Glennie Berry, a long time resident of Blanco County, died recently and left a colony of over 100 cats that she had been feeding, watering and caring for. She left no one to care for the cats after she died. The cats were her pets. Many beautiful and healthy cats are in this colony, including Abyssinian mixes.

When the Blanco County Cat Coalition learned of the situation, they implemented the Humane Society program of “Trap, Neuter and Return (TNR)”. All of the cats have now been captured, however only one has been returned to the site. Neutering of these animals was accomplished by the Austin Humane Society and the Hill Country Veterinary Clinic in Fredericksburg. Many of the cats have already been adopted. Injured or pregnant cats are being cared for by either the Austin Humane Society or Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation in Kendall County. The Humane Society has put many of the cats in their adoption process. 32 of the cats are being held in a temporary shelter set up in the woodworking shop of Kathleen Marie Wilson. Conditions in the temporary shelter are poor at best because of crowding and intense heat. The cats in the shelter are healthy and have been spay/neutered, treated for worms, FIV/Leukemia tested (all negative), treated for ear mites and given preventative treatment for fleas. Amazingly, there are no fleas or ticks on these cats. Also, they have all been given a Rabies vaccination.

The Blanco County Cat Coalition coordinated this massive effort. The Blanco County Cat Coalition is a group of working volunteers that love and care about the lives and well welfare of cats. Many organizations and individual volunteers have worked together to accomplish this amazing service for the residents of Blanco County and the cats. It has been a monumental effort. Following is a partial list of those who helped:

•Austin Humane Society (provided spay/neutering and medical treatment free and is receiving cats for adoption): Frances Jonon, Heather Allard, Leticia Stivers, Calene Summers and other volunteers and staff.

•Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation (Provided medical treatment for injured and pregnant cats and sheltering of many cats, volunteers and Interns worked helping capture and transporting): Noelle Adams, Angela Grimes, Dr Meaghan McAndrew, DVM and the staff and interns.

•Hill County Veterinary Clinic, Fredericksburg (Medical treatment and spay/neutering): Dr Todd Rabon, DVM and Tasha Ottmers.

•Blanco County Cat Coalition volunteers, Johnson City (All phases of the effort): Carol Schlachter, Julia McCullough, Chris Debrenaecker, Kathleen Marie Wilson, Jeff Gray, Hugh & Eva Roop, and Bill Sandridge.

•Thundering Paws Animal Sanctuary, Dripping Springs (Transport and loan of carriers): Anne Zabolio

•Blue Paws Rescue, Elgin (Socialization of cats and transporting to Austin Humane Society for adoption): Jerry and Ellette Vinyard

•Additional Help: Sheriff Bill Elsbury, Blanco Co; Alexa Walker, Spicewood; Colleen Gardner, Johnson City; Leslie Dunlap, Dripping Springs

We appreciate everyone that is spreading the word about the need for adoption of these animals. All efforts are much appreciated.

Donations to support the work of the Blanco County Cat Coalition are desperately needed and should be forwarded to: Carol Schlachter, Treasurer, Blanco County Cat Coalition, PO Box 1048, Johnson City, TX 78636. Make checks payable to Blanco County Cat Coalition.

Many of the remaining cats are ready for adoption to a good home and there is no charge, but donations of any amount would be helpful. The cats available for adoption may be seen by calling 830-868-0335 for an appointment and directions to the shelter. See pictures of some of the cats available for adoption in the temporary shelter at www.blancocountycat.org. Most of the remaining cats are very loving and starving for affection. Anyone who would like to volunteer to help in the temporary shelter with feeding, watering, cleaning, laundering bedding and specially spending time with the cats, playing and petting please call Kathleen or Jeff at 830-868-0335.