HomeOn May 1, 2009, the Friends of Bastrop County Animal Shelter (Friends of BCAS) presented its second symbolic check in the amount of $4,187 to the shelter. The check represents the purchase by the Friends of BCAS of a surgical light for the shelter’s surgery room, feline leukemia virus/feline immunodeficiency virus (FeLV/FIV) test kits, and a tattoo kit. Tattooing cats and dogs at the time they are spayed at the shelter will prevent unnecessary exploratory surgeries to determine whether an animal is already spayed.
FeLV and FIV are two important contagious viruses that infect cats. FeLV is shed in very high quantities in saliva and nasal secretions, but also in urine, feces, and milk from infected cats, according to Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Cat-to-cat transfer of the virus may occur from a bite wound, during mutual grooming, and rarely through the shared use of litter boxes and feeding dishes. FIV is the cat equivalent of HIV in people. It’s primarily transmitted through bite wounds. As a result, cats in households with stable social structures where housemates do not fight are at little risk for acquiring FIV infections. Systematic testing of the shelter’s cats will help prevent the spread of these infectious diseases among cats at the shelter, first by identifying infected cats, and second by isolating them from the remainder of the cat population. A cat testing positive for FeLV or FIV does not necessarily mean a death sentence, but it does mean a new owner must be willing and able to provide adequate care for the cat throughout its life.
“We’re happy that we can provide this kind of support to the shelter,” said Roxanne Hernandez, Chair of the Friends of BCAS. “We will continue our fundraising efforts, participating in community events, and holding off-site adoptions.”
The Friends of BCAS is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) charitable organization, whose mission is to increase pet adoptions, promote spay/neuter, and provide funding to the shelter to support the humane care and treatment of animals while in its care. Donations to the organization are tax deductible.
