To achieve that goal, the Oakland Pet Fund, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, has formed a strategic program of creative solutions to deal with issues of animal overpopulation and care in Oakland County. We are bringing together, through a collaborative agreement, municipal and not-for-profit animal care groups, small and large, that are already working effectively to place and/or spay and neuter Oakland County animals. We are enlisting the assistance of animal lovers, veterinarians, pet supply stores and others to implement a multi-year program, to assist shelters and rescues to work to their highest potential.

To visit the Oakland Pet Fund website, click here.

An exciting feature from the Oakland Pet Fund is the new cable access series, Fur-E-Tails!  The program features rescue groups, legislative initiatives, information, education and of course - some furry fun!  Motor City Ferrets was pleased to be featured in episode 6, which you can watch below.  We encourage you to watch the entire program, which contains three segments and is about half an hour in length.  However, if you just want to catch the MCF segment again...

When this page loads, you'll see the video window with a play arrow waiting to be clicked to start the program.  When you click the play button, you'll notice a time counter pop up at the right side of the window.  Move the playing bar along until the time count reads 20:44 / 29:31.  You will then join the program just at the end of the last segment, so you can catch a cute commercial before the MCF segment of the show. 

The Oakland Pet Fund and the Oakland Pet Adoption Center are working together to host monthly free sterilizations for healthy, social cats between 12 weeks and 8 years of age.

The Monthly Free low-income Spay/Neuter Clinics are taking reservations:  call 248-391-4100 ex 226. Surgeries are available ONLY to Oakland County residents that meet low income qualifications.

Spaying or Neutering Is Good for Your Pet!

* Spaying and neutering helps cats live longer, healthier lives. 
* Spaying and neutering can eliminate or reduce the incidence of a number of health problems that a can be very difficult or expensive to treat including possibility of uterine or ovarian cancer, breast cancer, testicular cancer and prostate disease.

Spaying or Neutering Is Good for You!

* Spaying and neutering makes pets more affectionate companions. 
* Neutering cats makes them less likely to spray and mark territory. 
* Spaying eliminate a cat's heat cycle. Cats in heat can cry incessantly, show nervous behavior & attract unwanted males.
* Un-sterilized animals often exhibit more behavior and temperament problems than do those who have been sterilized.
* Spaying and neutering can make pets less likely to bite.
* Neutering males makes them less likely to roam the neighborhood, run away, or get into fights.

The graphic at left reflects figures that the Michigan Department of Agriculture collected from shelters around the state that reported in for the 2006 calendar year.  That's right, 120,602 unwanted cats were taken to these same shelters over the course of the year.  Amazing number, isn't it?  Large enough to in itself remind you that 120,000+ cats can't all be "bad," that there must be some other problem?  How about unwanted litters from cats who's owners refuse to spay or neuter them...like the one your cat had last year, or your neighbor's cat, or your friend's cat?  Still think only 5 more kittens doesn't make that much of a difference? 

63% Destroyed
25% Adopted
1% Returned to Owner
11% Transferred to another shelter, lost, stolen, died or unknown.

Of the more than 120,000 cats that were unwanted in 2006,
only ONE in FOUR made it to a home.
More than SIX out of every TEN cats was destroyed in a kill shelter.

Still think one more litter doesn't make a difference?  Please, PLEASE remember these numbers - which represent the same fluffy little kittens and cats you know and love - and discuss with your friends, family, co-workers and anyone else who will listen!  Each new litter represents 1-10 more cats added to the totals; 1-10 more cats when there are already FAR too many.  Please encourage all the cat owners you know to spay or neuter their felines!  In this modern age there is simply no reason to see killing on this scale, to still consider animals "disposable" in our "advanced society."  Support the efforts of the Oakland Pet Fund to make Oakland County (you can even sign up to volunteer at one of the free spay and neuter clinics!) a landmark example to be followed of a No-Kill Community - and remember to keep encouraging people to spay and neuter!  We as a society CAN put this horrible destruction of life to an end by eliminating one unwanted litter at a time!

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