Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Natalie Sandifer
March 31, 2011
F.U.R.R. Feral Univerity Rebel Rescue
Six years ago, F.U.R.R. Feral University Rebel Rescue became a club on the Ole Miss campus that was designed to help the feral cats of Oxford and the university where they roamed. Over the years this issue has become increasingly problematic and the cats have been considered a nuisance to the campus. Members of F.U.R.R. joined together to solve this problem and help both the university and the cats in question. Their strategy is to feed, trap, neuter, and release the cats. They have designated “feeding spots” throughout campus that allows them to reach their cats at least once a day each week. F.U.R.R. traps their cats so that they can take them for vet check-ups from time to time. Sometimes certain cats, approved by vets, are even accepted for adoption. The university provides little funding and a storage room on campus for F.U.R.R. to store their supplies including traps, feeders, and food. Volunteers are the main necessity to the club and are constantly welcomed.
“Our mission: to humanely control and maintain the homeless cat population on The University of Mississippi Campus, “ according to the F.U.R.R. business card.
Many people join this feral cat alliance each year, but some just don’t understand the purpose of F.U.R.R. and believe it would cost less to get rid of all of the feral cats living on campus. However, F.U.R.R. members strongly advocate against this idea. “If we remove all the cats that would create a vacuum where other stray cats would come into campus. This way we stabilize the population. The cats are safe, they are healthy, and they aren’t bothering anybody,“ said F.U.R.R. Founder Connie Parham.
The cats are a big priority to the F.U.R.R. members and are never neglected. Members select certain weeks throughout the semester when they can feed the cats and possibly trap and neuter them. F.U.R.R. also holds annual fundraisers to cover the costs of supplies. “We depend on students, faculty, and staff help us trap, feed, and conduct our fundraising events,” said F.U.R.R. Treasurer Laurie Richlovsky. If members cannot fulfill their duties, the F.U.R.R. founders step in.
F.U.R.R. has their monthly meeting on the third floor of the Union on campus. They also keep in touch by weekly email provided by the members. “I love going to the F.U.R.R. meetings because they never interfere with my school schedule and it is an issue I find extremely important. I’d hate to think of the cats not being able to eat for a day or someone wanting to kill them all just because they are homeless. It is a good thing that we are doing.”
F.U.R.R. is always looking for more members due to the limited university funding, the costs of the cat food, and the time given up to feed the cats. “We give food and water every single day to cats at several locations on campus so that’s why we need more volunteers to help us feed and take care of the cats,” said F.U.R.R. Founder Connie Parham. If you would like to join F.U.R.R. please email Connie Parham at furr@olemiss.edu.
March 31, 2011
F.U.R.R. Feral Univerity Rebel Rescue
Six years ago, F.U.R.R. Feral University Rebel Rescue became a club on the Ole Miss campus that was designed to help the feral cats of Oxford and the university where they roamed. Over the years this issue has become increasingly problematic and the cats have been considered a nuisance to the campus. Members of F.U.R.R. joined together to solve this problem and help both the university and the cats in question. Their strategy is to feed, trap, neuter, and release the cats. They have designated “feeding spots” throughout campus that allows them to reach their cats at least once a day each week. F.U.R.R. traps their cats so that they can take them for vet check-ups from time to time. Sometimes certain cats, approved by vets, are even accepted for adoption. The university provides little funding and a storage room on campus for F.U.R.R. to store their supplies including traps, feeders, and food. Volunteers are the main necessity to the club and are constantly welcomed.
“Our mission: to humanely control and maintain the homeless cat population on The University of Mississippi Campus, “ according to the F.U.R.R. business card.
Many people join this feral cat alliance each year, but some just don’t understand the purpose of F.U.R.R. and believe it would cost less to get rid of all of the feral cats living on campus. However, F.U.R.R. members strongly advocate against this idea. “If we remove all the cats that would create a vacuum where other stray cats would come into campus. This way we stabilize the population. The cats are safe, they are healthy, and they aren’t bothering anybody,“ said F.U.R.R. Founder Connie Parham.
The cats are a big priority to the F.U.R.R. members and are never neglected. Members select certain weeks throughout the semester when they can feed the cats and possibly trap and neuter them. F.U.R.R. also holds annual fundraisers to cover the costs of supplies. “We depend on students, faculty, and staff help us trap, feed, and conduct our fundraising events,” said F.U.R.R. Treasurer Laurie Richlovsky. If members cannot fulfill their duties, the F.U.R.R. founders step in.
F.U.R.R. has their monthly meeting on the third floor of the Union on campus. They also keep in touch by weekly email provided by the members. “I love going to the F.U.R.R. meetings because they never interfere with my school schedule and it is an issue I find extremely important. I’d hate to think of the cats not being able to eat for a day or someone wanting to kill them all just because they are homeless. It is a good thing that we are doing.”
F.U.R.R. is always looking for more members due to the limited university funding, the costs of the cat food, and the time given up to feed the cats. “We give food and water every single day to cats at several locations on campus so that’s why we need more volunteers to help us feed and take care of the cats,” said F.U.R.R. Founder Connie Parham. If you would like to join F.U.R.R. please email Connie Parham at furr@olemiss.edu.
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