Mission
The mission of The Greater New Haven Cat Project, Inc. (GNHCP) is to humanely address cat overpopulation through spaying/neutering, and to educate the community about the importance of animal welfare and responsible pet ownership. GNHCP provides low-cost programs for tame and feral cats.
Needs Statement
GNHCP's most pressing needs: (1) Funding for our spay/neuter programs for feral cats and tame cats belonging to low-income residents of the Greater New Haven area. It currently costs GNHCP an average of $255 per cat for vaccines and spay or neuter; (2) Recruiting new GNHCP volunteers to facilitate planning fundraisers; (3) Identifying funding sources (corporate or private) to support our mission; (4) Identifying additional schools, organizations, clubs, etc. willing to host educational workshops; and (5) Finding businesses willing to donate services to defray our costs for printing educational materials, shelter assembly materials, and repairs at the GNHCP Center, etc.
Impact Statement
Accomplishments During 2024: (1) Provided spay/neuter assistance to 673 cats and other assistance to an additional 24 cats within the Greater New Haven community; (2) Adopted 151 cats into forever homes from our own GNHCP Center and networking with other like-minded organizations; (3) Assembled and distributed 24 shelters for outdoor cats. Goals for 2025: (1) Recruit more volunteers to assist in raising awareness about GNHCP and its mission; (2) Engage volunteers in planning successful fundraisers to increase the number of cats to be spayed/neutered during 2025; (3) Establish additional educational/working relationships with area schools/community groups; (4) Continue to educate the public on the importance of spay/neuter and responsible pet ownership through our newsletter, CatMatters, individual conversations during a TNR session, at shelter assembly workshops, cat food drives, dissemination of our activity book (available in English and Spanish), social media (Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok), and brochures; (5) Publish a children's book, 'Feral Freddie Finds a Forever Home,' making it available online.
CEO statement
Statement from the President: As with other organizations, GNHCP provides low-cost spay/neuter services for tame and feral cats. What is unique about GNHCP's program for tame cats is that no cat owner (or cat) is refused spay/neuter services if funds are not available to contribute toward the veterinary services. Our focus has always been to help as many cats (and people) as possible. Often times if a cat owner does not have transportation to bring the cat in for the spay/neuter appointment, a GNHCP volunteer will assist with transportation. GNHCP has a unique identification system to track the number/location of tame and feral cats spayed/neutered and develops partnerships with feral cat caregivers by providing food (if needed) and remains in close communication in case a cat becomes ill, or if a new cat appears into the colony. Our services do not end with the spay/neuter surgery. Our volunteers also provide resources to assist pet owners with issues regarding allergies, financial aid, special needs, or sometimes just listening to a kindred spirit talk about his/her cat's rescue.
Board Chair Statement
GNHCP faces numerous challenges with cat rescue and implementing our spay/neuter programs. Our ability to respond to assistance calls (averaging 30 calls/emails per week) is driven by our human and financial resources. In 2022, we implemented online forms to streamline assistance requests that might have been overlooked or dropped in "phone tag" situations where messages are left back-and-forth. GNHCP's focus is to provide spay/neuter assistance to as many feral and tame cats as possible. The organization does not make its assistance contingent upon receiving a donation. As a result, GNHCP volunteers must work harder each year to raise funds to keep up with the demands of the increasing assistance requests, and the annual increases in veterinary costs. During 2024, we spayed/neutered 673 feral and tame cats, and assisted another 24 cats who were sick/injured. With increased financial and human resources, we could assist a greater number of cats (and people). Our rescue experiences are varied and challenging. It is the challenges that keep us focused on the importance of ensuring GNHCP remains a viable resource to help cats who would otherwise never see a veterinarian, or for those who have suffered a life-threatening injury, to leave this earth in peace. It is very rewarding to rescue a cat or a litter of kittens, bring them to good health, and place them in loving homes (that meet our strict standards for adoption). I am personally connected to GNHCP from a rescue in 2000 on Davenport Avenue (New Haven) where a litter of 5 adolescent kittens were trapped, 1 of whom was severely injured with a prolapsed rectum. With the diligence and patience of a dedicated veterinarian and ongoing care for months, 'Wesley Davenport' became my inspiration and focus to help cats who would otherwise not have an advocate. Wes lived with me for 10 years before losing him to kidney disease. His will to live and my wonderful memories of him enable me to face the continuing challenges of being involved in animal welfare. About 10 years after my encounter with Wes, 'Captain Jack,' a young adult cat was rescued with severe kidney damage. When I arrived to catch Jack, who was living outside, I didn't even have time to set up my equipment. I opened one door of the humane trap, and Jack ran in. He wanted help so badly. I immediately drove him to our vet, and he talked to me the entire way. I swear I could hear him say that even though he was so sick, he wanted to live, and that I should give him a chance. And I did. GNHCP cared for Jack from antibiotics, to hormone treatments, to seeing a specialist for his kidney disease. He was fostered in my home, and became part of the family, until he passed. Jack was one of the most loving cats I have ever met, and through his rescue, my determination to help was renewed. And then came Rej, a visually impaired, senior cat who was abandoned by his family. Rej was diagnosed with high blood pressure, kidney disease, and eventually developed a thyroid condition. His personality was sweet, but when it came time to medicate Rej, he became a 'grumpy old man.' Fortunately there were transdermal medications (administered in the ear) so Rej could receive the treatments he needed. He lived at the GNHCP Center for several years, then came to live with me when it was clear he needed hospice care. To be part of palliative care for such a sweet senior cat brought me joy and sadness at the same time. Our pets' time is never long enough. There are numerous stories I could recite during my 25 years with GNHCP. There are times when I fear what would happen if GNHCP were not a viable resource for the greater New Haven community. My goal has always been to provide stewardship by bringing in new volunteers who demonstrate their dedication to animals and desire to help, knowing there will be personal sacrifices along the way. Increasing volunteer participation also brings new fundraising ideas and potential new donors. It takes a certain kind of person to volunteer in animal rescue - one who is eager to help, but who can also work with people looking for assistance who often forget we are volunteers, and that they should not feel entitled to GNHCP's services, but grateful that such a wonderful organization exists. We meet many, many compassionate and caring individuals who dip into their own pockets to feed and care for outdoor cats. And we remember to commend these people for their efforts, and to join forces with them when they need help. Much change is needed, however, in order to make this state a better place for companion animals, and I am proud to know that GNHCP is doing all it can to be a part of that change. Over the past 29 years of GNHCP's existence, the organization has helped improve the lives of thousands of cats through spaying/neutering (females are no longer in heat or giving birth; males no longer fight for mates) and prevented thousands of kittens from being born outdoors and lost to predators, disease and other forms of suffering. It has also provided dignity to those cats whose illnesses or injuries determined their quality of life was such that it was more humane to have them euthanized than to see continued suffering.
Areas Served |
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Greater New Haven |
Areas Served Narrative
GNHCP will provide spay/neuter assistance for tame cats to anyone who is willing to drive to one of our participating veterinarians. In addition to cities and towns within the immediate New Haven area, GNHCP has provided low-cost spay/neuter assistance to residents of Ansonia, Bridgeport, Derby, East Haven, Hamden, Naugatuck, New Haven, Orange, Oxford, North Haven, Waterbury and West Haven. The organization is limited in where it provides trap/neuter/return assistance due to human and financial resources. At this time, we are limited to providing trap/neuter/return assistance to New Haven, West Haven, and occasionally East Haven and Hamden.