Animal Protection League of Okaloosa County A non-profit organization for spaying & neutering founded in 1981 Newsletter Volume 34 Issue 2 December 2016 Letter from the President Don t be surprised that you got two newsletters this year. I got it done with help from an APL member. The APL was founded in 1981 and this is 2016. Our founding members would be surprised that we re still around after 35 years. The APL made it successfully through another year. On average we spayed 100+ cats and dogs every month. We appreciate the help from Emerald Coast Animal Hospital and Crossroads Animal Clinic. The clinics are always accommodating with our Spay, Neuter and Vaccination Program. The rumors that I am no longer volunteering with the APL are a bit premature. My home phone answering machine says to contact Holly Hoover to schedule appointments. I am still as active as before even though I would like to slow down. Holly s been a big help in making appointments. Rona has also been a big help in reconciling the veterinary bills. We spent over $50,000 on sterilization, vaccinations and microchips this year. We have depleted our reserves. I think this is the first year we are down to the last few thousand dollars. We had some monthly vet bills in the amount of $7,000. However, we got a lot of cats and dogs spayed and neutered. If anybody doesn t know what to give for Christmas? A donation to the APL in someone s honor or memory would be greatly appreciated and help our program. From myself and all the APL volunteers ~ we wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. ~ Almut
Our Annual Dinner The annual APL potluck in June was very successful. We had 35 APL members in attendance. The variety of food was delicious. The Otis Gossman Humanitarian Award is presented annually to an individual who has best displayed the qualities of charity, kindness and a general willingness to give back to the community. This year's awards were given to Dr. Erin Rockwell and Cindy Potts. We congratulate them and appreciate their commitment to animal welfare. Summary of the Treasurer Report The Summary of the Treasurer Report will be provided next year. We received ~$50,000 in donations, memorials, adoption fees, membership fees and co-pay (money that was owed us). We have exhausted the funds to meet our mission goals. Now more than ever we need your help. Help Save the Life of an Unwanted Dog or Cat The APL firmly believes that spay and neuter is the key to reducing the euthanasia of companion animals. Thousands of cats and dogs are put down by our local animal control contractor each year. We work to stop this tragedy with proactive solutions to reduce the number of unwanted cats and dogs. Please consider making a taxdeductible donation to the APL to help meet our mission goals in 2017. Thank you! Donate By Check ~ Please make checks payable to Animal Protection League Our mailing address is APL, PO Box 51, Fort Walton Beach FL 32549 Memorial Donation We greatly appreciate donations given in memory of a beloved person or pet. If you or someone you know would like to give the APL a Memorial Donation, in lieu of flowers, please ensure that our address is listed as APL, PO Box 51, Fort Walton Beach FL 32549. Donate Online ~ Please Consider a Recurring Donation PayPal Giving Fund - https://www.paypal.com/fundraiser/105865137050618816/charity/193007 Donate While You Shop or Sell on e-bay http://charity.ebay.com/charity-auctions/charity/okaloosa-animal-protection-league/193007/ APL PayPal Address - Donate@OkaloosaAPL.org 2
APL Honored to Receive Grant from A Guardian Angel Foundation The APL is honored to have been awarded a grant from A Guardian Angel Foundation. The funding was requested to sterilize and vaccinate community cats in Okaloosa County to reduce overpopulation and euthanasia. We are very pleased to report 17 cats and kittens were sterilized, vaccinated and received additional Veterinary care with this funding. An additional $550 to date was also graciously donated by the public to assist getting more community cats vetted. Thank you to A Guardian Angel Foundation from all the APL volunteers. Please visit their web site to learn more about the Foundation and the great work they do -- www.aguardianangelfoundation.org Thank You Pat Armstrong and Candace Powell Pat Armstrong supplies us with handcrafted catnip mice and other items even though it is difficult for her to crotchet. Candace Powell handcrafts adorable bandanas too! We greatly appreciate these ladies supporting the APL and kindly request donations for their wonderful work. Please contact Almut @ 830-2909 for more info. APL Membership ~ We are sad to announce we lost three lifelong APL Members this year. Glee Langston, Marge Tucker and Helen Potts will be truly missed. Membership is open to those who support our mission and goals. Please call 850.862-8030 to join. Dues are: Annual - $15 Individuals or $25 Families... $150 Individual Life Membership Welcome New Members Life Members: Carol Prellberg, Don Stollery, Susan & Rich Schuenemann Individual Member: Patti Paige Total Membership: 189 including 151 Life Members 3
