REAL Exclusive Magazine

Venice Cat Coalition Receives $3,000 Grant.

The Venice Cat Coalition is receiving a $3,000 grant from the Petco Foundation to conduct a “Port Charlotte Spay-Neuter for Families” project. Spay-neuter services are set to start in January. The project will sterilize a minimum of 90-100 pet cats within a 10-mile radius of the Petco store on US Hwy 41 and Cochran Blvd in Port Charlotte.

Venice Cat Coalition’s executive director Theresa Foley commented, “We believe this type of grant to be a first in Charlotte County. Petco is setting a precedent in recognizing the importance of sterilizing cats to control feline overpopulation and eliminate numerous resulting problems, including shelter euthanasia and high burdens placed upon Charlotte County Animal Services. We thank Petco, since it will assist the community, the cats, our nonprofit organization, local shelters, and the county’s animal services department by humanely reducing the number of unwanted cats and kittens through spay-neuter.”

The Venice Cat Coalition is appealing to local donors to match the Petco funds so that the project can sterilize twice as many cats. “We are already sterilizing 70-100 feral cats per month in Charlotte County with a variety of donated services from local veterinarians and participation in free clinics. The Petco project will expand our work to serve low or fixed-income residents who have not altered their pet cats for any reason,” Foley said.

Under the grant, priority is given to those who are referred to the Venice Cat Coalition by Petco employees and live within a 10 mile radius. To apply for free or low-cost surgery, please visit Venice Cat Coalition and fill out a request form, or call 941-525-4568.