Online Fundraiser Campaign: Help Us Fix the Feral Problem

---

Goal: Raise $5,000 to host a no-cost spay and neuter clinic at Allegany County Animal Shelter.

At Meow Mission Coalition, we’re dedicated to improving animal welfare and reducing cat overpopulation in our community. We believe every cat deserves a chance at a healthy life, free from suffering. By supporting low-cost spay and neuter programs, we prevent the birth of unwanted kittens and aid shelters that are already overcrowded. Our Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs help the public humanely trap feral cats, spay or neuter them, and return them to their colonies, controlling the population and improving their quality of life.

But we can’t do this alone — we need your help.

Feral and stray cats face incredible hardships living on their own.

• Exposure to Harsh Weather: Cats struggle to stay warm and dry during the cold winter months or during extreme weather conditions. Many suffer frostbite or heat exhaustion without adequate shelter.
• Limited Access to Food: Wild cats fight every day to find enough food, leading to malnutrition and dehydration. Starving cats are more likely to become sick or weak.
• Disease & Injuries: Unneutered cats are prone to fight over territory and mates, which can lead to severe injuries. 
• Breeding Cycle: One un-spayed female cat can produce up to 180 kittens in her lifetime. This means thousands of kittens can be born into a cycle of suffering if populations aren't controlled.
• Euthanasia: Overcrowded shelters often face the heartbreaking decision of euthanizing cats due to lack of space and resources. Spaying and neutering reduces the number of cats entering shelters, giving those who do enter a better chance at adoption.
  

By raising $5,000, we can host a no-cost spay and neuter clinic at the Allegany County Animal Shelter, providing these vital services to the cats that need them most.

Why This Matters:

• It prevents unwanted litters from being born, reducing the overwhelming number of cats in our community and in shelters.
• It helps keep our shelters from overcrowding, allowing them to focus on rehabilitation and adoption.
• Spayed and neutered cats are less likely to engage in territorial fights, leading to fewer injuries and less spread of disease.
• TNR programs have proven to enhance the quality of life for feral cats, allowing them to live healthier, safer lives in their colonies.
  

Join our Peer-to-Peer Fundraiser: This is your chance to make an impact. Not only can you donate to our fundraiser, but you can create your own team and encourage others to join you in raising money! You can also join an existing team and contribute to a larger collective effort.

Create a Team: Rally your friends, family, and coworkers to support this cause. The more people on your team, the more funds we can raise together!

Share your Story: Why is animal welfare important to you? Share your story, post updates on social media, and show how your team is making a difference for the cats in your community. Make sure to use #zeffyextramile in your post! The more this is shared, the better chance we have to win $2,500 with Zeffy!

Get Creative with Fundraising: Make fundraising fun by turning it into a challenge! Consider trying something like:

• An ice bucket challenge—dare friends to donate before you take a freezing plunge.
• A personal challenge—commit to running a certain distance, giving up something for a week, or learning a new skill if your fundraising goal is met.
• A bottle cap challenge—place a cap on top of a water bottle and try to kick it off with a single spin kick, without moving the bottle itself. Challenge your friends and share your success (or hilarious fails) on social media!

These interactive challenges make fundraising engaging, help you stand out, and bring more people into the cause!

Our local shelters and rescues are overwhelmed, and cats are suffering every day. Without immediate intervention, many of these cats will face unimaginable hardship, illness, and even death. Hosting multiple no-cost spay and neuter clinics will lessen the burden on our local shelter and rescue workers and help control the cat population.

Your support will prevent needless suffering, give cats a better chance at a healthy life, and protect the welfare of our community as a whole.

Join us today in making a difference — let’s fix the feral problem together! #zeffyextramile