Volunteer aids feline adoption efforts

EAST COUNTY — Wendy Scott didn’t think twice about bringing a dozen stray kittens into her East County home last month.

“I thought it would be a breeze (to find them families),” said Scott, a longtime animal-rescue volunteer.
She shook her head, before adding: “I placed two in one month.”

With cat and kitten season in full peak and several longtime cat and kitten rescuers on leave, local rescue organizations are struggling to find the animals permanent homes. Scott, now more than ever, is determined to help.

In recent weeks, she formally launched her new organization, Rescue One Until There Are None. The group’s focus is not pulling animals from shelters, but, rather, supporting other rescue operations by planning cat and kitten adoption events at local venues, as well as handling other administrative and marketing-oriented tasks.

“I want to be a resource for a lot of them,” Scott said, naming a few rescues she and a team of volunteers already assist, including Mimi’s Rescue and Gulf Shore Animal League. “I never really wanted to start my own shelter. We can be more supportive for the groups that are already out there.

“They need help,” she said. “They’re medicating (animals), coordinating transports and owner surrenders, in addition to (the other things they do).”

Scott said the most important thing Rescue One Until There Are None can do is help get cats and kittens adopted once they are healthy enough to be placed in a permanent home.

“The point of this is to see if we can get adopters to come out,” Scott said. “That’s what (animal rescuers) all screaming for. We want to give these animals a life they deserve, not a life in a cage.”

Since June 16, Scott has already hosted three adoption events and is planning more for the coming weeks, although dates and locations are still being finalized.

“Events are about awareness,” Scott said. “The fosters appreciate being able to meet off-site, and it’s a nice event for people who are thinking of adopting.”

Scott, who was born and raised in Martha’s Vineyard, Mass., first moved to the Sarasota area 20 years ago, but returned to the Northeast, specifically Maine, in 2000 to own and operate a dog boutique. She sold her business in 2008 to pursue her animal-rescue efforts full time.

She moved almost four years ago to the East County, at which time she began been working full time in animal rescue, helping local rescue groups with background checks on prospective adopters, facilitating rescues and organizing fundraisers and adoption events.

Scott said she does not take animal surrenders but can offer referrals.

For more information on Rescue One Until There Are None, to volunteer or to apply to adopt, visit rescueoneuntiltherearenone.com.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].