Ava MO Spay and Neuter Program - aaawlj

06/03/2026

*Sorry, no pre-sales as it is too much for our volunteers to keep up with!*
Keep bringing us your stuff! Our sale (starting Thursday) is filling up nicely! Thank you to all who have donated so far 🥰 Tomorrow (Wednesday 6/3) is our last day for donation drop offs from 10am-1pm. Enjoy the sneak peek photos! 🐱 🐶 💚 🩷 AWL Annual Yard Sale Fundraiser

06/01/2026

05/31/2026

Bobcat tick fever is everywhere, including Ava.

05/21/2026

Our favorite trap is from Tomahawk Live Trap brand. The ease of use, simple setup, and double sided door openings make the task a little less daunting!

https://a.co/d/0aqYk5Jm

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT FROM YOUR LOCAL EXHAUSTED CAT LADY: 🐈⬛🚨

There is a reason clinics like S.A.A.F. and most high volume TNR clinics require feral/community cats to arrive in HUMANE TRAPS and not regular cat carriers.

And today’s educational presentation is called:

✨ “Pam vs. One Tiny Feral Goblin in a Garage Full of Obstacles” ✨

Now before anybody comes for me, feral cats are not mean cats. They are TERRIFIED cats. A truly feral cat does not understand:
• “I’m helping you”
• “you have a vet appointment”
• “please stop climbing the shelving unit”

They understand:
✨ THE GOVERNMENT HAS CAPTURED ME ✨ 😭

I believe this happened about two years ago now, but I still remember it vividly because my blood pressure has honestly probably never recovered.

Someone had brought me a VERY feral little guy the NIGHT BEFORE his S.A.A.F. appointment in a regular carrier instead of a humane trap.

Now a smart person probably would have transferred him immediately.

But no.

Apparently Past Pam woke up the next morning and said:
✨ “You know what sounds like a GREAT idea? Transferring a terrified feral cat into a humane trap an hour before his appointment.” ✨

This was, in fact, a terrible idea. 😂

The second that carrier door cracked open in the Pets4Vets garage, this cat transformed into an Olympic gymnast mixed with a caffeinated raccoon and a bottle rocket.

That child said:
✨ FREEDOM ✨

And proceeded to launch himself into the garage like he had trained for this moment his entire life.

Now if you’ve ever seen our garage, you already know this was basically the worst possible location for a feral cat escape because:
• shelves everywhere
• rescue supplies stacked to the ceiling
• tools
• electrical equipment
• random mystery rescue objects
• approximately 47 places for a cat to disappear into another dimension

Meanwhile my Apple Watch is probably preparing to call emergency services because my heart rate had entered “forest prey animal” territory.

So for the next 45 minutes I’m in there doing this weird slow-motion hostage negotiation while trying NOT to:
• get bitten
• get shredded
• scare him more
• miss the appointment
• cry
• throw up
• pass away dramatically beside a litter bucket

I had bite gloves ready because this little dude was absolutely convinced I was trying to assassinate him personally.

Thankfully, after what can only be described as a low-budget National Geographic special, I managed to slowly corner him and safely get a transfer cage over him. Once contained, getting him into the humane trap was easy.

But THIS is exactly why TNR clinics require traps.

Because humane traps:
• keep the cat safely contained
• reduce injury risk
• allow safe sedation
• prevent escapes
• make recovery safer after surgery
• and prevent volunteers like me from having a complete spiritual crisis in a garage before 9 AM

So when rescues and clinics say:
“Please bring feral cats in traps only.”

We are not being dramatic.

We are trying to prevent:
✨ The Fast & The Feral: Garage Drift ✨

05/20/2026

I know this little guy would have grown into one of those big-cheeked tom cats if not for the incredible effort it took to save him and his siblings. ❤️

Without that chance, his life likely would have looked very different. He probably would have grown up covered in scars, with torn ears from fighting to survive outside. 🤕 He would have faced the constant dangers of roaming, harsh weather, disease, cars, predators, and days where food was hard to find. 😿 After enough fights, there’s a good chance he would have contracted FIV. And like so many outdoor tom cats, his life likely would have been difficult and far too short. 💔

Instead, he was given a different future. He was saved. 🙌🏼 He gets safety, food, comfort, love, and the chance to grow old in peace.

Who wouldn’t want that for every cat out there struggling just to survive another day❓

If you are able, please fix your cats.
If you are able, help fix unowned cats.
If you are able, help others fix theirs too.

👉🏼 Every single spay and neuter truly changes lives.

05/12/2026

A very special thank you to Erik Webb for designing our new logo! Erik is a long time volunteer and a treasured asset to our group. He is also the muscle 💪🏽 who helps us at our events, and the husband to one of our favorites, Apiphani! Thank you Erik!! We love it, and we love you!
*If you’re lucky, you might get to meet him at our annual sale, during Ava Citywide Sales June 4th & 5th!