What is it that makes someone not only care about stray animals, but to give their time, money, and hearts? Like a small band of saints, these particularly special people take pity on the thousands of cats every year who need care. They even humanely trap the wild ones, have them altered, and then release them since they cannot be pets. I know most of you reading the column have taken in a cat or two or more and so this message is mainly for those who have not done so, but just never realized it is such a huge problem. This column is also to our town politicians who may not have any idea how much these women help, for no pay, each community by doing this. They also protect the health of the towns, by getting the cats their rabies shots.

My friend Alice, who runs Second Chance Farm, had this story to tell me.

"I came home one night to a message that a woman had 40-plus kittens to find homes for. I had my doubts about the situation, but called her back. She has a horse farm and people are constantly dumping cats there. She feeds them well, but just couldn't pay to have them spayed and neutered. Of course that type of situation only goes from bad to worse. She has called around for help, but received none. Some shelter (I never did ask who) gave her my number. Our goal is to get every cat spayed or neutered, while we try to place as many as we can in homes. Finding homes for animals is hard enough under the best of circumstances. With the economy the way it is right now, it is even harder. She will keep as many of the cats that we can't place, but they must be neutered to control the population — and as she said, keeping them healthy. I believe this woman to be sincere and extremely grateful for anything we can do to help her. She has said she will give whatever money she can, but some of the people who board horses with her haven't paid their bills. She has given me a few dollars and promises more when board money comes in.

"So far this week, Diana took a seven month old male to place up for adoption; I have three kittens about nine weeks old. I had two male cats neutered and Susan took two female cats to be spayed today. There is a litter of orange kittens about four weeks old, of which I have a tentative home for two of them when they are old enough to go. As I place kittens, I will take in more; Susan hopes to spay two a week; Diana will take in as she can and help with money for spaying as she can. This certainly is not a project that will be solved overnight. Diana's Cat shelter is run by Ms. Diana Banks, who for many years did multiple things for the Ulster Co. SPCA. A few years ago, she started her own little shelter in Accord. When she finds a home for one, she takes in another. She is known to have helped many, many people get their animals spayed and neutered, and has even supplied food to those in need (she sent food over to this farm already).

"Second Chance Farm has been around for 15 years. I began taking in animals that no one else wanted — usually animals with health problems. Somehow, it developed into adoptions also. Friends offered to help by fostering animals in their homes and everything just snowballed. One year, we had 170 cats at one time. I have gradually downsized for various reasons — less foster homes, financial; and I just can't keep up the pace that I used to. Over the years, Second Chance has taken in everything from guinea pigs to horses. Susan Clarke started trapping feral cats for spay and release. This led to housing litters of kittens and snowballed as my group did. When the calls come in, the hardest words to say are no, I can't help you. Hopefully this gives you the info you need. I don't want to release the name of the woman we are helping because, invariably, that leads to letting people know where they think they can drop off more cats. She has placed some of the cats on her own, so I assume that if anyone would want to go to her farm and pick out a cat to adopt, it could be arranged. I would have to ask. I will send you pictures as I get them. Thank you so much for your help. Second Chance Farm P.O. Box 153 West Park, N.Y.12493 c/o Alice Cannon (Anyone can e mail me for info at a separate e-mail address: SecondChanceFarm.cannon@gmail.com) Also: Diana's Cat Shelter, 7 Airport Rd. Accord."

This may give you some idea of the tremendous cat problem in our area. Just multiply that by other towns, the state, 50 states, and on. I think the towns should provide funds and certificates of appreciation to each of these women. Many people do spay and neuter their cats, but if just one person doesn't or dumps a cat out on a farm or in the woods, it starts all over again. If you can help at all, it would be so great, and if not with a donation, tell anyone you know who has cats to get them fixed. It really doesn't cost as much as a new TV or even a new outfit. You only have to do it once if you have a pet cat. Also, for God's sake, if you cannot keep a cat, do not dump them. The shelters will take them in and care for them. Thank you.

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