Community Cats of Leesburg Florida

I moved into a senior park in Leesburg Florida, Lakes at Leesburg, in December 2015. Soon I began to notice a gray and white cat and then a black cat. I believe the gray and white cat was a male and the daddy cat to several kittens. I would see him over at the central part of the senior park and see him coming through my carport and across our street. The black cat was a female from what I could tell and I believe she had more than one litter. She seemed to follow the path of the gray and white male cat. On May 24, 2016 I snapped her photo as she came through the side of my back yard.

I moved to the senior park from Jacksonville, Florida to seek a quieter life and figure out my retirement. I thought a senior park would be the answer. I quickly learned it was NOT the answer for me ... it was obvious to me I should look elsewhere. However, by the time I came to the realization I needed to move, the community cats had become an issue. I could NOT leave this park and not try to help all the community cats.

In March 2019, I quietly began to trap-neuter-return the community cats which came through my carport. I didn't need to go elsewhere in the senior park, THEY WERE COMING TO ME. I believe they knew that I was a trusted caregiver. Back up in Jacksonville, when I was living in Deercreek Country Club, my husband and I worked to TNR a few dozen cats. In Jacksonville, we were blessed to have First Coast No More Homeless Pets FCNMHP, founded by Rick DuCharme. We had one litter of 5 kittens that we fostered and socialized and had adopted out. When we divorced, I ultimately ended up in my own house in Mandarin, Florida.

By myself, I continued the TNR in my new home. There were two older adult tom cats, a black one and a orange tabby, that were neutered and returned. And, then there was a white calico pregnant cat who had 6 kittens. I found those kittens in the neighbor's bushes and rescued them. I watched throughout the morning and into the afternoon for the mommy cat. Soon she came into my backyard and I coaxed her into my Florida Room. And, so began the fostering and socialization of 6 kittens with the mommy cat. That is another story for another time.

So, it is March 2019 here in my senior park and looking out my kitchen window I see the black and white cat -- what a cutie!!! -- and she has a full belly. It wasn't obvious whether she was indeed pregnant or if she had worms. I began my research for Lake County, Florida to see what TNR resources were available to TNR community cats. I first reached out to the Humane Society in Umatilla ... crickets! Nobody got back to me. It was searching around Facebook that I learned about LEASH and how they work with the Lake County Animal Shelter with their Caturday program. That's the route I took.

I picked up a LEASH trap from Karen, a director of LEASH. I put the purple trap in my carport and waited to see how long before the black and white cat would be trapped. Watching her, she was very cautious around the trap. I finally had to put bumble bee tuna in a path into the trap so that she would go completely in ... which she did. Karen penned the name of Mystic Elsie for her since I was calling her "little cutie." Little cutie = L.C. = Elsie! Mys. Elsie.

Mystic Elsie the welcoming Community Cat of Lakes at Leesburg

Throughout 2019, I worked at the trap-neuter-return of eight different cats. All of these cats were trapped as they came through my carport. Working to do the TNR, with the help of LEASH and the Lake County Animal Shelter, I kept thinking I need help in this senior park. In late January 2020, I trapped a black male cat. He was a very big boy and very pungent with his urine smell. That made NINE COMMUNITY CATS TNR'D by me.

Hold the phone!! TEN COMMUNITY CATS TNR'D by me with a 12 pound male tabby on February 11, 2020!

UPDATE!!! A dozen -- that's TWELVE COMMUNITY CATS TNR'D by me with a pair of 8 month old brothers on June 3, 2020. I first saw the pair, which I named Inky and Dinky, in late 2019 as they emerged from under the house behind me. Inky is a tuxedo, black with white bib, belly and paws. Dinky is a gray/brown tabby also with white markings of bib, belly and paws. Dinky was the exception with the ear tipping in that his right ear, rather than left, was tipped! Inky and Dinky were slated to be neutered months before June, but the coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic put everything on hold.

