Sir Ruffles von Vicious dressed as a ghost pirate in Davy Jones’ locker at Coronado Veterinary Hospital’s third annual Halloween party to benefit Coronado CARES. He was voted scariest.
People who love dogs or have a big heart are needed to provide a temporary home for a friendly dog and puppy until they are adopted. Besides love and a stable home environment, you will be asked socialize the dog, take care of its day-to-day needs, transport it to adoption events. You might also be asked to meet potential adoptive “parents” to help determine if its good match.
If you happen to fall in love with the dog, you may adopt it. You simple have to fill-out the required paper work and pay a $125 adoption fee. Coronado Community Animal Rescue and Education Society (CARES) began the program last summer. So far four dogs have been fostered. Three have found homes.
“We wanted to start small and get some experience before we publicized the program and started recruiting volunteers,” said Gloria Aberasturi, the organization’s president.
While it encourages adoption CARES mission does not included adoption. For many years now PAWS has run a successful adoption program and has recently taken over operation of the Animal Care Facility.
CARES began in 2012 with PAWS board members who wanted to address other animal welfare issues — feral cat care and dog fostering. The fostering program is needed because, while Coronado has, arguably one of the most beautiful animal shelters around, it can’t provide the love, championship and play a dog receives in a home.
There is no set time for how long a dog will need fostering. It can take a few weeks or several months, typically its about 90 days, said Aberasturi.
Fostering cost nothing. CCARES pays for food, supplies and veterinary care, including vaccinations and grooming.It has hired a trainer to assist foster families with any behavioral problems.
There are no specific requirements to foster a dog, but its expected that you have some experience with dogs. People with dogs are welcome to participate, but CCARES wants the dogs to meet to make sure they like each other and can get along.
Smoky and Tinkerbelle came as flying monkeys. They’re “mom,” Angelica Galvan, dressed as the Wicked Witch of the West, replete with ruby slippers. They took the prize for best own and pet costume.
This is the groups second program. It’s first focused on trapping, neutering and releasing feral cats. These cats fend for themselves, shun humans and with the exception of their kittens cannot be domesticated.
The cats are humanely trapped, taken to Coronado Veterinary Hospital, altered and then returned to their territory.
CARES has a contract with both the Bay Club and the Shores that allows the organization to come on to their property to trap animals. They are more than happy to welcome the cats back.
“They understand the important role the cats play in keeping the rodent population at bay,” Aberasturi said.
The program began in 2012 has been a huge success. Fifty-eight cats have been altered. CARES maintains the Shores, the Bay Club and one Tidelines Park.
Every evening a brigade of volunteers feed the cats. “There is no danger that the cats will ignore the rat if there fed,” Aberasturi said. “Cats are natural hunters. The intuitively know what their supposed to do and how to do it.”
CARES has contracts with the Shores and the Bay Club to care for the cats, who provided keep the rat population down in both.
The program has proved so successful here that CARES expanded it include Imperial Beach, National City and Chula Vista. Veterinary services, including spay/neuter and vaccinations are provided Dr. Elizabeth Stone of Coronado Veterinary Hospital, who charges the organization a nominal fee for her services.
Not all the cats the CARES finds are returned to their territory. Feral kittens are fostered until they are old enough to be spay/neutered and then adopted. Before that happens they have to be socialized.
Recently CARES has partnered with Helen Woodward Center and the San Diego Humane Society to take these kittens.
“They have the resources to foster, Coronado’s are limited,” Aberasturi said.
“The Humane Society has an entire neonatal wing and a team of staff and volunteers who can provide for these kittens.”
Dr. Stone also fosters some feral kittens at her hospital, relaying on a team of CARES volunteers to pet and play with them. Stone then adopts them out.
“She personally interviews every applicant to make sure they’ll be good caretakers,” Aberasturi said.
Now that CARES has established TNRP in other communities around Coronado it had to expand its kitten socialization program as well. Having Helen Woodward and the Humane Society onboard will make ensure that the feral programs remain successful.
Volunteers are need for all programs, canine and feline alike. If you are interested in volunteering for these programs getting active in CARES go to CoronadoCARES.org or call 619-365-5337
