s we look back over the last years, it has been difficult to survive financially but we are still making a difference! S.T.A.R.T. refuses to let down the four-legged community.  We are thankful for the generosity of so many that have provided financial support for our fur-babies during this challenging time. As everyone knows, these last years have put a strain on all of us!  While all of our lives have changed, the one constant for us has been our rescue life.  We never forget that our fur-babies will always need our help, to give them a chance for a better life.  

 

While our doors are usually busting at the seams with kittens, what seems like a forever kitten season.  This past year has been a year riddled with a countless amount of senior cat returns.  It continued up until the last days of the year when a family returned a 16 year old cat, our hearts were broken for this precious girl.  So many precious little ones receive their forever homes only to end up back in foster care as grown adults. The confusion and anxiety endured by these cats is overwhelming and requires so much understanding and patience at the hands of our caregivers. We will not give up on our seniors. They will always have a place to call home in the loving environment that S.T.A.R.T. provides!

 

Our group was started thirty-two years ago for the purpose of maintaining stray and feral cat colonies through Trap, Neuter and Release (TNR) and to help those who had nowhere else to turn.  Remember kittens can get pregnant at 4 months, puppies can get pregnant by 6 months old.  If you feed an outside cat colony, please seek out help to TNR (trap, neuter and return) while your colony is small.  Colonies grow to 20 – 30 cats in a blink of an eye. Cats that have been TNR'd have what we call an ear tip (their left ear is clipped to be flat - not rounded like the right ear) so if you are feeding a cat that does not have an ear tip, please take the cat to be altered at one of the low-cost facilities in the area or contact us for assistance.  Please, please, please get them altered before the next litter.  Don’t wait until you see kittens!

 

Colonies are a big part of our work.  It is important to maintain sterile colonies of cats. Colonies are fed every day no matter what the weather, and, when needed, medical care is given.  S.T.A.R.T. has many colonies in the Little Falls area, due to construction in the area, several colony cats needed to be moved (not far). Thankfully, a local landowner allows us to continue caring for these cats and it appears they are all safe and happy in their new location.

 

And don't forget!! S.T.A.R.T. holds "Meet and Greet" adoptions at Petco in Totowa!  We pride ourselves on never releasing an animal for adoption until it is fully vetted and altered.  If you are thinking of adopting, please consider the shy, hard to adopt cats!!  They all need love and they all adapt to new environments given time.

 

FOSTER AND FOREVER HOMES ARE NEEDED! 

S.T.A.R.T. relies 100% on foster home care for the animals waiting for their forever homes. Foster homes are what help to carry out the organization's mission, but a forever home is what is needed to help decrease the vast number of homeless animals.   S.T.A.R.T. is reaching out to you as caring, responsible animal lovers, to open your hearts and your homes to one of our abandoned homeless companion animals.  Volunteers that can offer their home as a temporary residency for some of our homeless animals are always needed.  Send us an email!!

 

We can only hope that you spay and neuter your pets.  With your help we hope to reduce the overpopulation in our communities while diminishing the homeless and hungry animals.  Again, we thank you, our friends and supporters, for your continued and lasting support, our animals count on each one of you.  

 

 

Sincerely, 

Annette Lamberti

S.T.A.R.T., Save The Animals Rescue Team

The original "S.T.A.R.T." established in 1991