During the fall of 1994, Dave Amick, Terri Gary & Sandy Dorton recognized the problems confronting the stray cats in Pinellas County. These friends decided to form a non-profit, humane organization whose mission would be to shelter and re-home abandoned and homeless cats and kittens. Thus Save Our Strays was formed. Shortly afterwards, BC Kiefner joined & became President.

Save Our Strays became unique in Pinellas County as the only all volunteer organization which, as part of its mission, would accept every stray cat or kitten that needed help without prejudice to age, appearance, or health. The only reason an animal would be denied acceptance would be a lack of space and then the animal would be placed on a waiting list. Every animal taken into a Save Our Strays shelter home would be cared for until it was adopted. Euthanasia is not practiced for population control. It is a procedure that is performed ONLY under the advise and supervision of a veterinarian and only if in the best interest of the animal. Hard to place animals or those with special needs remain the ward of Save Our Strays if the proper adopter cannot be found. These animals do not live out their lives in cages. They live in the home of a loving foster parent who cares for that cat for the remainder of its life.

As soon as there is available space in a shelter home, the cat is picked up by one of the volunteers. It is then given a thorough veterinary exam which includes a feline leukemia and FIV test, a fecal and a distemper shot. The cat is spayed or neutered and given a rabies shot if it’s the appropriate age and weight. All necessary medical treatment, including surgery, is provided. Once the animal is determined to be healthy, it is ready for adoption and placed in one of our adoption outlets, pet stores that donate space, or is taken to the Petsmart Luv-A-Pet Adoption Center.

Save Our Strays also assists anyone who finds a stray cat and wants to give it a home. We offer a program, CAT (Care and Adopt Too), that allows the individual to use the services of one of our vets at a pre-determined fee.

Since January 1995, Save Our Strays has medically assisted and adopted out 3800 (THREE THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED) cats and kittens. This has been possible through the many volunteers who give their time and love to care for these animals. And to the generous contributors whose donations go directly to the medical treatment and care of the animals.

We are proud of our accomplishments over the past 5 years and hope, with your support, to continue in our efforts to aid as many stray cats as possible. Thank you for helping us help the homeless and often forgotten strays that live among us.