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USA Today Cites UCAN As
'Big Sterilization Success in Ohio'
UCAN's spay/neuter efforts garnered
national recognition in
Wednesday, April 28th's edition of USA Today.
A feature story
by the newspaper's "Pet Talk" columnist, Sharon Peters, focused on
Humane Alliance in Asheville, NC, which has helped UCAN and more than 70
other regional spay/neuter clinics across the country get up and
running. But among those clinics, it was only UCAN that received special
attention.
The headline in a separate sidebar story (on page 4D
and in the paper's online edition) called UCAN a "big success" and
talked about the clinic's accomplishments in spaying/neutering nearly
25,000 animals to date.
"We're
beyond thrilled to garner this kind of national recognition for our
efforts," said Carol Sanger, UCAN president. "It is a real tribute to
our staff, volunteers, donors and board of directors who have done so
much to get UCAN to this point."
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Sheila DeSimio, founder of Chipotle Chicks, sold an array of jellies and salsas at Spring Boutique, raising money for UCAN.  | UCAN's 'Spring Boutique' Raises Funds for Cause
It may have been raining outside, but inside the elegant confines of Kenwood Country Club spring was in the air as Pedigree Interiors' volunteers outdid themselves putting together this year's fundraiser for UCAN.
The April 25th event was a huge success, with patrons enjoying the chance to shop for art, jewelry, clothing and accessories from more than a dozen high-end vendors before sitting down to a delicious buffet lunch -- and then more shopping!
This year's Spring Boutique helped celebrate Pedigree Interiors' sixth anniversary. Since UCAN opened its fine furniture and home furnishings consignment store in Montgomery in 2004, it has raised more than $350,000 in support of UCAN's mission of reducing pet overpopulation and euthanasia rates in Greater Cincinnati.
CONGRATULATIONS to everyone who has helped make Pedigree Interiors the tremendous success it is -- volunteers, donors, consignors and staff. Due to their efforts, Pedigree has become the largest consistent funding source for UCAN and one of Cincinnati's premier consignment shops.
For more information on Pedigree and to get a sneak peek at the latest featured items, visit Visit www.pedigreeinteriors.org. |
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Happy Birthday, UCAN!
On April 17th, the clinic celebrated its third birthday! We've come such a long way over the past three years. The very fact that we survived the "start up" phase is an accomplishment - so many new businesses, especially non-profits, do not. We have many things to celebrate and people for whom we are thankful:
· Over 24,000 animals spayed or neutered and countless others saved from being born into lives of abuse, neglect - or worse
· Our dedicated staff that works tirelessly each day to provide every animal that comes to our clinic with the very best care possible
· The 120+ volunteers at the clinic and at Pedigree Interiors who support us in ways both big and small
· Our generous donors without whom we could not have achieved the foothold and financial stability that we now have
· Our partners who support our mission and whose collaborative efforts are an integral part of our operation.
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It's Kitten Season - Do Your Part!
 Spring brings flowers, warm weather, and the beginning of kitten and puppy season. Please do your part to stop pet overpopulation by having your pets spayed or neutered!
UCAN is dedicated to making spay/neuter affordable for all pets! We currently have several subsidy grants available to help those who are still unable to afford our low prices. Visit the website for details or call 721-7387.
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Gift Shop, Flea Market Bring In New Revenue For UCAN Clinic
In addition, UCAN has
turned its sizable clinic warehouse space into an indoor Flea Market, open on
select Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3
p.m. (Watch our website for days when the Flea Market will be open.) We'll have the markdowns from Pedigree Interiors as well as lots of
donated treasures. And now you won't have to wait for our annual garage
sale!
Donations of Flea Market items are needed and gratefully accepted (please - no
clothing, mattresses or large appliances). Donated items may be dropped off on the
clinic
loading dock Monday - Thursday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Tax receipts are
available in a box on the loading dock.
For over-sized
items or large quantities, please call 762-0149 to arrange for free pick
up.
Thanks to the creative vision of some wonderful volunteers, these two volunteer-run enterprises offer pet
lovers and value shoppers alike unique havens for finding both great
bargains and simple treasures. And they have turned into valuable
funding sources for UCAN, allowing us to keep prices low and services available
to those who need them most.
Thanks to all who work so hard on
these programs! We couldn't do it without you!
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Dr. Salas Lends Clinic Her Skills
By Tracy McMullen
When Dr. Amalia Salas came to Cincinnati from Costa Rica
with her husband, a Procter & Gamble employee, she searched for a non-profit
veterinary clinic that would accept her volunteer services.
Fortunately for us, her computer search
yielded the UCAN website, through which she contacted Dr. Terry Ryan Kane, one
of our part-time veterinarians. Coincidentally,
Dr. Ryan Kane is also a volunteer spay/neuter veterinarian with WorldVets.org
and has helped at clinics in Costa Rica.
Since the last week of March, Dr. Salas has been working with the UCAN support
staff in preparation for beginning the process of qualifying to practice in the U.S.
"Dr. Salas is a real asset for us,"
said Dr. Ryan Kane, who is also looking forward to having Dr. Salas participate
in future volunteer projects in Costa Rica.
Adds Clinic Manager Sonja Felix, "We welcome Dr. Salas and truly appreciate all she is doing
for UCAN and the animals who benefit from her care."
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UCAN VOLUNTEER PROFILE:
Michelle Miller
By Tracy McMullen
Every Thursday for more than a year, our profiled volunteer, Michelle Miller, has
prepared surgical instrument packs and done the clinic laundry -- no small task for a clinic that
performs 50+ surgeries a day!
"If it's Thursday, it must be Michelle", commented Ann Hill,
UCAN's executive director. "Many weeks I don't realize that it's already Thursday until I walk
through the prep hall and see Michelle making packs. She is our oldest and most consistent clinic volunteer."
