Almerimar strays has been helping cats and some dogs for over 2 years now, so I thought it was a good time to reflect on what we have achieved and focus on what is needed for us to continue into the future.
Lots of people have commented positively about the reduced population of cats in the marina, and I feel that getting the population of port cats under control has been one of our biggest achievements. 6 big cats from the rocks have been re-homed, 12 from around Calle Alcor, 2 from the Nautico cats and 7 from around the darsenas. In addition we have re-homed 21 kittens from the immediate port area, and all the females are now sterilised. This is a huge achievement, and I would like to thank everyone who has helped us in any way.
That however is by no means all. As news of our work spread slowly we have helped other Almerimar cats from outside the immediate port area, and cats from Adra, Beja and Roquetas, and now I am starting to work with PAWs in Mojacar to see if by at times working together we can achieve even more, and solve one another’s problems.
At my last count we have sent close to 100 cats to Germany for re-homing, a further 10 have been adopted here, including my 3 beautiful cats! and we have sterilised at least 15 others. AND even that is not all as we have also sent 10 dogs to Germany for re-homing, re-homed one here, and helped with 3 further sterilisation, and we are not even really focused on dogs.
For me this has all been a lot of work but hugely rewarding, and I would like to thank again all the cat ladies, (and a few men), the girls in Germany, the vets, Gisela’s cat rescue, Karin, Jos and Miguel at the dog protectora, and everyone who has helped me achieve this.
What started off as a sterilisation program has grown slowly into something much bigger and I think very worthwhile. Over the 2 years by developing relationships, I have managed to greatly reduce our vet bills, and secure regular money from Germany our biggest source of funds. Money will however remain one of our biggest challenges, which is also why I would also like to thank all the people who have fund-raised over the 2 years or donated money to our work.
I have been asked a number of times for an overview of how much our sterilisation and re-homing program costs, and the main things that the money gets spent on. As Almerimar Strays moves into its 3rd year it seemed a good time to do this properly so that everyone who was interested could understand the extent of our work, and how much continued support we still need.
Looking at the numbers, broadly speaking, each animal that we help costs us now in real terms an average of 50 euros. Each feral cat with some funding for worming, de-fleeing and ad hoc medicine needs close to 50 euros, each dog we take to the protectora goes with a contribution of 50€, and after the contributions from Katzenherzen for the re-homed cats, I still need 50€ net for each one. This is why our local fund-raising is so important.
The breakdown of Revenue and Costs since Almerimar Strays started is:
Revenue:
Almerimar Life Fundraisers – 2410 € (17.0%)
Cafe Bar Ankara Book Sales – 3200€ (22.5%)
Other Book, CD and DVD Sales – 410€ (3.0%)
Collection Boxes – 360€ (2.5%)
Donations – 1145€ (8.0%)
Katzenherzen Germany – 6480€ (45.5%)
Table Top Sales – 220€ (1.5%)
Total Revenue: 14225€
Costs:
Boxes & Cages – 325€ (2.5%)
Fostering Costs – 1530€ (11.0%)
Medicines – 385€ (3.0%)
Transport – 400€ (3.0%)
Vet Bills – 10835€ (80.5%)
Total Costs: 13475€
Current Balance: 750€
Revenue Notes:
By far the biggest contributor to the revenue at 45.5% is the money we get back from the Katzenherzen Germany, when they successfully rehouse a cat. This isn’t a fixed amount per cat and varies depending on any additional vet costs they incur and the amount they receive from the adoptants.
The regular Cafe Bar Ankara Book Sales have contributed 22.5% to the revenue and continue to be a significant, regular fund-raiser. Given the need to generate more funds, we are starting to look at the opportunities for additional book sales elsewhere, and table sales which we have done little of to date. Camping Los Gallardos is an initial prospective new location.
The Almerimar Life fundraisers have contributed a healthy 17% but they are time consuming to organise and they understandaby don’t generate as much during the recession, but we will try and establish two or three regular events each year. Having seen the PAWS fundraiser at Los Gallardos recently it would be good to get one large event established here in Almerimar each year and a couple of smaller ones: maybe an annual Poker Run, and an activity based one like a Sponsored Walk and a Spring Fete? All ideas are welcome.
The whole area of donations and sponsorships is another one that would benefit from more focus. As we get more and more specific requests to help with cats (particularly from outside Almerimar) if we can get a minimum donation each time that would go a long way to funding the process, ideally the 50€ net cost.
Costs Notes:
In terms of the costs, I continue to look at ways to reduce the medicine and vet bills. These at 80.5% are our biggest single cost and will go up the more animals we try to help. Our vet bills, working with Miguel at the protectora, I have virtually at cost, and I now buy all Frontline, worming tablets etc. cheaper online. There is not much more I can do to reduce this cost apart from to ensure that all our animals are healthy when they travel, as vet bills in Germany are much higher and affect our revenue from Katzenherzen.
Transport costs per cat may increase as we try and get more flight partners. Flying a cat to Germany with a passenger is much less stressful for the cat, but usually costs more, depending on the airline. One benefit of the relationship with the PAWS Cattery in Mojacar is that they have agreed to help shuttle cats to Murcia and Alicante airports for us which opens up a lot more options, especially as a large proportion of visitors and second home owners to Mojacar are from Germany. This will help alleviate the pressure of securing enough boxes on the transport van to Germany each month.
