Latest news with #spayandneuter
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
To save feral cats, Boise's soccer club is helping ‘selfless' family. Here's why
Tracy Brodt was teaching her teenage daughter to drive in the parking lot at the Western Idaho Fairgrounds in 2014 when she spotted a woman feeding stray cats near Les Bois Park. After more than a decade of diligence and care, Brodt has helped bring that feral cat population down from around 200 to less than 50. The Idaho Humane Society has supported the project by assisting with spay and neuter efforts. But the cats are in need of a new home as construction ramps up to transform the old Les Bois Park grounds into the home of Idaho's first pro soccer team: Athletic Club Boise. The USL League One club is expected to begin play in March of 2026. 'Ever since Les Bois Park was chosen as our new stadium site, we've worked closely with the Brodt family — who has been tending to the feral cat population personally for the last decade — to ensure the safety of the feral cats,' Athletic Club Boise told the Idaho Statesman in an emailed statement. 'With the Brodt family's consultation with the Idaho Humane Society, they are following best practices to gradually move the cats out of construction areas. Access has never been restricted to the feral cats. Our shared goal is the well-being of the animals as we continue building a home for AC Boise that reflects the values of our community.' The Brodts said they plan to trap and move the cats to a temporary home on a farm owned by a local veterinarian, but are still working to find a permanent home for the animals. Over the years, Tracy and fellow feline lover and volunteer Carol Stephenson and her partner, Gregor Addey, have cared for abandoned kittens, sick strays and injured cats out of their own pockets. They feed and provide water to the cat population at Les Bois Park on a daily basis. 'If you meet a rescuer of feral cats, you've met someone selfless,' said Donna Brown, founder of the nonprofit Garden City Community Cats Project. 'Those feral cats, the far majority of them won't ever let you even touch them. But these people are caring for them because they want them to have a good life.' Terry Brodt, Tracy's husband, said the family spends 'tens of thousands of dollars' every year caring for stray cats, including food and veterinary bills. 'My wife's specialty is when they find kittens that are really ill or abandoned or a cat's hurt,' Terry said. 'My wife is like a super nurse. She's really good at getting them back to health.' The Brodts estimate that more than 90 percent of the feral population at Les Bois Park has been spayed or neutered. Many of the cats have lived there their entire lives, but the area also became a dumping ground for unwanted cats. The Brodts help get cats that have been domesticated adopted, including kittens. 'My wife feeds so many cats,' Terry said. 'You wouldn't believe how many cans of cat food she opens in one night. It's unbelievable.' While there is a plan in place for the current feral population at Les Bois Park, Brown anticipates the area will continue to be a haven for stray cats, meaning Athletic Club Boise will likely need a long-term plan for their care. 'The thing that people don't understand is you can't annihilate a cat population, even if you were heartless and did, because they'll always be cats to fill in,' Brown said. KIVI-TV Channel 6 first reported the story.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Texas dog rescue provides safe haven for pregnant pups
A maternity suite in Texas doesn't treat the patients you'd expect. Three Little Pitties, a Houston-area dog rescue, is a safe haven for pregnant stray dogs to give birth. The organization is saving hundreds of animal lives, and creating a safe, welcoming environment for dog moms and their newborn pups. One of those success stories is Matilda, who recently delivered a healthy litter. "Matilda would have had a completely different future if she were not here in these nurseries," said Alayna Matranga Goodson, the organization's founder and executive director. "She may have given birth at an overcrowded shelter, and her puppies may not have made it because of all of the germs that come along with that." Houston has one of the worst stray animal problems in the country. Dogs on the streets face predators, parasites and malnutrition. In the animal shelter system, euthanasia levels are higher than she's ever seen them, Goodson said. "Having a safe place where you can take care of your young and not have to worry, I mean, that's priceless. So I'm glad that we can offer that," Goodson said. The mother dogs are also spayed after they give birth. This helps control the pet population and prevents unwanted pregnancies. Matilda underwent the minor procedure after she welcomed her litter. "There are too many puppies and not enough homes," Goodson said. "It's beautiful to see, but we're excited for it to be her last litter and she will never have to do this again." Once the pups have been safely born and their mothers spayed, Three Little Pitties helps them find their forever homes. Goodson said that since opening six months ago, the organization has adopted out 150 dogs. Goodson became choked up while talking about the organization's impact. "It is emotional because I still have to see suffering on the streets because I live here," Goodson said. "I still have to pass by situations that I cannot help, but at least I'm able to be a part of helping three families at a time." Trump touts UK trade deal, but U.S. companies fear they won't survive China tariffs Saturday Sessions: The Head and the Heart performs "After The Setting Sun" Saturday Sessions: The Head and the Heart performs "Time With My Sins"