Besides caring for several pets of her own, Michelle also
volunteers at the Butler County Animal Shelter. "I'm big on spay/neuter," she said. Before coming to UCAN, she organized a spay/neuter program that
altered 2,500 cats in two years.
Thank you, Michelle, for all that you do to help UCAN help the animals!
For information on
volunteering at UCAN, please contact Cathy Madewell at 762-0149 or cmadewell@ucancincinnati.org
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Popular Samuel Ruder Artwork Now Available  on T-Shirts!
This wonderful rendering of 22Cats by artist Samuel Ruder is now available on our new T-shirts. The design was also featured on the event poster for O'Bryonville's "Walk on the Wild Side" UCAN is grateful to Sam for giving us permission to use this delightful artwork. Tees come in sizes S-3X and are for sale at both the Clinic and Pedigree Interiors for just $10 each. The 22" x 34" event poster is available by special order for $35. To order, contact Cathy Madewell at 762-0149 or via email at cmadewell@ucancincinnati.org. |
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UCAN Clinic Statistics since opening in April 2007
Cat spays/neuters 17,655
Dog spays/neuters 6,442
Total Surgeries 24,097
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Nick Clooney Narrates New UCAN Video
Check out the new video posted on www.ucancincinnati.org and YouTube!
Beautifully narrated by Nick Clooney, it features Cincinnati Vice Mayor Roxanne Qualls and area clinic managers talking about the impact of UCAN on pet overpopulation in our region -- what it means in terms of saving lives and tax dollars. Definitely a Five Star, Two Thumbs Up rating!
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Sunday at the Movies
Warms February and Marks S/N Month
In recognition of National Spay Neuter Month, UCAN hosted "Sunday at the Movies," a free afternoon of family films, food and fun on Sunday, February 21 at the 20th Century Theater in Oakley. Families enjoyed
complimentary popcorn and screenings of "Babe" and "Milo and Otis."
The theater lobby was the epicenter for those who preferred shopping or adopting. Both the SPCA and the League for Animal Welfare parked their mobile adoption vans out front, attracting the attention of passersby and resulting in the adoption of at least four animals during the afternoon.
Unique pet-themed items offered by vendors were popular items, as were the free soft drinks and popcorn. "This was a great community event that helped raise awareness both of the importance of spay/neuter, and of UCAN's services," said Executive Director Ann Hill. "It's definitely something we're going to do again!" |
Walk on the Wild Side
The first O'Bryonville "Third Thursday Wine Walk" of 2010 was a benefit for the new Cincinnati Feral Cat Initiative. This is a new program that UCAN is helping to organize in conjunction with former O'Bryonville Animal Rescue director, Kathleen Nicholson.
CincyFeral will be a collaborative resource for those who provide care and/or TNR for feral cats.
The weather was perfect on the evening of April 15th when patrons strolled the unique shops of O'Bryonville while sipping complimentary wine. Dogs were welcome at Nicholson Antiques, where Animal Communicator Donneta Zimmerman was on hand to chat, and at Indigenous across the street, where The League for Animal Welfare's mobile adoption van was parked.
We're hoping this will be an annual event!
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| Did You Know?
Besides low-cost
spay/neuter services, UCAN also offers vaccine and basic pet wellness clinics on
Tuesday mornings and some Saturdays for the pets of low-income qualified
individuals. The Tuesday clinics
are teaching clinics staffed by Dr. Jennifer Wells and students from the
Raymond Walters College Veterinary Technology Program.
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UCAN's Wish List
We're always in need of these items:
· Paper towels
· Liquid laundry detergent
· Dryer sheets
· Bleach
· All-purpose cleaners
· Dish and dishwasher soap
· Trash bags - 13 and 55 gallon
· Isopropyl alcohol
· Copy/printer paper
· Postage stamps
· Cat litter
· Dry cat food
· Gently used towels or
blankets
· Clean, bundled newspapers
Items may be dropped off in the lobby of the
clinic, 1230 W. Eighth St., or at Pedigree Interiors, 9889 Montgomery Rd. (in the Montgomery Square Shopping
Center south of Kroger).
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Kroger Gift Cards Keep on Giving and Helping
An easy way to support UCAN is with a Kroger gift card. Just purchase a card and every time you load the card (either at the Kroger Customer Service desk or in the checkout line at any store) UCAN earns a rebate from Kroger! Cards can be re-loaded indefinitely and, if you use a rewards credit card, you'll still get points for that too! Cards are $5 and come preloaded with $5 of credit. Cards are available at the clinic, at Pedigree Interiors or by emailing cmadewell@ucancincinnati.org |
Planning is already underway for this year's Stepsfor Pets at Sawyer Point, so mark your calendars for Sunday, September 19th!
Just like last year, the casual walk will be along about a mile of the Ohio River, with people and their pets encouraged to walk as long or little as they wish.
Steps for Pets also features music, contests, games, food and vendors - all combining to create several hours of fun for two and four-legged creatures alike.
Updated information will be posted on ucancincinnati.org and stepsforpets.org as it becomes available.
Volunteers are needed for the event, so contact Cathy Madewell if you are interested in helping out. Cathy's contact information can be found in the articles to the left.
See you in September! |
Board of Directors
Carol Sanger, President
Michelle Murphy, Vice-President
Christopher DeSimio, Treasurer
Kathleen Collins, Secretary
Sharon Bateman
Rhonda Frey, Esq.
Tia Kuchik
Dorothea Langsam, Esq.
Ashley Neiman
Moe Rouse
Klaus Ziermaier, Esq.
Executive Director
Ann R. Hill
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