Portland, May 5th. Festive supporters of The Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon converged on the World Forestry Center for a night of feline frivolity! The Furball raised $100,000. It’s the largest annual fundraiser for the Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon (FCCO). Karen Kraus, FCCO Executive Director, and Matt Zaffino, KGW Chief Meteorologist and Cinco de Meow Emcee enjoyed the evening. The funds raised support the spaying and neutering of feral cats throughout Oregon and SW Washington. (Photo Credit, Kathi Lamm)
Marie and Dennis Gilliam of Bob's Red Mill Natural Foods- Sponsors and Honorary Chairs of Cinco de Meow.
Jacqui Neilson, DVM. FCCO Board veterinarian and animal behaviorist.
Education is key and is part of the mission of FCCO.
FCCO is a volunteer-based organization.
From The Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon:
The Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon (FCCO) is dedicated to the humane treatment of feral cats and to the prevention of future generations through spay/neuter programs and education.
FCCO is a trap-neuter-return (TNR) program for feral and stray cats living in Oregon. The goal of the program is to reduce suffering for existing feral cats and prevent the births and suffering of future generations. The program’s services are targeted for feral cats who have caregivers feeding them. The caregivers trap the cats, bring them to a clinic, and return the cats to where they are being fed with a commitment to feed the cat(s) on a permanent basis.
FCCO also has a free-standing spay/neuter clinic in Portland, as well as a 24-foot mobile hospital. The demand for our compassionate services outstrips our capacity in all the cities we serve.
In addition to being spayed or neutered, each cat who participates in the program receives FVRCP (distemper) and rabies vaccines, is treated for fleas, treated for ear mites and other minor medical conditions as needed, and has his or her right ear tipped for future identification. Cats that appear to be suffering, as determined by a veterinarian, are tested for feline leukemia (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV): all cats who test positive are humanely euthanized.
FCCO is a 501c3 organization supported solely through donations. We do not receive any taxpayer support or other public funding.
Thank you for featuring FCCO! The reason this organization is critical is because nature can sometimes be cruel. Kittens can start to make or get pregnant at only a shocking 5 months old! They are only pregnant for 60 days. The mama’s get pregnant again while they are nursing so by the time their first litter is ready to reproduce, they are getting ready to have another litter! The math is staggering and the suffering unimaginable. Kittens only need to about 3 pounds to be altered so the cycle CAN BE STOPPED! There is hope if people will do our part.