VSA’s Golf Tournament Sets Record

VSA set an attendance

record at its Annual “Pars for Paws” Golf Tourna-ment at FoxFire Country Club this past spring. Participating players reach -ed the tournament capa-city.

The tournament profit

funds VSA programs to reduce the pet over-

population problem in Collier County. The tournament founder and director is Sondra Rice.

We Love Dogs! VSA is best known for cats. VSA also loves dogs.

While we rescue and find homes for kittens, we also focus a lot of our attention and resources on improving the lives of dogs.

VSA provides about 500 pounds of food each

month for financially-strapped dog owners. Otherwise, they might not be able to keep their dogs. Our volunteer veterinarians, Drs. Mike Gordon and Jane Chetkowski, vaccinate hundreds of dogs each year at VSA’s low-cost shot clinics. For many, this is their first vaccination. We also financially assist numerous dog owners each month with spay and neuter surgeries. Some owners are desperate with dogs in heat escaping from backyards, running out doors and engaging in aggressive and annoying behaviors.

Fourteen veterinary clinics honor VSA spay and

neuter vouchers. Funding comes from donations and VSA’s “Pars for Paws” Annual Golf Tournament.

VSA Names Dr. Mike Gordon Director Emeritus

If Dr. Gordon is not treating animals at the Bonita

Springs Veterinary Hospital, he is most likely donating his time to help animals. VSA has appointed Dr. Mike as its first director emeritus in recognition of his outstanding service. He has served on VSA’s board of directors since 2010. Besides serving on our Board, Dr. Gordon also assists VSA with the care of rescued animals and administers vaccines at VSA’s low-cost public shot clinics.

VSA is not the only

organization that benefits from his donated time. Many others do as well.

Corfu Has New Buddies

Patti and Keith Chandler have added VSA rescued

kitten Corfu to their family. Myka (left) and Tara came along to help. Corfu also will have kitten Bailey at home as another buddy. Patti and Keith drove from Lakeland to Naples’ PetSmart adoption center after seeing Corfu, a flame-point Siamese mix, on VSA’s listing of kittens on Petfinder.

Animal Talk Fall, 2014

Volunteer Services for Animals, Inc., 6017 Pine Ridge Road, #330, Naples, FL 34119 239 290-6274

e Ridge Road, #330, Naples, FL 34119

.

Sergio with “Beautiful”

Earnest--He Doesn’t Think He Is a Cat

There are times VSA rescues kittens that are very special. They are like humans. Earnest is like that. He is very bright, social, inquisitive, loving, and protective. At times, he appears deep in thought. He has a distinctive personality.

Sometimes he looks deeply in your eyes which makes you wonder what he is thinking. He has different messages. I love you. Pet me. Feed me. Let’s watch television or read. Time to sleep. He also has his quirky side. He grooms the young kittens, runs with them and gently gnaws on their necks. He also does things that amazes us like in the photo below.

This bird feeder is on top of a five-foot pole. Earnest had to have leaped to the top of the feeder and then climbed down to the inside. He has done that several times. He doesn’t bother the birds other than they can’t get to their food when he is there.

Earnest’s eyes say he knows he is

not supposed to be in the birdfeeder We have never been able to adopt Earnest who is now more than a year in age. It now seems meant to be. When Earnest was three months old, we placed him on Petfinder, a national web service that helps find homes for rescue animals. We did not receive a single inquiry although he was listed for several months. We had regularly received inquiries about other kittens.

We also took Earnest to the adoption center at PetSmart. “Mr. Personality” in the foster home became “Mr. Dud” at PetSmart. Other kittens came to the cage doors, often reaching through or rubbing up against the cage doors. Not Earnest. He plastered himself to the back of the cage with his ears back and eyes averted from those interested. His message was “Don’t even think about adopting me was.”

Oh well, Earnest has a home for life. We suspect that was his plan all along.

The Inside Track Dr. Jane Chetkowski and Mendy Gordon have

been appointed to VSA’s Board of Directors. Officers re-elected for 2014 calendar year by VSA membership included Phyllis Estes, president; Christine Avery, vice president; Yvonne Lamb, vice president; Angela Fieger, secretary; Amy Gaffney, treasurer; and Dr. Mike Gordon, director emeritus. Officers and directors serve one-year terms.

