Name: Gloria Aberasturi
Business: Coronado CARES
Website: http://www.coronadocares.org/
Please describe the work of Coronado CARES in a nutshell! Coronado CARES is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization promoting animal welfare and taking a grassroots approach to reduce the number of homeless animals in Coronado. The CARES stands for Community Animal Rescue and Education Society.
How did you get started with this work? I was a member of PAWS of Coronado and while their focus is the adoption of animals, I wanted to address more grassroots issues, looking at why there are animals in the shelter in the first place. Of course some are relinquished but others are found locally and many of them - especially cats who have been living in the 'wild' - are not adoptable. So we started the Trap Neuter Return program to get to the source. (Cats can have up to 5 litters a year so you can see how the problem multiplies.)
The program has been a huge success in Coronado. Yes, in the last 6 years we have performed over 700 Trap Neuter Returns, reducing the feral cat numbers in Coronado to just the right amount. You don't want zero cats because the rodent population would rise very quickly - the aim is to maintain a natural balance. For example, several years ago The Shores had a company come in and round up all the cats, about 40 of them, but afterwards I would see mice around the property. So I went to the committee and asked permission to start my program to Trap Neuter and Return, they granted it and now there is no problem at all! And the cat doesn't necessarily have to catch the rodent, their scent alone is a deterrent.
Is it possible for feral cats to transition to a domestic life? Sometimes if you have a mother who gives birth to kittens and they are handled from a young age for six weeks or so, they can become adoptable and in those cases we would go to the San Diego Humane Society or Helen Woodward Animal Center or a local adopting family. But our focus is really spay and neuter as it is the most effective method of preventing homelessness in the first place.
You also work with Coronado residents in a case-by-case capacity. An individual may call us if a cat has adopted their backyard as we are keen to have the cat fixed before kitten season. We help the individual with the trapping and the vet visit and all we ask in return is that they feed the cat once a day and provide some water. If the cat is not well or has got into a fight, we ask that they call us and we will try again to capture it and tend to it. Always taking care to return them to the same area. Just because a cat is not adoptable, doesn't mean it can't have a good life.
If you had a wish to be granted by a fellow Chamber Member, what would that be? We could really use volunteers with Events, Education and Community Outreach - getting people interested in and committed to animal welfare. Once a year we have our Mardi Gras Casino Night fundraiser (Saturday March 7th in 2020) and on Saturday June 20th in IB we have microchipping event and we would welcome volunteers for those events.
We also have a need for Colony Feeders. I have 3 feeding stations at The Shores. I feed the cats every day I am here, that's my commitment, but in the summer when I am gone for 2.5 months it would be wonderful to have someone (perhaps someone who lives at The Shores) take that station or cover Tidelands Park or the amphib base. The Secretary of the Board actually walks from town, along the water to the station and considers that her exercise for that day! But even the places we have covered, it's always good to be able to offer those volunteers some relief throughout the year or say one day a week.
Can you tell us about the protocol at the feeding stations? The cats may come up to you but don't try to touch them - they are very scared. But there is great satisfaction you can derive when the cats recognise you and they know you are bringing them something that they like and you won't be trying to scratch their head or something they are not comfortable with.
You also welcome volunteers for the Feline Socialization sessions at the Coronado Veterinary Hospital... Mon-Fri from 12.30-1.30pm during kitten season. You play with the kittens to get them used to human contact. Some of the volunteers work here in town and go on their lunch hour! You really see a relationship develop between you and the kitten as their confidence grows.
How long have you lived in Coronado? My husband Richard and I moved from Manhattan in 2005. I know it's an over-used expression but it really is paradise. The weather here gives you the opportunity to have a very different lifestyle, both from a volunteering perspective and personally. And now when I file my taxes my accountant says, "You never give me mileage any more!" and I'll say, "John, at most I do 4 miles a day!"
Tell us about your dog... We have a 7 year-old, 7lb Yorkie - Tyler the Terror. He gets away with any naughty behavior with a tilt of his head that steals your heart away! Typically he doesn't do well with other dogs but our sitter rescued a Chihuahua named Chiquita and they fell so in love we actually had a wedding ceremony for them!
Finally, what is the best compliment you have been paid about the work you do? That the animals have a human friend in me. Because of Coronado CARES, these animals living outdoors are not by themselves. That makes me feel really good!
Thank you Gloria, both for chatting with us and for the wonderful work you do!
