Print the Eartiping
procedure for your
vet >>
It could save a ferals life
procedure for your
vet >>
It could save a ferals life
HSVMA Announces Best Friend to Ferals Awards
Vermont Veterinarian Dr. Sara White, New York Veterinarian Dr. Laura Gay Senk and New Jersey Veterinary Technician Mike Phillips Recognized for Work on Behalf of Ferals
The Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association has selected three outstanding veterinary professionals as recipients of the "Best Friend to Feral Cats award for their significant contributions to helping feral cats in their community. Award recipients include Dr. Sara White of Vermont, in the nonprofit category; Dr. Laura Gay Senk of New York, in the private practitioner category; and Mike Phillips, LVT, of New Jersey, in the veterinary technician category.
The three recipients were selected from a nationwide pool of more than 100 nominees for the inaugural HSVMA award. The judging panel included HSVMA Leadership Council Members Dr. Richard Bachman and Dr. Madeline Graham, HSVMA veterinary consultant Dr. Susan Krebsbach and Nancy Peterson, RVT, feral cat program manager with The Humane Society of the United States.
"It"s exciting that so many veterinary professionals are dedicating their time and resources to helping feral cats in need, said Dr. Bachman, who specializes in shelter medicine and is continually exposed to the feral cat overpopulation problem impacting California shelters. "It was difficult to select winners from among so many dedicated individuals, but these three veterinary professionals have truly gone above and beyond the call of duty in addressing the feral cat overpopulation problem as well as working to improve the quality of life for feral cats in their community."
Feral cats are a major contributor to the cat overpopulation problem in the United States. The exact number of feral cats is unknown, but projected to be up to 50 million, producing an estimated 147 million kittens annually. Sadly, the majority of feral kittens do not survive to adulthood, and almost 100 percent of the feral cats brought to shelters are euthanized because they cannot be adopted as pets.
Dr. Sara White started Spay ASAP, a nonprofit mobile spay/neuter clinic in 2006, and since that time has altered more than 13,500 cats in Vermont and New Hampshire, many of whom are feral. Dr. White also obtained grant funding for a Vermont Humane Federation feral cat program that will provide free spay/neuter for 2,000 feral cats during the next two years, and coordinates administration of this program at several clinic locations throughout the state. Additionally, Dr. White, a board member with the Association of Shelter Veterinarians, promotes pediatric spay/neuter, including offering training for other veterinarians in this surgical protocol, a practice which helps address both the feral and tame cat overpopulation problem.
Dr. Laura Gay Senk has been helping feral cats in the area of Long Island, New York, for approximately 20 years. A former equine veterinarian, Dr. Senk switched her focus to felines in 1990, becoming one of the first veterinarians in the area to operate a clinic that advertised that "Ferals Welcome. Today, she runs a clinic in Farmingdale, New York, which offers low-cost spay/neuter and medical care to ferals and other rescue cats. Dr. Senk also has volunteered for monthly feral clinics and mass trap-neuter-return events in the Long Island area over the years, literally altering thousands of feral cats. Equally important to the direct medical care she provides for feral cats, Dr. Senk has also been an effective advocate. Dr. Senk created the Long Island Cat Project, which provides resources and assistance to feral cat caregivers and veterinarians working with ferals. She also has worked with several municipalities on Long Island to convince them to accept a TNR program as the most effective and humane way to manage feral cat populations.
Mike Phillips is a licensed veterinary technician and founder and president of the Urban Cat League, a TNR organization based in the notorious "Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of New York City. He volunteers his time coordinating the trapping of feral cats in this area as well utilizes his veterinary skills in volunteering for feral cat clinics with rescue groups in both New York and New Jersey. Additionally, Mr. Phillips is considered an expert in socializing feral kittens and instructs workshops on this subject in several states. He founded an adoption center in a midtown Manhattan, where he adopts out former feral kittens and tame cats he has found while trapping. Mr. Phillips also offers advice on socializing feral kittens and trapping through is blog at www.urbancatleague.org.
Winners of the HSVMA Best Friend to Ferals award will receive a plaque and gift certificate. Nominators of the winning entries will also receive a gift certificate to HSUS's online store, Humane Domain, which features a variety of pet products and gifts for pet lovers.