VSA’s upcoming low cost shot clinics are:

Max Hasse Jr. Community Park, Saturday, October 25, 2014, 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Immokalee Community Park, Saturday, January 17, 2015, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Max Hasse Jr. Community Park, Saturday, March 7, 2015, 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Our 2015 “Pars for Paws” Golf Tournament

will be Sunday, May 3, at FoxFire Golf and Country Club. Contact Mendy Gordon at 239 250-1838.

VSA offers free spay and neuter vouchers for

“casually owned” cats and feral cats. A “casually owned” cat includes neighborhood cats that have adopted themselves to households. The vouchers include rabies and distemper vaccines. Call 239 290-6274 for more information.

VSA issues low-cost dog and cat spay and

neuter vouchers at PetSmart at 2255 Pine Ridge Road (next to Home Depot) each Sunday, 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. including the vouchers mentioned above. Please come to the adoption center.

Wells Fargo Bank selected VSA for a $1,000

donation in May to help us continue to save lives. We are very grateful.

People who help animals in need are the real

super heroes! VSA is among the charity groups for runDisney’s 1st Avengers Weekend. Participants have commited to raise a minimum of $750 for the half marathon and $550 for the 5k race. The event is November 13, 2014, at Disneyland, Anaheim. VSA’s allocated positions are filled.

VSA only asks for donations once a year other

than for unusual circumstances. We will send our annual appeal letter for 2015 funding in November.

Memorials and Honorary Donations

In Honor of Helen Imo’s

Birthday

by Barbara Devoe

In Memory of

Spats, Sam, Trippe, Rocky,

Colorado, Yellow, all “from the

woods” felines

by Frankie Ann Tester

In Memory of

Misty

by

Dr. and Mrs. Mark Moskowitz

In Memory of

Bella Ferrer, a Vibrant and

Magnificent Soul by

Christine S. Ferrer

In Memory of

Canonomous

by

Bobbie Girard

In Memory of

Tucker

by

Betty Thompson

In Memory of

Felix

by

Mary Heend

In Memory of

Nestle

by

The Hidlebaugh/Thomas

Family

In Memory of

Sandra Maddux

by Brad and Phyllis Estes

In Honor of

All the Cats

By Julia Rowland

On October 11, 2013 In Memory of

Honey

Thank you for choosing to spend

15 years on this planet with me

Lana Chadwick

In Memory of

Mikey and Tom Mynhier

by

Mert Mynheir

In Honor of

Gempsey and All My Wonderful

Dogs

by Jane R. Stover

In Memory of Sheba, Shamos, and

Casper

by

Bob and Kathy Arakel

In Memory of Maudie Scibilia

By Sondra & Richard Rice, Tom Scibilia, Jerry Van

Camp, Carol Kalinowski, John & Wanda Stache, Brenda

Berven, Kim Whellbarger, & Carl Allen of Heritage Bag

Company

Thank You! We appreciate all of the memorial and

honorary donations. We love honor-

ing and remembering special pets and

people.

Memorial/honorary donations made

during our November donations appeal

will be in our winter newsletter.

Rescued Kitten Tripoli Tripoli is among the many Siamese mix kittens VSA rescued

this year

Volunteer Services for Animals

VSA is a not-for-profit organization founded in Collier County in 1982 to assist at the then new Collier County Animal Control shelter. VSA continues to work to bring about a time when there will be no more homeless pets. Our primary efforts are on two fronts, rescuing and adopting homeless cats and kittens and encouraging and assisting owners to sterilize their animals. VSA also has low-cost shot clinics, a feral cat sterilization program, and a pet food assistance program. We have little administrative overhead. We do not maintain an office or have any paid staff. Rescued animals are housed in volunteer homes. Our work is supported entirely by donations and with grant funds. Become a part of this work of love by volunteering and/or donating.

VSA kittens and cats are available for adoption at PetSmart on Pine Ridge Road (next to Home Depot) seven days a week. VSA volunteers are at the adoption center on Saturdays and Sundays, 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Call 239 290-6274 for an appointment at other times.