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DONATE $10 TO CORONADOCARES RIGHT NOW YOU CAN CLICK HERE: DONATE $10
Business: Coronado CARES
Website: http://www.coronadocares.org/
Please describe the work of Coronado CARES in a nutshell! Coronado CARES is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization promoting animal welfare and taking a grassroots approach to reduce the number of homeless animals in Coronado. The CARES stands for Community Animal Rescue and Education Society.
How did you get started with this work? I was a member of PAWS of Coronado and while their focus is the adoption of animals, I wanted to address more grassroots issues, looking at why there are animals in the shelter in the first place. Of course some are relinquished but others are found locally and many of them - especially cats who have been living in the 'wild' - are not adoptable. So we started the Trap Neuter Return program to get to the source. (Cats can have up to 5 litters a year so you can see how the problem multiplies.)
The program has been a huge success in Coronado. Yes, in the last 6 years we have performed over 700 Trap Neuter Returns, reducing the feral cat numbers in Coronado to just the right amount. You don't want zero cats because the rodent population would rise very quickly - the aim is to maintain a natural balance. For example, several years ago The Shores had a company come in and round up all the cats, about 40 of them, but afterwards I would see mice around the property. So I went to the committee and asked permission to start my program to Trap Neuter and Return, they granted it and now there is no problem at all! And the cat doesn't necessarily have to catch the rodent, their scent alone is a deterrent.
Is it possible for feral cats to transition to a domestic life? Sometimes if you have a mother who gives birth to kittens and they are handled from a young age for six weeks or so, they can become adoptable and in those cases we would go to the San Diego Humane Society or Helen Woodward Animal Center or a local adopting family. But our focus is really spay and neuter as it is the most effective method of preventing homelessness in the first place.
You also work with Coronado residents in a case-by-case capacity. An individual may call us if a cat has adopted their backyard as we are keen to have the cat fixed before kitten season. We help the individual with the trapping and the vet visit and all we ask in return is that they feed the cat once a day and provide some water. If the cat is not well or has got into a fight, we ask that they call us and we will try again to capture it and tend to it. Always taking care to return them to the same area. Just because a cat is not adoptable, doesn't mean it can't have a good life.
If you had a wish to be granted by a fellow Chamber Member, what would that be? We could really use volunteers with Events, Education and Community Outreach - getting people interested in and committed to animal welfare. Once a year we have our Mardi Gras Casino Night fundraiser (Saturday March 7th in 2020) and on Saturday June 20th in IB we have microchipping event and we would welcome volunteers for those events.
We also have a need for Colony Feeders. I have 3 feeding stations at The Shores. I feed the cats every day I am here, that's my commitment, but in the summer when I am gone for 2.5 months it would be wonderful to have someone (perhaps someone who lives at The Shores) take that station or cover Tidelands Park or the amphib base. The Secretary of the Board actually walks from town, along the water to the station and considers that her exercise for that day! But even the places we have covered, it's always good to be able to offer those volunteers some relief throughout the year or say one day a week.
Can you tell us about the protocol at the feeding stations? The cats may come up to you but don't try to touch them - they are very scared. But there is great satisfaction you can derive when the cats recognise you and they know you are bringing them something that they like and you won't be trying to scratch their head or something they are not comfortable with.
You also welcome volunteers for the Feline Socialization sessions at the Coronado Veterinary Hospital... Mon-Fri from 12.30-1.30pm during kitten season. You play with the kittens to get them used to human contact. Some of the volunteers work here in town and go on their lunch hour! You really see a relationship develop between you and the kitten as their confidence grows.
How long have you lived in Coronado? My husband Richard and I moved from Manhattan in 2005. I know it's an over-used expression but it really is paradise. The weather here gives you the opportunity to have a very different lifestyle, both from a volunteering perspective and personally. And now when I file my taxes my accountant says, "You never give me mileage any more!" and I'll say, "John, at most I do 4 miles a day!"
Tell us about your dog... We have a 7 year-old, 7lb Yorkie - Tyler the Terror. He gets away with any naughty behavior with a tilt of his head that steals your heart away! Typically he doesn't do well with other dogs but our sitter rescued a Chihuahua named Chiquita and they fell so in love we actually had a wedding ceremony for them!
Finally, what is the best compliment you have been paid about the work you do? That the animals have a human friend in me. Because of Coronado CARES, these animals living outdoors are not by themselves. That makes me feel really good!
Thank you Gloria, both for chatting with us and for the wonderful work you do!
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DONATE $10 TO CORONADOCARES RIGHT NOW YOU CAN CLICK HERE: DONATE $10