"If we bring it, they will come." says John Caltabiano, President of TEAM (Tait's Every Animal Matters) headquartered in Westbrook, Connecticut. Caltabiano's dream is to end the cat over population within five years through his hard working staff and mobile feline spay-neuter van that travels throughout the state stopping in different communities.
The 22' custom built unit runs 6 days a week, up to eleven hours a day. The non-profit organization employs two full time veterinarians, four technicians and even a mechanic who works on Sundays so there's no down time. Caltabiano hopes the feline mobile surgical unit will become a national prototype and has already received inquires from 40 organizations in 16 states.
For years spaying and neutering has been a top priority for many humane organizations throughout the country, but there hasn't been any on-going, aggressive program to really make a difference, until now that is.
Since the hitting the streets in March, more than 5,000 cats have been fixed and the staff hasn't slowed down their pace, with 30 felines being operated on daily.
"The cat overpopulation is a big problem," says Caltabiano, a veterinarian for 18 years, because they "are spontaneous ovulators, which means they do not come out of heat until they conceive. So after about four to six months of age, cats are either in heat, pregnant or spayed. We're aiming for the latter." he says. The organization is tackling this problem by not just targeting cat owners, but pet shops, and people taking care of stray and feral cats as well.
Being able to bring the unit to convient locations and the low cost are what keep people coming. The charge is only $35 which includes the spay/neuter surgery and vaccinations against rabies, distemper and upper/lower respiratory infections. "The people that come to our unit don't have the money to go to a vet." Caltabiano says.
That's exactly why Leslie Corey, a dental assistant from New Haven, came. "I can't afford the $100 to spay my kitten." she said, while waiting to take home her 7 month old pet named Tribble.
While the surgery might be inexpensive, the mobile unit wasn't. The $65,550 cost to buy it was made possible by the late Vernon Tait, who left $500,000 from his estate to the organization last year.
Hey, anyone out there have $65,550 for one of these in Naples?
To contact TEAM call 860-399-5569
Closer to Home Volunteer Services For Animals in Naples is taking appointments now for their low cost neutering/spaying campaign which will be held in November. The cost is only $5 but you must qualify for this low cost service. Call VSA at 597-4930 for more information.
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