Whiskers, Tails, & Ferals Recovery

Update! We’ve had a bevy of emotions and are so happy to announce the cats AND van have been found!!! The kitties are skinny, and are being treated with as much TLC as ferals will allow! They’re being fattened up again, hydrated and medicated (one has an upper respiratory infection). We’ve reduced our donation request to reflect the stolen items from the van which include a microchip scanner, microchips, humane traps and drop traps for rescue and TNR (spay/neuter trap and release) and other items we use in rescue that the thief stole. In addition, we would like to purchase and put our logo emblazoned around our van as well. Our deepest, heartfelt thanks for everyone who has donated, spread the word and shared. Your kindness has helped heal our hearts and renew our faith in humanity. ♥️.

Original request:

Last night someone stole the van from the rescue I’ve volunteered with for 15 years. Most importantly, there were 10 feral cats in traps waiting for their morning appointment for spay and neuter. We know that no amount of money will replace those lives we tried to save. We pray the thief opened the traps and at least put them somewhere safe. We are beside ourselves with worry.

The unknown man rode up on his bike and opened the locked car and hot-wired it within 4 minutes. Authorities have been contacted.

We are devastated by this loss, as our primary goal is to provide for the welfare of as many cats and dogs we can. We are 100% volunteer-run and many volunteers work all day, then go out at night to help trap. We bring the kitties who can be adopted out into our own homes until they’re ready to be adopted.

There were 30 total humane traps also stored in the van as we trap and release cats in our county. I don’t know the amount the insurance will cover for the van, but the van is used to transport kitties and dogs from high kill shelters to our volunteers’ homes and is used to drive hours for low cost spay and neuter clinics for the animals. We drive the kitties to our local pet retail shop on adoption days. It is our lifeline for saving the 1,200- 1,500 animals we are able to adopt out every year. This doesn’t include the ferals we also support. Fundraising has been a challenge post-Covid and we do this all on a shoestring and prayer.

This donation will definitely help the animals 100%. It will help us buy new traps that cost about $125 each. We don’t yet know what the outcome will be for the van, but the more we raise, the more animals we save.

The money raised will benefit Whiskers, Tail and Ferals, and any donation will help make an impact. Thanks in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me.

More information about Whiskers, Tail and Ferals: Whiskers, Tails and Ferals (formerly Up Valley Spay/Neuter Network) is an all-volunteer non-profit organization making a significant impact on the tragedy of pet overpopulation. We rescue several hundred animals in Napa County every year, preventing them from entering the county shelter. Including the animals in other county shelters that we are able to rescue and admit into our program whenever possible, for many of these homeless pets their only hope is to be saved by an animal loving organizations/