A furry friend, indeed

She recognizes in order to help animals in need, you have to get through to people first.

Fur to Feathers founder Jane Perry of South Waterville and a team of 12 volunteers held a fundraising ticket auction with a canteen at the Waterville fire hall on April 30. The event raised $2,970 to help animals in need.

Perry said she’s always helped raise money for good causes and, about four years ago, she decided to start a charitable cause of her own.

“I spent quite a bit of time coming up with this name, Fur to Feathers, because I didn’t want to just be known as an organization that helps cats,” Perry said.

She said they’ve lived up to the name, helping everything from horses to pigeons. They look after three feral cat colonies.

Fur to Feathers doesn’t operate a shelter but Perry donates money raised to other animal welfare organizations or wherever she feels the funds are most needed. For example, Fur to Feathers made a donation to help animals in Fort Mcmurray after last year’s wildfire.

Perry said they work with the veterinarians at the Berwick Animal Hospital, where they get a reduced price for spaying and neutering for cats and dogs. She said they’d help people get other veterinary care for their animals as well.

For example, if a person can’t afford to have a pet euthanized, Fur to Feathers will foot the bill until the owner can pay the money back. She said they have experienced cases where they’ve helped people and then didn’t get reimbursed but Perry takes satisfaction in knowing that the animal received help.

Perry said she’s had animals from the time she was a child and knows what it’s like not being able to afford vet care. At the time, there was nowhere to turn for help.

“I guess that’s where my passion is, to help animals that need the help worse,” Perry said.

Perry said they’re grateful for the use of the Waterville fire hall for the fundraising auctions, especially considering they’re allowed to use the kitchen to run their canteen. Perry makes a donation to the department on behalf of Fur to Feathers to express her appreciation. She said people love the “famous” hot dogs with onions and the social time they experience at the auctions.

Perry said, from now on, they’d be auctioning off gift certificates mainly. The next auction is at the Waterville fire hall on Oct. 1. The funds raised through the April event will have to carry the organization until then.

Perry said all the money they raise goes to help animals. She wishes the government would recognize the importance of funding animal welfare organizations. After all, people create most problems involving domestic animals.

Helping people help animals

Monica Brewster of Baxter’s Harbour knows first-hand how Fur to Feathers can be a great help to animals – and people.

She has a dog, Becky, and two cats, Bizzy and Bindi. Bindi is Brewster’s therapy cat.

Last year, Brewster suffered a hemiplegic migraine that resulted in stroke-like paralysis symptoms. She got a therapy cat on doctor’s orders.

“Without the help of these people I wouldn’t have been able to spay them and get them to the vets, so this really helped out a lot,” Brewster said.

For reasons such as this, Brewster said, it’s important for people to continue supporting Fur to Feathers fundraisers.

For more information on Fur to Feathers, visit the organization’s Facebook page.