12 TNR COMMUNITY CATS OF LAKES AT LEESBURG

  

#1 - A030402 - Mystic Elsie - white and black female 2 years; #2 - A033139 - Donald Trump aka Big Orange - orange tabby male 12 years; #3 - A034628 - Rudy Giuliani - black male 6 mos.; #4 - A034810 - Tabitha - gray tabby female 2 years; #5 - A034811 - black female 2 years; #6 - A034809 - black female 2 years; #7 - A035139 - black female 2 years; #8 - A035500 - Baby Yoda - dark gray male tabby with white paws/markings - 4 mos.; #9 - A036168 - Louie - black male - 1 year. #10 - A036346 - Monsignor Fancy Pants - brown with gray male tabby - 12 pounds, 2 years. #11 - A037531 - Inky - black with white tuxedo male - 8 mos; #12 - A037532 - Dinky - gray with white markings tabby male - 8 mos.

Each of these twelve community cats were trapped with a LEASH trap and attended to by a veterinarian at the Lake County Animal Shelter through the Caturday program. Three of the cats were a part of the last Saturday in October 2019 Caturday. The other nine were individually taken on either a Tuesday afternoon or early Wednesday morning to the Animal Shelter for TNR. In total, there were 7 males and 5 females; of those twelve community cats, six were black cats of which 3 were males and 3 were females.

Mystic Elsie Community Cat - Lake County Animal Shelter Caturday

Each of the twelve community cats that went through the Caturday TNR, received FVRCP and Rabies vaccines and paperwork like the example for Mystic Elsie, the first TNR community cat. Each of the twelve receive a rabies vaccination certificate like the one for the November 13, 2019 TNR cat.

In January 2020, I learned that I was not the only Lakes at Leesburg resident quietly doing TNR with our community cats! Thank God, I say!!! A number of other community cats have benefited from  caring senior residents stepping up to do trap-neuter-return.

Lake County Spay/Neuter Rebate Program Form

The Lake County Animal Shelter, a no kill facility, performs TNR through the Operation Community Caturday program, working with LEASH. Misfits in Mt. Dora is another resource for TNR where you can take your community cat and use the spay/neuter rebate program form.

Do YOU live in Lakes at Leesburg? You too can be a part of the humane solution to the number of community cats. Complaining, poisoning, killing, relocating is NOT the answer. TNR is the answer.

TNR Resources in Lake County

LEASH - "an independent non-profit organization, to work in conjunction with the Lake County Animal Shelter, other local shelters."

Misfit Clinic - "a non-profit, low cost spay/neuter clinic."

Lake County Florida Office of Animal Services - "The Lake County Office of Animal Services provides for public safety and animal welfare."

Lake County Animal Shelter Operation Caturday - "Operation Community Caturday, a partnership between the shelter and LEASH, Inc., will seek to sterilize up to 600 free-roaming cats per year."

Lake County Florida Animal Shelter Facebook Page - "The Lake County Animal Shelter was designated as a no-kill shelter in 2017."

Lake County Spay/Neuter Rebate Program - "The program allows full-time residents to bring their pet to their licensed veterinary practitioner to receive the procedure, then complete an application that provides up to a $50 rebate to the pet owner."

An Overview of Caring for Free-Roaming Cats - The Humane Society of the United States has put together this very helpful guide. It is a wonderful resource for educating the public on the many aspects of dealing with free-roaming cats and TNR. Please take time to read this!

Advancing the TNR Movement - You can find more helpful resources to assist you once you've embraced TNR and want to be an advocate getting out the humane word about it all.

I hear people remarking that these outside cats should be on leashes like dogs. That is a myth! Alley Cat Allies has penned a very informational page to answer the question why cats should not be kept on leashes.

Mahatma Gandhi really penned what this is all about. "The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated."

Royal Haeger Pottery and Collectibles

In the spotlight you will find Royal Haeger Pottery and Collectibles. Beautiful Ceramics and Collectibles made in USA! Royal Haeger in association with Haeger Potteries have created some of the most beautiful ceramics and collectibles that are made in the USA! If you are looking for a line of made in the USA ceramics and pottery, allow me to introduce you to this fabulous American brand.

In the line from Haeger Potteries along with the renowned Royal Haeger, you can find stylish planters, vases, pitchers, lamps, candlesticks, centerpieces, and figurines. A specialty of theirs is ebony gloss ceramic wild animals.

