Spay, neuter campaign for cats begins in Granite Falls

Published 12:01 am Wednesday, March 2, 2011

GRANITE FALLS — Nancy Wahl wants to be known in the city as a resource for cat issues.

The nurse at Cascade Valley Hospital in Arlington has learned cat care and rescue techniques after volunteering over the past decade at various cat shelters. She has used this knowledge to trap, sterilize and release feral cats found throughout Granite Falls, including cats found on Highway 92, Granite Avenue and the Mountain Loop Highway.

Now Wahl, 56, is starting a spay and neuter and microchip campaign in the city where she has lived for 29 years.

“It’s the community’s responsibility. If we all take care of the problems in our own back yard there wouldn’t be a problem,” she said.

Wahl said she was spurred to start the campaign after police on Jan. 21 found 31 dead animals and three emaciated cats inside a Granite Falls house that was in foreclosure. A mother and a son who owned the house were charged with six counts of animal cruelty on Feb. 11.

“I thought this is the time to do it because people are focused and aware there’s a problem now,” she said.

Wahl said her goal is to start with apartment and rental owners and let them know she is volunteering to be a contact for people who are looking for free or low-cost spay and neuter services for their cats. She said that renters are more likely than property owners to leave their cats or dogs behind in a neighborhood.

“If you go in with a non- judgmental attitude and you’re caring and want to help instead of condemning people, you can make a big difference,” she said.

Wahl spends an average of 20 hours a week on cat rescue projects, including volunteering at Purrfect Pals, a cat shelter in Arlington. She often helps at the shelter by finding homes for unwanted or hard to place cats.

“She does so much,” said Janice Johnson, president of the Purrfect Pals Board. “She also places some of our difficult to place (cats). She’s found some great homes for some really tough cats.”

Wahl said she could use more help with the campaign in Granite Falls. Volunteers are needed to help trap, neuter and release feral cats, transport cats to shelters, donate food for feral cat colonies, become an advocate for neutering pets and to create and manage a lost and found board or web site for Granite Falls pets.

Although her first priority is educating people about spay and neuter services, Wahl said she’d also like to organize an event to inform people about microchipping their pets.

“What I would like to see in our community is a recognition of the importance of treating animals humanely and responsibly and that starts with having them neutered and the population controlled,” Wahl said.

Amy Daybert: 425-339-3491; adaybert@heraldnet.com.

You can help

To get more information or volunteer with a spay or neuter and pet microchip campaign in Granite Falls, e-mail Nancy Wahl at nwahl@netzero.net.