CANTON — Becky McDonald describes herself as the little girl who was always bringing stray cats and dog home.

Now, many years later, her love of animals has prompted her to begin a new animal rescue organization known as River Valley Animal Advocates.

“We want to get the word out to the community that if they have cats or dogs to be spayed or neutered, to let us know,” she said.

One of the organization’s goals is to refer people to state programs that can help. The group also hopes to help, as well.

During 2010, a major goal is to raise $1,500 to pay for neutering 25 cats.

Each cat can produce 20,000 kittens in a lifetime, so if 25 cats are spayed or neutered, that could mean a reduction of 500,000 kittens, McDonald said.

Members of the group now keep a close watch on at least two feral cat colonies in Mexico and Dixfield. If possible, they capture animals, have them spayed or neutered, then release them back to the colony.

“Some people see cats as very disposable,” she said.

The group has other goals, too.

It is encouraging pet lovers to undergo training that could allow them to bring their dogs into nursing homes, hospitals, mental health facilities, and other similar places.

The closeness and affection of dogs can be an uplifting experience for many people.

One of McDonald’s three dogs, an 8-year-old Boston terrier named Sophie, regularly visits nursing home residents.

The group also wants to help elderly people with the care of their pets, such as feeding and watering and cleaning litter boxes, if the owners have to go into the hospital.

“There have been cases where nurses have taken cats home to care for them,” she said.

McDonald, a 1968 graduate of Mexico High School and a 20-plus-year employee of Aulenbach Trucking, began her involvement in animal causes in 2001 through membership in Voices for Animals, a York-based group with chapters around the state.

It was from that organization that McDonald began the founding of the River Valley group. She hopes the group will eventually become a non-profit.

Donation collection cans scattered in businesses in the River Valley area now have “Voices for Animals” printed on them, but soon, that will change to a logo for the group. Money collected there goes toward becoming a non-profit.

Other money raised is used to help people through spaying or neutering animals, or other needs.

Right now, the group is selling catnip toys for $2 each or 3 for $5. They can be purchased at Red Hill Natural Foods in Rumford, Log Cabin Craftworks in Dixfield or the Dixfield Town Office.

Other fundraisers are currently being planned.

The group meets at 6 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month at 41 Pine St. in Dixfield, which is the location of the mobile home that houses abandoned cats that are cared for by Brenda Jarvis and Caddy Smith.

McDonald said the River Valley Animal Advocates is looking for another site that would allow therapy dogs.

Over the long term, she said the group would like to establish a no-kill animal shelter.

But for now, the group wants anyone who would like to get involved to come to the meetings to help out with their three major goals. For more information, McDonald may be reached at 597-2323, or Jarvis, at 562-7316.

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Becky McDonald, founder of River Valley Animal Advocates with two of her pets, Sophie, a Boston terrier therapy dog, and Buddy, a 15-year-old Shih Tzu, which she rescued after the owner deceased. The newly established group meets on the second Thursday of each month.