I've personally got my eye on the beautiful black cat figurines as I already have two of them and am hoping to see more in that line to add to our home's collection.

My grandmother Julia Nagy had one of the black panther cats that sat on her fireplace mantel. Now, I too have one of those on my fireplace mantel! The black panther complements the black cat of Linda LeKinff's Ellen artwork.

You can also find some Royal Haeger by Royal Hickman U.S.A. collectibles that were produced from 1938-1944 while Royal Hickman was the designer in house. Got to have this book! The House of Haeger, 1944-1969: The Post-War Era.

Allow me to introduce you to this brand of beautiful ceramics and collectibles that are made in the USA!

Photo Credit: The House of Haeger, 1944-1969: The Post-War Era.

The Royal Haeger Poll
Please answer our question about this brand! Are you familiar with this line?

1. Yes I know of it and have some of their collectibles!
2. I am familiar but do not own any pieces.
3. Not sure if I have heard of them - sounds familiar.
4. I am just learning about this collectibles brand.

The Royal Haeger Black Panther of JaguarJulie
That's the cat on my fireplace mantel between a couple of Marjolein Bastin JOYs and beneath the art of Linda LeKinff!

black panther of Royal Haeger on JaguarJulie's fireplace mantel

You can see my black panther on top of my fireplace mantel. I learned about Royal Haeger originally from my grandma, Julia Nagy. Grandma's black panther sat on her fireside mantel In her Cleveland, Ohio home, she had many ceramic and pottery collectibles from Haeger Potteries.

It was grandma's ceramic black panther that made an impression on me. I'm thinking my grandma bought her black panther from a local department store. You know, there wasn't shopping online way back then.

I am pretty sure that one of my sisters claimed this figurine when grandma died. It was such a precious memory to me that I had to go out and buy my very own!

Do you know that Royal Haeger, along with Haeger Potteries, has been in operation since 1871? They are headquartered in the Midwest, northwest of Chicago, on the clay-rich banks of the Fox River. "As America's oldest and largest producer of pottery, Haeger is renowned for gorgeous glazes, the result of over four generations of development by expert craftsmen."

Perhaps you would like the Haeger Potteries Black Panther Ceramic Sculpture for yourself.

This beautiful ceramic sculpture, in an ebony glaze, of a stylized stalking panther has been a company signature piece for years. It measures a commanding size of 24 inches wide by 5 inches high by 4 inches deep. I bought mine from Amazon on August 1, 2009. I love it so much that I wouldn't mind having a second one for my home!

A Video Introducing You to the Line of Haeger Potteries

If you are a Royal Haeger collector, you will enjoy The House of Haeger, 1914-1944: The Revitalization of American Art Pottery.

It is a Schiffer Book for Collectors by Joe Paradis and Joyce Paradis.

Why buy this book? You get stunning images, thorough research, and exclusive material for starters.

If you are a Royal Haeger collector, you will appreciate the three illustrated price guides, a look at Haeger's early artware production, and profiles of four of the companies' lead designers.

Royal Haeger Pottery Info
Get It From the Source! - Be sure to take some time to check out these links.

• Download Royal Haeger 2005
  You can download the Royal Haeger 2005 illustrated catalog to see some of the most beautiful, stylish, and colorful examples of Haeger potteries and ceramics.
• Royal Haeger Website
  The Haeger Potteries corporate website.
• History of Haeger Potteries
  You can read about the history since 1871 to the present.

Items produced during Hickman's tenure, 1938-1944,
are marked "Royal Haeger by Royal Hickman U.S.A."

The House of Haeger, 1944-1969

If you are into Royal Haeger and Haeger Potteries, you will want to follow the history of the company's collectible ceramic artware during the post World War II years.

The House of Haeger, 1944-1969: The Post-War Era is another Schiffer Book for Collectors by Joe Paradis and Joyce Paradis.

This is a companion piece to follow the history of the company. You get over 370 incredible photos documenting Haeger's production of collectibles during this recovery period.