Spay and neuter vouchers are available at the

PetSmart adoption center each Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Contact Information: 6017 Pine Ridge Road, #330 Naples, FL 34119 239 290-6274 239 261-4768 (fax) E-mail: vsarescue@aol.com Website: www.vsarescue.org

Thank You Publix, KPG Accounting, and Amber Frederiksen photography

Publix Super Markets allow VSA to have donation bins at the following locations:

Pine Ridge Crossing Airport Road and Pine Ridge Road

Riverchase Shopping Center U.S. 41 and Immokalee Road

VSA is grateful to KPG Accounting Services, Inc. for its assistance with our accounting. KPG specializes in

condominium associations Call Kevin Gaffney at 434-8866

Amber Frederiksen Photography photographs our adoptable cats and kittens. Amber specializes in travel,

architectural interiors and exteriors and in lifestyle photography.

Contact Amber at www.amberfrederiksen.com

A Great Nap Partner This photo plucked our heart strings. Mom, Jessica, sent it to us after adopting Bubba from VSA. Bubba and her son Braden chill together.

VSA’s 2014 “Pars for Paws”

Thank You Everyone for Helping VSA Save

More Lives

Sondra Rice

Founder and 2014 “Pars for Paws” Director FoxFire Golf and Country Club

April, 2014

Players Candy Agnew Lindsay Agnew Richard Agnew Lynne Anderson Mary Anderson John Ardito Dale Bates William Bates Jim Becker Connie Bergsven Lou Bevan Blaire Bragg Christian Bragg Bob Bush Madge Bush Julie Butitta Nancy Call Chad Callanan Walter Campbell Sue Carew Angelo Caruso Lane Chadwick Harriet Cole Bill Cooper Joan Cooper Jason Crain Bill Cronin Matt Cull June Daw Angela Dionne John Dionne Jeff Doyle James Duffy Katie Duffy Robert Ellefsen Bette Ellenbogen Dirk Elver Sue Fagen Connie Feeney Cathy Ferns Fran Ferns Nancy Finefrock Scott Fisher Peg Flanagan Larry Formaro Kim Friedman Linda Fulford Kevin Gaffney Deb Glendenning Mendy Gordon Winnie Gorham Mike Goth John Granskog Frederick Guiffreda Doris Guyton Connie Haacke Claudia Hammon

Charles Hart June Hart Dennis Healey Donna Healey Jim Heath Tom Hendrickson Dennis Hidlebaugh Caroline Hill David Holcomb Nancy Holcomb Judy Holowesko Carolyn Jackson Barbara Jones Ken Jones Ursula Kaiser Mel Kaufman Alan Keliher Susan Keiliher Judy Klusendorf Shirley Kohler Anna Kuykendall Becy Lanesky Jim Leisburg Larry Luczak Julie Lynch Patricia Macdonald Tom Martin Don McPhee Shirley Moore Dan Mueller Tom Murray Arthur Murphy Marie Murphy Diane Myers Keith Myers John Newbury Don Norman Tony Ojanovac Angie O’Neil Timothy O’Neil Hector Ortega Kevin O’Sullivan Jeff Panozzo Maureen Reagan Ron Reagan Richard Rice Sondra Rice Jay Roberts Regene Ross Anne Ryan Ken Ryan Christina Rynne Marcia Savella Pat Sernyak Dorothy Skingle Larry Smith Rob Spiewak Diane Springer

Kathy Stapleton Pat Stapleton Mary Lou Steffens Tom Terlesky Elizabeth Thomson Delores Tillotson Dale Vanderploeg Jon Vingson Pat Walke John Watson Judy Whalen Adam Winslow Bill Wright Karen Wright Bill Young Jane Young Mike Zoglio

Hole Sponsors Denise Archer Arden Courts Bonita Veterinary Clinic Linda Bryden Jeanne Castaldini, Lana Chadwick Devoe Automobile Group Barbara Jean Devoe For the Love of Golf Jim Gallagher Goodness for Pets Winnifred and Kevin Gorham John and Marit Granskog Hair Esteem Bradley and Sandra Johnson Joseph Kondas Jr. Brian and Kathleen Legg Marilyn and Jim Magee Patricia and Kevin McQuirk Steve and Peggy Norman Pak and Shop of SWFL Leslie and Fred Pfaff Rainbow Academy, Inc. Kathy Rice Rich and Sandy Rice Richard and Sondra Rice Santos, Rita and James Shilling, Sharon Town and Country Animal Hospital Parts Unlimited, Ltd. Show Turf John Deere Linda and Ed Williams

