We care about dogs too: Shelley Schecter shares this story

A few weeks ago, I received a call from Donna Smollar., a resident of Côte St. Luc and a volunteer for our Cats Committee. She had just learned from her friend, Elena Hertz  about a case of a dog being held in a cage on a balcony. Elena’s friend Tania Marsh, a real estate agent had been showing the house next door and discovered a rigged up plastic over a cage with a large dog in it.  There were feces everywhere inside out outside of the cage and the food and water bowl were outside the cage. Tania’s husband, Jarred Brown  went back to take pictures. Tania called the SPCA and reported the situation.

The SPCA went to the house and saw the dog but were  unable to take the dog out due to legal restrictions Donna and I were told the dog owner’s mother tongue was not French or English, so we solicited the help of Denise  Nauffel, who shares the same mother tongue to help Donna and I  speak to the dog’s owner.

Because so much attention had been given to this man,,first by Tania, then  from the SPCA, serious concern from the  City of Côte St, Luc and finally by our gentle  persuasion , the dog owner voluntarily gave the dog over to us. We then brought him to the Côte St. Luc  Hospital for Animals.

The dog was like a puppy mill dog, who had been fed from time to time. His coat was so matted it was impossible to feel his ribs. His toes dripped of long fur. After being shaved, bathed, vaccinated and cared for by everyone at the Animal Hospital he has now been adopted into a loving home where he has two siblings.

Max (the dog's name) now has chance at a better life thanks to so many people caring enough to get involved.

Shelley Schecter

Educhat and the CSL Cats Committee

Zumbathon raises nearly $2,000 for the committee

Fern Pereira recently organized a very successful Zumbathon fundraiser for the Cats Committee at the West End Gym. An extraordinary total of $1,960 was raised. Here is her account of the event.

I volunteer with the CSL Cats Committee and Educhat and organized my first Zumbathon fundraiser. It took place at the West End Gym in the CSL Shopping Centre on Sunday, April 21  from 11 am  until 1:30 pm.   

Zumba action.

Zumba is the newest fitness craze. It consists of dance movements done to primarily Latin music. It is  very high paced, energetic and loads of fun.  Zumba attacts all age groups and though while primarily female there are some men who attend classes as well.  

I had attended a Zumbathon the past year and saw the great turnout and thought it would be a great idea to organize one to help stray cats.  I felt Zumba and helping animals would be a great combination. 

Some of our instructors

I asked Elena Bertoldi, an instructor at the gym I attend, West End Gym. Being an animal lover she readily agreed. I was advised to join Facebook as it would be the best way to organize the event.  I contacted a teacher from The Sweat Factory Leticia Nieto who is a big cat lover and struck gold! She got her fellow instructors involved and brought three  along.  I had three from my gym: Elena , Candida Ventura and Gilda Genis Triana.  Elena asked another instructor Jorge Martinez and he agreed as well.  Leticia Nieto asked instructors she knew: Viko Flores, Alessandra Gaudio and Barbara Mora.  Gilda Genis Triana suggested I asked Carole Albert, who also immediately agreed.All of these instructors were certified zumba instructors and they turned out to be a fun group and organized a great event!

Our committee.

I had nine  or more volunteers from the CSLCC helping me out. Two of the volunteers brought others  so honestly I am not sure how many were helping me out but there were many.  What a great gang of volunteers I am involved with!  Thanks to Shelley

Schecter (founder of the group along with Councillor Mike Cohen), Barbara Ann and her sister, Don and Barbara, Mary, Rachel A., Lydia G., Ursula, and Melanie.. You were all a big help! Rachel and Mary just sat down at the table and took over helping and took care of the people coming in  to take part in the event and give their mandatory $10 contribution.  Some of the participants were generous and gave $20 towards the cause.

The event was lots of fun and a roaring success! Everybody had a great time.You 

can check my Facebook page, Fern Robin.   We raised $1,960 to help stray/homeless

cats.

 

 

Beautiful female cat Angel available for adoption

This is Angel.  She is about six months old and currently being minded by one of the wonderful volunteers from the Côte Saint-Luc Cats Committee.  Shelley Schecter from the CSLCC and Educhat reports that she  is quite timid,  but will come around with some attention. "She needs a forever home,"  says Shelley. " She is very sweet and she loves the person she is staying with now,  but is shy with strangers She will make a wonderful companion for someone."

 

 

 

If you know someone who is interested in adopting Angel,  please email educhat.quebec@gmail.com.

 

CSL Cats Committee and Educhat plan Zumbathon

The Côte Saint-Luc Cats Committee (CSLCC)  and Educhat  will present a Zumbathon for a Cause on Sunday, April 21 (11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.) at the West End Gym in the CSL Shopping Centre  (7025 Côte St. Luc Road)

Anyone who makes a  minimum donation  of $10 at the door is invited to participate. Tax receipts are available for donations of $50 or more. “Dance, get in shape, have fun and make a positive contribution to ours cats programming,” says event chair Fern Robin.

The CSLCC, established less than three years ago, works in partnership with Shelley Schecter of Educhat on a  Trap, Neuter, Release and Adopt Program   A team of volunteers set  out to trap as many as possible, have them sterilized and then adopted or returned to the spot where they were originally found. The committee has also rescued a number of baby kittens and found homes for them. The city’s first ever cat licensing bylaw was adopted recently.   

Nine zumba instructors have generously agreed to donate their time. Participants will be able to enjoy a fun zumba session and help the rescue efforts of homeless “community” cats. They are  Elena Bertoldi, Leticia Nieto, Gilda Genis Triana ,Candida Ventura, Barbara Mora, Alessandra Gaudio, Carole Albert,  Viko Flores and Jorge Martinez.

For more information call 514-485-6806, ext. 2200 or log on to www.cotesaintluc.org/cats,  www.educhat.ca or Facebook (Côte St. Luc Cats Committee TNR Program).

Quebec Spay and Neuter Day is February 26

On Tuesday, February 26, 2013 Quebec will mark Spay and Neuter Day.

Here is a link to  Councillor Mike Cohen's blog on the event.

Black cat found in CSL

A small black cat showed up at the  kitchen window of a Spring Avenue resident last week.  It did not go away, so the owner gave it some  space in her garage and provided food and water. There was no cat license or ID, but we believe it belongs to someone.  

The homeowner has put up posters. She already has a big dog. We asked her if she would consider keeping the cat if nobody surfaces. Reluctant at first because of her dog, she says the two animals seem to be getting along following the introduction she arranged. And yes, the cat is growing on her. What a wonderful person!

Here is the photo of the cat. If you know the owner, please email mcohen@cotesaintluc.org.

Committee receives a donation from Lawrence Bergman

D'Arcy McGee Liberal MNA Lawrence Bergman (far right) presents a $500 cheque to Shelley Schecter and Councillor Mike Cohen for the Côte Saint-Luc Cats Committee. Mr. Bergman attended last summer's benefit concert of the committee. At the time he expressed his interest to support the cause of Trap, Neuter, Release and Adopt of homeless (community) cats. We wish to thank Mr. Bergman for his generosity. He serves as model for other MNAs to follow and we are pleased that he will take our important messages to Quebec City. The CSLCC works directly with Ms. Schecter, the founding director of Educhat.