Vermont Veterinarian Dr. Sara White, New York Veterinarian Dr. Laura Gay Senk and New Jersey Veterinary Technician Mike Phillips Recognized for Work on Behalf of Ferals
The Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association has selected three outstanding veterinary professionals as recipients of the "Best Friend to Feral Cats award for their significant contributions to helping feral cats in their community. Award recipients include Dr. Sara White of Vermont, in the nonprofit category; Dr. Laura Gay Senk of New York, in the private practitioner category; and Mike Phillips, LVT, of New Jersey, in the veterinary technician category.
The three recipients were selected from a nationwide pool of more than 100 nominees for the inaugural HSVMA award. The judging panel included HSVMA Leadership Council Members Dr. Richard Bachman and Dr. Madeline Graham, HSVMA veterinary consultant Dr. Susan Krebsbach and Nancy Peterson, RVT, feral cat program manager with The Humane Society of the United States.
"It"s exciting that so many veterinary professionals are dedicating their time and resources to helping feral cats in need, said Dr. Bachman, who specializes in shelter medicine and is continually exposed to the feral cat overpopulation problem impacting California shelters. "It was difficult to select winners from among so many dedicated individuals, but these three veterinary professionals have truly gone above and beyond the call of duty in addressing the feral cat overpopulation problem as well as working to improve the quality of life for feral cats in their community."
Feral cats are a major contributor to the cat overpopulation problem in the United States. The exact number of feral cats is unknown, but projected to be up to 50 million, producing an estimated 147 million kittens annually. Sadly, the majority of feral kittens do not survive to adulthood, and almost 100 percent of the feral cats brought to shelters are euthanized because they cannot be adopted as pets.
Dr. Sara White started Spay ASAP, a nonprofit mobile spay/neuter clinic in 2006, and since that time has altered more than 13,500 cats in Vermont and New Hampshire, many of whom are feral. Dr. White also obtained grant funding for a Vermont Humane Federation feral cat program that will provide free spay/neuter for 2,000 feral cats during the next two years, and coordinates administration of this program at several clinic locations throughout the state. Additionally, Dr. White, a board member with the Association of Shelter Veterinarians, promotes pediatric spay/neuter, including offering training for other veterinarians in this surgical protocol, a practice which helps address both the feral and tame cat overpopulation problem.
Dr. Laura Gay Senk has been helping feral cats in the area of Long Island, New York, for approximately 20 years. A former equine veterinarian, Dr. Senk switched her focus to felines in 1990, becoming one of the first veterinarians in the area to operate a clinic that advertised that "Ferals Welcome. Today, she runs a clinic in Farmingdale, New York, which offers low-cost spay/neuter and medical care to ferals and other rescue cats. Dr. Senk also has volunteered for monthly feral clinics and mass trap-neuter-return events in the Long Island area over the years, literally altering thousands of feral cats. Equally important to the direct medical care she provides for feral cats, Dr. Senk has also been an effective advocate. Dr. Senk created the Long Island Cat Project, which provides resources and assistance to feral cat caregivers and veterinarians working with ferals. She also has worked with several municipalities on Long Island to convince them to accept a TNR program as the most effective and humane way to manage feral cat populations.
Mike Phillips is a licensed veterinary technician and founder and president of the Urban Cat League, a TNR organization based in the notorious "Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of New York City. He volunteers his time coordinating the trapping of feral cats in this area as well utilizes his veterinary skills in volunteering for feral cat clinics with rescue groups in both New York and New Jersey. Additionally, Mr. Phillips is considered an expert in socializing feral kittens and instructs workshops on this subject in several states. He founded an adoption center in a midtown Manhattan, where he adopts out former feral kittens and tame cats he has found while trapping. Mr. Phillips also offers advice on socializing feral kittens and trapping through is blog at www.urbancatleague.org.
Winners of the HSVMA Best Friend to Ferals award will receive a plaque and gift certificate. Nominators of the winning entries will also receive a gift certificate to HSUS's online store, Humane Domain, which features a variety of pet products and gifts for pet lovers.