EveryoneNeedsAHome, Inc.

An all-volunteer, 501(c)(3) animal welfare organization dedicated to the spaying and neutering of cats and dogs in the Lafayette and Green Counties of Wisconsin

If you shop at Pick ‘N Save and aren’t already enrolled in the Pick ‘N Save Advantage® WE CARE donation program, please consider choosing ENAH as your charity of choice.  It’s easy to sign up at Pick ‘N Save’s Service Desk and the program is free.  Once signed up, every time you shop with your Advantage Saver’s Club card, Pick ‘N Save will donate a percentage back to ENAH.  Our organization number is 208875. 

Writings by Other Folks

We Are Our Brothers’ Keepers

Margaret A. Miller, 09/21/03  

On Thursday, May 22, 2003, I had a call from my neighbors to come and look at a sick cat that showed up at their home.  The call didn’t come at a good time (do they ever?) because I was swamped with work but, as soon as I got there, I was very thankful that my neighbors had called me.  Crouching under their porch was an emaciated and very weak tomcat that was suffering immensely.  I am grateful for my kind neighbors.  I believe this cat came to them looking for help.  Animals will do that even though we so often turn them away.

This cat’s entire back end was full of maggots and he smelled of rotting flesh and urine scald.  His injuries indicated that perhaps his back legs had been caught in a trap.  I have no idea how he managed to get free, or how he had the strength to make it to my neighbors’ house.  He didn’t put up much resistance when I put him into a cat carrier.  My vet and I discussed his situation and we agreed that the kindest thing would be to quickly put him to sleep to end his suffering, which we did. 

My heart hurts for this cat whose last days were spent alone, severely injured, without food or water, and not able to keep the flies away from his wounds.  I wonder if he had a child who played with him on a farm, or anybody who wondered where he was and why he didn’t return. 

It is situations like these that scream out for spaying and neutering.  This intact (non-neutered) male cat might have never wandered from his home if he had been neutered.  It is the same with females.  If they are not neutered and they are free to roam, they will wander until they find mates, have litter after litter (if they survive long enough), and contribute to the cat overpopulation.  I empathize with farm families who have multiple cats, often from people dumping animals off at their farms, and cannot afford to spay or neuter them all.  Did you know, though, that spaying even one female could make a difference?  According to the Green County Humane Society, one unaltered female and her offspring can produce 420,000 kittens in seven years.  Lafayette County does not need more cats, and we certainly do not need any more suffering. 

With that in mind, I have started a project where, for as long as I can afford it, I will pay for one spay or neuter per month for a Lafayette County cat.  I do not care how much money you do or don’t have, I only care if you have a cat that needs to be spayed or neutered.  I won’t ask any questions about why the animal is not spayed or neutered already.  I do not care.  I won’t try to talk you into bringing your barn cat into your home.  I realize that this is just not an option for many people. 

Those interested in submitting a Lafayette County cat (or cats) for possible selection in this free spay/neuter project can send me a postcard or letter with their name, phone number and address.  Please include the cat’s name should he or she have one.  Please write to me at:

Everyone Needs A Home Spay/Neuter Project
P.O. Box 21
South Wayne, WI 53587

 Here are the project’s guidelines:

1. I will put all entries in a box and will select one name at random each month.  You can enter as many cats as you wish.
2. Those cats selected will receive a free spay or neuter, which includes all surgical expenses and necessary stay at the vet clinic.  I cannot afford to pay for other veterinary expenses at this time.  Those who wish to vaccinate their cats at the time of spay or neuter can arrange this with the appropriate veterinarian at the time of the surgery.
3. I will make the spay/neuter arrangements with either the Center Hill Veterinary Clinic, Argyle Veterinary Service or Pecatonica Small Animal Hospital; whichever is your preference (i.e. closer to your home, etc.). 

 If anybody has any suggestions on how to make this project more successful, please write to me at the address above.  If anybody is interested in contributing to this project, 100% of all donations will go directly to spaying and neutering of additional cats in Lafayette County (above and beyond the one per month already planned).