Fostering costs need to come down, but I don’t want to compromise on the quality of food where we are asked to provide it. We do need more fosterers who are able and prepared to provide the cat food and litter themselves. People are starting to email in their willingness to help foster thanks to the articles in the Euro Weekly News and on the site, and hopefully this will help reduce the costs and also make it possible to help more cats.. At the same time the option to place Almerimar strays in the PAWS Cattery in Mojacar will help reduce the pressure of finding fosterers here in Almerimar BUT will require us to continue to help rehouse their existing cats first to free up space.
Help Needed:
We are always looking out for people that can foster strays cats for 4-6 weeks while we get them ready for re-homing. We are also very keen to find more flight partners from this region to Germany, and of course we welcome prospective adoptants.
In addition if you think a fund raiser would work in your area then please let us know. Books sales are always popular, and we can easily travel to your town (within reason) and help set one up with you, and of course if you have any Books, CD’s, DVD’s or items for a Table Top sale to donate please get in touch.
AND finally the beautiful cat featured below is my very own Oscar now almost 18 months old, but still the baby of our little family. He was rescued actually from the water by friends, and came to me as a foster kitten at 3 months. As is obvious he never left and has made himself very much at home.
Oscar is just one of the beautiful Almerimar cats that has needed and received our help. There are many more to come, so please continue to support Almerimar Strays in any way that you can. I would love to hear from you.
Oscar’s Sunbed Session
I normally catch up on what you have been doing over on Chris’s Forum but I wanted to say wow!!!! What a great summary, and what an amazing job you have all done so far!! All seems very well organised and well run. Congrats to all and good luck with the fund raising …… will drop a few more Euros in the pot when I am over next.
“Very interesting indeed to read this comprehensive report on the exceptional achievements of Almerimar Strays over the past two years, and to realize the actual number of cats that have been rescued, fostered, re-homed and saved since Sandra undertook this worthwhile project, with the help of a very supportive team. Also very interesting to see the amount of money that has been raised during the period, and just how much is required to ‘process’ each cat before it can be re-homed in Germany.
As someone who cares a lot about the welfare of all animals, I find it most comforting to know that there exists such a team of dedicated people, headed by Sandra who does such an incredible job on behalf of these animals, and my hope is that in the future it will be possible to extend the project to other areas in order to help more cats in need. It seems that the link-up with PAWS could be of great mutual benefit. “
Just read your update on Alstrays and your very comprehensive breakdown
of expenses; it shows that funds are continually required to secure the future
of the kittens and cats.
What an achievement, to re-house so many feral kittens and cats which if left
would have multiplied, and also to house the many abandoned full grown cats
who would never have coped alone.
Thank goodness for the German and Swiss ladies who have contributed so much
to the funds and for their support taking in the cats, especially the cats with
Aids and I remember one poor thing with a damaged pallet; without the German support
these particular cats could not have survived.
As a foster mum I get reward seeing these timid animals growing into confident loving
family pets, but to all of you behind the scenes, giving your time to advertise the
plight of cats, both by the local press, by the internet, to those who to continue to introduce new
ideas of raising funds and above all for giving so much of your time and
indeed covering so many of our costs from your own resources well done; it just shows what can
be achieved providing we all work together.
A brilliant review of the work entailed and explanation of what really goes on ´behind the scenes´ of re-homing abandoned cats from in and around Almerimar. As an animal lover, I fully endorse the idea of working with the team at P.A.W.S. (People for Animal Welfare Society); what a great idea to expand the operation, by helping to re-home their cats to make room for more abandoned and needy cats. It is definitely a step in the right direction.
Many hands make light work, no one person can do everything, but what an inspiration to have Sands heading up the team here in Almerimar! I went with Sandra to the Annual fund raising event at Camping Los Gallardos last week; not only was it good fun (with a fashion show, line dancing demonstration, ´village fete´ type stalls selling chutneys and chocolate flapjack, a delicious BBQ as well) but it was a very successful day out and fulfilled the objection of raising money whilst having some fun. Yes, we must try to achieve the same community spirit here in Almerimar, and I for one would love to be involved.
I echo the comments from the ladies who have written here. As foster mums, we really do love to see the photos on the website of our dear little ones after their journey to Germany. What joy to see them happy and contented, after such a rough start in life!
It is clear that more foster mums are needed whilst the cats are prepared for travel, and I do hope this is achieved. I know fostering can be difficult for some people, they think it is too much of a commitment, but I can honestly say (and I am fairly new as a foster mum), it really is rewarding, and at least you know it´s “not for life”! These abandoned cats really do need “a little help from our friends”.
To all the team involved with Almerimar Strays, keep up the good work and as Brian Ferry sang: “C´mon, C´mon, LETS WORK TOGETHER”!
What is happening with the Book sales? Went down to Ankara today and no book sale and haven’t seen any update on Chris’s blog at all recently?
Absolutley no idea! Has been a bit of an ‘issue’ and Sands and I are no involved at all in the Ankara books sales, and the fund has not received any money from the last sale at all so can’t really comment.