session
Lisa from Brice Photography in Regina will be supporting SCRAPS with a family Christmas photo shoot fundraiser at the Town 'N Country Mall in Moose Jaw on Saturday, Nov. 25.
Each session is $49 and includes the following:
- Convenient photo setting at MJ Town N Country Mall
- Professional photography with Lisa of Brice Photography
- Sitting time is approximately 10 minutes
- Two (2) printed 5x7 photos (single pose)
- For families with kids, couples, etc. (no pets for this event)
- Printing of 5x7's will be done onsite, ready to take with you
Digital files (for later printing of more photos/sizes) also available for purchase.
Sessions should be booked online at www.bricephotography.net/moose-jaw-scraps-christmas-event.
Call Lisa at 306-533-8620 for more information.
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