Beautiful Ebony Cat Sitting on My Dresser

Royal Haeger black sitting cat porcelain figurine

This is my second favorite Royal Haeger piece! Ah, it is a very regal feline figurine! This majestic ceramic cat, from Haeger Potteries, sits in my front artsy room that I painted with Sherwin-Williams Forget Me Not purple.

You get a little glimpse of the magnificent dresser on which it sits. In that room, I also have a lighted curio cabinet which houses my Hungarian porcelain collectibles.

Perhaps you'd like one of these black cats for yourself? The Haeger Potteries Sitting Cat Ceramic Sculpture is exquisite! I actually bought mine through Amazon on June 8, 2010. What was so impressive is how it was packaged. The porcelain cat was shrink-wrapped tightly to an inner carton within a larger outer box. There was no way it could be damaged in transport!

If you love cats like I do, you will love this sleek ebony glaze ceramic sculpture. They have stylized a cat and presented it in a sitting position. It is a bigger sculpture measuring 13 inches wide by 9 inches high by 7 inches deep.

Haeger Potteries through the Years

To finish off your library of information on Haeger Potteries, you'll want to add this book, Haeger Potteries Through the Years: A Price Guide.

You get to see some of the designers from Royal Hickman, including Brastoff and Martin Stangl. The important ceramic collectibles -- planters, vases, cookie jars, pitchers, and lamps -- are included. Plus you get the rich history of Royal Haeger, Flowerware, Studio Haeger and other lines.

This 376 page hardback book also includes original catalog pages along with a price guide from 2002-2003.

The Lamps of Royal Haeger

It is pretty cool to see what you can find on eBay when searching Royal Haeger, Royal Hickman, and Haeger Potteries.

You get a look at the rich history of ceramic collectibles from this American company. For example, LAMPS! You can find some incredible vintage, mid-century modern lamps that will wow you.

Pottery Pitchers

This company has obviously had some brilliant ceramic designers throughout their long history. If you want a lot of style, look for the various pottery pitchers produced through the years. It is tough to find newly produced comparables.

Try a search on eBay and see what you can find. You may find a sleekly designed pitcher that demonstrates the artful style of Haeger Potteries ... and find that you cannot live without it!!

Do You Know Royal Haeger?

Perhaps you are new to the Royal Haeger line along with Haeger Potteries collectibles? If so, I'm glad that I could introduce you to this beautiful line of ceramics, pottery, and collectibles. Do you have a favorite item yet?

Do you have a question about a Royal Haeger item that you own? If I can't answer your question(s), perhaps one of our informed readers might know! It helps to be able to see a picture of the item -- have you uploaded that picture to your flickr album? Let me know where so that we can add that picture to our showcase!

History: Royal Haeger Pottery and Collectibles was originally created on Squidoo by JaguarJulie on July 30, 2009. On April 4, 2013 this lens earned the Purple Star Award for quality content. Highest lensrank ever achieved: #5,101 overall. Lens #468 in the quest for Giant Squid 500 Club.

FCNMHP in Jacksonville Florida

Thank goodness for First Coast No More Homeless Pets - FCNMHP in Jacksonville, Florida! First Coast No More Homeless Pets is first and foremost for the animals! Jacksonville, Florida is blessed to have First Coast No More Homeless Pets FCNMHP, a non-profit 501(c)3 corporation.

This organization is now working hand-in-hand with the City of Jacksonville, Animal Care and Control, and the Jacksonville Humane Society to help with the spaying and neutering of feral cats.

"We the cats of First Coast No More Homeless Pets ...
hear, see and speak no evil!"
Photo Credit: The Incredibly Adorable Cats of www.fcnmhp.org

FCNMHP opened a temporary cat clinic in 2008 to handle upwards of 40 cats per day; today their new clinic can handle upwards of 200 spay and neuters daily! They are also offering vaccinations for cats and dogs.

This lens page is dedicated to this fine organization hoping to bring more visibility to the FCNMHP and to also help them with their fund raising. FCNMHP is my earmarked pet charity for the past several years. I am happy to report that for the calendar year of 2009, it was a banner year as I donated over $3,000 directly to them! Thanks Squidoo for helping to make this possible!!!

