Assembly Line of 'Cat'astrophic Proportions

By Linda Spurlin

Sunday, 3/25/07, 35 volunteers, including 6 veterinarians, came together in a joint multi-community service venture at Chewelah’s Youth Center. They spayed or neutered 128 cats in just over 7 hours- a record number for both groups involved. The event was advertised county wide to citizens with low incomes who could not otherwise afford to get their cats ‘fixed’.

Residents experiencing hard times, from Northport to Valley, said they could hardly believe their eyes when they read they could spay their cat for ten dollars. The phone began ringing off the hook with grateful cat owners reserving a space for felines of every size and color. By 7:15 Sunday morning, people stood in line with cat carriers in hand to sign surgery releases while volunteers were still frantically reorganizing the Youth Center into an assembly line of ‘cat’astrophic proportions. After check in, cats waited to be examined by technicians from Pet Savers, an organization from Spokane offering to help Stevens County Cat Care with their largest spay/neuter clinic to date.

Each cat was checked for general health before being anesthetized. Cats who did not appear healthy enough for surgery waited at the sidelines until their owners returned for them. Healthy cats then moved along the assembly line process to the next table for surgery prep, and then to one of the six volunteer veterinarians, who have chosen to remain anonymous. The licensed vets, each giving up a Sunday for their community’s cats, came from Chewelah, Loon Lake, Colville, and Spokane. After surgery, cats moved to recovery, where they were checked for ear mites, fleas, and awakened and spoiled a bit in the arms of smiling volunteers who came from all walks of life to help. One woman who had brought cats to be altered stayed and helped with paperwork, saying it was more enjoyable then doing her taxes! The Colville Pet Refuge, who previously only dealt with dogs, sent three helpers. A local high school girl who hopes to become a vet someday came to assist. Volunteers from grocery stores, home-healthcare workers, hospital staff, and airline attendants all gathered together to help prevent future generations of unwanted kittens. Stevens County Cat Care and Pet Savers supplied the other support assistants.

At the end of the day when the last kitty came off the surgery table, supervisor Sue Anderson from Pet Savers yelled out “128 cats” and the youth center/surgery area erupted with cheers and clapping. Almost immediately, tarps and towels began to come off pool tables. Lamps, surgery packs, extension cords and other supplies were packed up as people began heading out the door, stuffing Pet Saver’s trailer to the brim before heading back to Spokane. By 7:30 p.m. the last couch was back in place, the floor was vacuumed, and Lois Salapka from the Youth Center’s Board of Directors received the call thanking the group for the use of their building for this most memorable event.

If enough interest is expressed, another large spay/neuter clinic may be planned for the future. But for now, proceeds from last year’s Pet Lover’s Day, yard sales, and generous local citizen’s donations still enable Stevens County Cat Care to offer $30.00 gift certificates to help with the cost of spaying female cats or $20.00 towards neuters. These are good at any Stevens County veterinarian’s office. The cat group’s message line is 935-MEOW.