DEAR SUN SPOTS: Thank you very much for your Dec. 8 column! The plight of feral or abandoned animals is indeed a big problem, and as you mentioned, the shelters have very limited space for more friendly animals, much less the feral or semi-feral cats.

I represent the River Valley Animal Advocates, and we would like the Peru resident to know that we are working with the animal control officer in Peru to try to resolve the abandoned cats mentioned. I feed them every day, and we have been able to get two female cats out of that site already. We have also had the two cats spayed and give them rabies shots. One has already gone to a new home, and we hope to place the other as well.

We are a newly formed group and have been able to help more than 70 cats to be spayed/neutered in the last year. Unfortunately, it is not easy to live trap or otherwise capture feral cats. If kittens can be recovered early enough, they can adjust to homes, but as they get older it is harder to recover them. Even if we can recover them, house them until they are spayed/neutered, and find them homes, it takes time to earn their trust and is not an overnight fix.

We just wanted to let people know that at least this site is being addressed and we would ask them to have patience with our methods.

Again, I salute Sun Spots for helping to educate people on the need to spay/neuter their animals. If anyone would like to help us with our spay/neuter program, adopt one of our rescue cats or just get more information about our program our address is River Valley Animal Advocates, P.O. Box 628, Canton, ME. 04221 — Becky McDonald, president, R.V.A.A., mcdonald6498@roadrunner.com

DEAR SUN SPOTS: In his letter of Dec. 8, Richard didn’t mention that Tommy’s Feral Feline Friends was the last of seven groups/people that he called about the stray cats at the apartment complex near his home. He was frustrated because he was getting the same answer from us that everyone else was asking him: Could he help?

In order for us to help feral cats, we need people to be willing to help by feeding and capturing the cats so they can be neutered and then find homes for them, if possible. With the colonies of cats that are too wild to be adopted, we try to find them shelter and someone to provide daily food and water. We asked Richard if he was willing to help with the cats, but he said he just wanted the cats gone.

Unfortunately, it is not quite so easy to just scoop up the cats and take them away. We do what we can, but without help from people on the sites to capture them, the task is very difficult. We just helped someone in the 48 housing units that Richard was talking about, and she took in a female cat that we had spayed.

If anyone else in that neighborhood can help, please let us know. — Norm Blais, norm.blais@yahoo.com, 650-8374

DEAR SUN SPOTS: In May 2009 I made a discovery that kept me awake nights. I had discovered 40 or more cats abandoned in a rundown shack. It was a typical January with a very cold winter on its way. I started hauling food and water immediately. I realized early on that these cats had had little or no interaction with people.

When talking to the neighbors I found out that this shack was going to be torn down in the spring. I was tormented with concern that these cats could double or triple in numbers by spring if someone didn’t do something. I needed a miracle, and I prayed to God every night for guidance.

In January, I met a couple quite by accident — I thought. They go by Tommy’s Feral Feline Friends. I had never heard of them. They immediately started trapping and neutering these cats until the last one was captured.

Tommy’s and I were busy finding new homes. God bless those who said yes to these frightened, beautiful creatures. May God bless Tommy’s for what they do every day. This group receives little or no funding. — Jeanne, Greene

ANSWER: The mailing address is Tommy’s Feral Feline Friends, P.O. Box 274, Greene, ME 04236.

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name (we won’t use it if you ask us not to). Please include your phone number. Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be e-mailed to sunspots@sunjournal.com.

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