Each month we conduct a free-roaming/feral cat clinic under the plan called TNR (Trap - Neuter - Return) in an effort to control the exploding population of feral cat colonies throughout Sarasota County and surrounding counties. 

The estimated number of free-roaming cats in Sarasota County alone is between 35,000 and 50,000. The program has been in existence since 2006. It is a community service offered free to the public to sterilize cats from Sarasota, Manatee, Desoto, & Charlotte Counties, the majority of cats coming from colonies in Sarasota neighborhoods.

As we close the year 2010 and SDA's 21st year in saving the lives of homeless animals, we are taking this opportunity to share with you a summary of 2010 and will later publish our goals for 2011.

Since SDA has been taking in helpless creatures for 21 years and giving them lifetime care, many of them have passed away in 2010 as well as in the past few years from natural causes. It is heartbreaking to say good-bye but we do so with the comforting knowledge that they have had a good life at our sanctuary being safe, clean, well fed and cared for in a comfortable environment.

ROBIN HOOD:  Some of the highlights of 2010 came with the arrival of new animal sanctuary residents like Robin Hood, a big orange tiger cat that had been shot with a bow & arrow by a cruel person and after months of recovery it was determined that Robin Hood was a feral cat and not adoptable.

Robin Hood is contented to hang out with his cat-mates in one of SDA's catteries where he lies in the sun and doesn't have to be bothered with people. Below is a photo of Robin Hood when he was recovering from his wounds where the arrow punctured his shoulder:  

EASTER: One of our favorites at the sanctuary is Easter, a little goat, whose mother came to SDA as a stray from Sarasota County Animal Services.

Little did we know the mom was pregnant and surprised us with giving birth to a kid at Easter 2010.

Unfortunately, mommy goat had an infection and Easter would not nurse from her mother and we had to feed her NINE bottles of milk replacer per day!

It was a big chore for 8 weeks but Easter thrived and is growing up to be the best goat ever. This is a recent photo of a sanctuary favorite, Easter:

Carolyn Repeta had a yard sale for SDA on Saturday, Nov. 27th, that raised over $1,000 for SDA.

Thanks to all who worked to make this event a success.

The SDA adoption program, spay/neuter feral & free-roaming cat clinic and 365 sanctuary animals are supported through the generous donations of caring people and fundraising events like this.