Donors Bob Aaron William Bates Nikkie Bechtold Gail and Ken Berquist Jordan Boyle

Jordan Burke Sherl and Roger Butschky Daniel Casey Celeste Carrington-Mignon Laura and Bob Cavin Rosie and Bill Connors Louise Cornetta Gail Cresswell Yvonne Cross Barbara DeNapoli William and Mary Dorgan Thomas and Patricia Desjardins Bette Ellenbogen Edward and Gabrielle Eno Laura and Scott Fisher Paul and Fran Giacobbe Paul L’Esperance Clarence Hart Marti Huizenga Karen Hunt Margriet Janssen Bernard Kennedy Judy Klusendorf Heidi Marquardt John McGillicuddy Sean McGinness William and Maureen McGuigan Don McPhee Betty Modell Constance Pappas W. R. and Jeannine Puckett Don Schrier Nancy Raymond Linda Rennick Sara Reynolds Sondra Rice Barbara Robinson Mary Ann Sepsi Nancy Skilling Dorothy Skingle Larry G. Smith Donna Sooneberg Bob Teschke John and Judith Whittle

VSA Thanks these Players, Hole Sponsors, and Donors Who Made the 2014 “Pars for Paws” Golf Tournament a Huge Success

Clubs Arrowhead Golf Course Countryside Country Club Cypress Woods Golf and Country Club Eagle Creek Country Club FoxFire Golf and Country Club Glen Eagle Golf and Country Club Gulf Harbour Yacht and Country Club Heritage Bay Golf and Country Club Imperial Golf Club Naples Lakes Country Club Quality Inn & Suites Naples Golf Resort Royal Wood Golf and Country Club The Club at Mediterra The Colony Golf and Bay Club The Plantation Golf and Country Club The Quarry The Vines Country Club

Shandra's Pet Salon Trader Joe's The Golf Guys Show Turf John Deere The Jewelry Lady The L

VSA Thanks These Businesses, Professionals, and Clubs Which Freely Donated to the 2014 “Pars for Paws” Golf Tournament

Businesses and Professionals Angel Faces Fingers & Feet ARK Naturals Bonita Beach Veterinary Hospital Cafe Alfredo Calypso Car Wash Certified Jewelers Chick-Fil-A DeVoe Auto Group For The Love of Golf Fred Astaire Dance Studio of Naples Germain BMW of Naples Golden Gate Salon Goodness For Pets Gulf Shore Veterinary Hospital Hadinger Flooring Harley Davidson Kent Hasen, MD Hair Esteem Heritage Bag Company, Carlsbad California Huizenga Holdings, Inc., Fort Lauderdale Kimberly Clarke, Carlsbad, California Mercedes Benz of Naples Nail Art Norman Love Confections Oreck Floor Care Pak-n-Ship of SW Florida, Naples Walk Paradise Jewelry Parts Unlimited, Inc., Manassas, Virginia

Clubs Arrowhead Golf Course Copperleaf Golf Club Country Club of Naples Countryside Country Club Cypress Woods Golf and Country Club Eagle Creek Country Club Estero Country Club at the Vines FoxFire Golf and Country Club Glen Eagle Golf and Country Club Gulf Harbour Yacht and Country Club Heritage Bay Golf and Country Club Imperial Golf Club Naples Lakes Country Club Quality Inn & Suites Naples Golf Resort Quail Creek Golf and Country Club Raptor Bay Golf Club Royal Palm Country Club of Naples Royal Wood Golf and Country Club Spanish Wells Country Club The Club at Mediterra The Colony Golf and Bay Club The Plantation Golf and Country Club The Quarry Valencia Golf and Country Club Vanderbilt Country Club Vasari Country Club Wildcat Run Country Club Windstar on Naples Bay Worthington Country Club

Join Us Sunday, May 3, for VSA’s 2015 “Pars for Paws”

Saving and Improving the Lives of Collier County Animals

FoxFire Golf and Country Club Call Mendy at 239 250-1838

Patio Cafe Perfect Windows Ray’s Garden Center Rubbermaid, Winchester, Virginia Shandras Pet Salon Show Turf John Deere The Golf Guys The Jewelry Lady The Leadbetter Golf Academy Town and Country Animal Hospital Trader Joe’s Watermark Grille