Okaloosa Fix 500 Challenge The Okaloosa Fix 500 Challenge was started in Nov 15 with the goal of "fixing" 500 cats or more in 500 days or less. Local animal control "catch and kill" method has been unsuccessful for decades. Only by addressing the root of the issue can we stop uncontrolled feline breeding and prevent taxpayer dollars being spent on a process that does nothing to prevent the problem. This program, combined with additional APL volunteer efforts, hopes to significantly reduce feline overpopulation, euthanasia and raise community awareness and support. As of 01 Dec 16, 335 cats and kittens have been vetted in addition to hundreds more annually by APL volunteers. Every cat and kitten is photographed and their story told on a dedicated Facebook page ~ Follow OkaloosaFIX500 The program is quickly becoming overwhelmed with requests for assistance. Our community is wanting to help with trapping, transportation and aftercare. The need is always greater than the funds available. Your taxdeductible donation to the APL will help save more lives of unwanted cats and kittens. Every Challenge cat and kitten has a story ~ We received a call about a Mother cat and two kittens living under a pile of rusted gutters. Mother kitten Leila was only eight months old and her kittens six weeks old when they were trapped. That would mean Leila was about four months old when she got pregnant in the wild. Thanks to donations to the APL Leila was fully vetted and is available for adoption. Her kittens, Alley and Ivan, were also fully vetted and found great homes. Thank you Petland! Our thanks to Petland, especially Linda and her staff for their help in adopting cats and kittens for us. We also appreciate placing a collection box for the APL which is doing quite well. The entire staff is always looking out for the cats or kittens and gives great comments regarding the cat s personalities. Please stop by Petland Fort Walton Beach located at 415-G Mary Esther Cut-Off or click to visit their web site at www.petlandfortwalton.com. 4
Scentsy Holiday Fundraiser ~ Dec 6-19th Thank you to Shauna Davis for setting up a fundraiser to support our mission. The APL will receive 20% of the sales proceeds to help our Spay & Neuter Program. What a great opportunity to get your holiday shopping done and help prevent unwanted litters in 2017. Please use the link to join the APL party! https://shaunadavis.scentsy.us/?partyid=319658644 Thank You Wendy! Wendy's Professional Pet Sitting is donating $1 to the APL for every service provided during November and December. We greatly appreciate her support! Please call Wendy at 850.865-1246 or visit www.wendyspropetsitting.com for more info. APL Spring Yard Sale The APL is planning a Spring Yard Sale in March 2017 to support our Spay, Neuter and Vaccination Program. We are working out the details and location. Good quality donations of designer clothes, smaller pieces of furniture, home decor and accessories are very much appreciated. Please, no electronics, TVs or large items. Please stay tuned for more details. Receive the APL Newsletter by Email Please help us save time, paper, printing and stamps by receiving the APL newsletter via e-mail. Send your email address to buster1998@cox.net. Thanks! Connect with the APL Online Web Site: The APL web site has a new address and is a work in progress. Please visit us at www.okaloosaapl.org Facebook: Follow OkaloosaAPL 5
We are grateful to everyone who donated during the last year. We apologize if your name is not listed. Please let us know. Thanks! Ackerman, Bette Deal, Linda Hoover, Holly Mixon, Pat Schmidt, Susan Alm, Alicia Dean, P & J Huberty, Susan Money, Toni Schuenemann, R & S Arbuckle, Sheila DeBruhl, Alison Hutto, G & D Morgan, Christina Silver Sands School Armstrong, Pat Disty, Barb Jenkins, Wendy Morgan, Jo Staff, Rhonda Azzano, Jennifer Donovan, Vince Johnson, Nancy Nicholson, C & M Stine, Bonnie Barnwell, J & S Dorris, Michael Johnson, Sheila Nieber, Patricia Stollery, Don Baughman, Jean Dorris, Paula Jolliff, Reade Norton, Carol Sullivan, Elizabeth Bass, Sherry Dossey, Martha Jourdan, Ann Norton, Lois SSAR, Inc Beats & Beyond Dubec, Janette Klink, Jenny Oest, Marilyn Thrivent Invest. Service Benefield, Lenore Dujkovic, J & V Klumpp, Madonna Ostrowski, M & P Tolley, Rachel Bennett, Steven Dyer, Brandy Kohler, Ann Parker, Almut Tymowczak, Nellie Bills, Janet Everidge, Nickie Kordish, Joan Parker, Bill Vagias, Janet Bishop, Janis Evors, Mary G. Lachapelle, Joanna Peele, Anna Vaughn, Marilyn Blair, Pauline Fisher, Irene Ladner, Susan Powell, Candace Walker, C & P Bosley, Sheila Fleming, Lisa Laird, Shirley Prellberg, Caroll Ward, Pinky Broxson, Alison Folsum, Danielle Laubsch, Marion Presbyterian Church FWB Waters, Eloise Burdette, B & W Freed, Anna Lewis, Kyra Procter, L & J Webster, Erika Calvert, Ned FWB Library Link, Barbara Racetrack Bingo Weeks, Elon Cannady, Sondra Gordon, Marti Love, Debra Randes, Stacy Weldon, Gabi Carroll, Jo-Ann Grubbs, Haydn Jr. LyteHaven, Irene Rasmussen, Kay White, Jo Chalmer, Caudill Guillott, Betty Marshall, Rene Raulston, Helen Williams, B & P CFC Halcome, Lil Mason, Audrey Ribando, A & J Wilson, Donna Childre, Frances Hall, Ann McCain, Michelle Rich, Lorraine Winstead, Adrian Cochran, Lee Hamilton, Ruby McCoy, Millie Raulston, Helen Yourick, M & B Conger, Jen Hamrick, Karen McEwen, Joan Rich, Lorraine Zingaretti, Vicky Crews, George Hollowell, Melissa McFarland, Lucy Schimmer, W. 6