The FCNMHP Poll
First Coast No More Homeless Pets : Jacksonville, FL - Do you know about this organization?

• Yes! I am a volunteer.
• Yes, I actually work for/with.
• Yes, I have adopted my pet from them.
• Yes, I have had my pet spayed/neutered by them.
• I know of FCNMHP.
• Actually, more than one of the above!

Six Rescued Kittens at Three Weeks - June 2014

Another six lives from one mommy cat! It is so important that you do the right thing and have your cats spayed or neutered. Here are six little ones who came into the world in late May 2014. Their mommy was out and about and made a connection or two with some studly male cats.

FCNMHP Founded in 2001

FCNMHP was founded in 2001 when Rick DuCharme, founder and president, developed the SpayJax program in response to a request by the City of Jacksonville for a city funded spay/neuter program.

Following SpayJax, SpayNassau was developed along with two other low-cost programs.

In 2006, our Trap-Neuter-Return program was developed to offer low-cost spay and neuter surgeries for feral and stray cats. –www.fcnmhp.org.

6817 Norwood Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32208

eMail: fcnmhp@fcnmhp.org

Hotline: 904-425-0005; toll-free: 866-580-SPAY (7729).

Since 2003 we have facilitated over 24,000 pet sterilizations in the First Coast area. We have seen an overall reduction in pet intake of approximately 31%, and reductions in puppy and kitten intake of 44% and 52%. Prior to our programs, admissions and euthanasia were increasing by as much as 10% annually.

SpayJax/SpayNassau: SpayJax and SpayNassau are income qualified programs that offer free spay and neuter surgeries for individuals meeting the specified guidelines. Both of these programs include a rabies vaccination. Update 5/1/08: SpayJax is a city funded program and with the recent budget cuts we are not able to offer the free SpayJax surgery program at this time. SpayNassau is funded partially by Nassau County and partially by a welfare group; therefore we still have the funding and are able to offer free surgeries to Nassau County residents with appropriate proof of residency within the county. Call the spay/neuter hotline for more information 904-425-0005. Please see our other programs below for spay/neuter assistance, these programs offer heavily reduced surgery rates.

Spayathon: Spayathon is a low-cost option for individuals that do not qualify under SpayJax or SpayNassau. Surgery prices are heavily discounted and offered through participating veterinarians. Spayathon is a voucher program and a $5 donation is required for each voucher. In order to receive discounted prices a voucher must be presented. A rabies vaccination is also included under this program (other fees may apply.) This program is available to Duval, Nassau, Clay, St. Johns, Baker and Bradford counties.

Low-Cost: Our Low-Cost program is open to anyone not qualifying under the other programs. Surgeries are discounted and available through participating veterinarians. Rabies vaccination is not included (other fees may apply.) This program is available to Duval, Nassau, Clay, St. Johns, Baker and Bradford counties.

Feral and Stray Cat: Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) Our TNR program is available to all Duval and Nassau County residents caring for feral and stray cat colonies. For information on cost per surgery, location of spay/neuter clinic, and to schedule an appointment; call the spay/neuter hotline at 904-425-0005. All cats must arrive to the clinic in a humane trap, no exceptions. Humane traps are available for loan and require a $50 deposit per trap.

Chart of surgeries, euthanasia and overall shelter intake

Fee Schedule for Cat Services
The vaccination clinic for cats AND dogs is open every Saturday from 10-3. It is first come first service; no appointments.

Rabies Vaccination $10.00
Application of Flea Prevention $8.00
Deworming (Tapeworms via injection) $8.00
Deworming (Topical, 1 application) $12.00
Distemper/Panleuk Combination Vaccine $8.00
Feline Leukemia/FIV test $18.00
Leukemia Vaccine $10.00
Microchip $25.00
Nail Trim $10.00

Indoor/Outdoor Cat Annual $65 ($42 w/o microchip) (includes Distemper, Rabies, Leukemia vaccine, microchip, deworming and flea prevention application

Indoor Cat Annual $55 ($32 w/o microchip) (includes Distemper, Rabies, microchip, deworming and flea prevention

New Cat Annual $83 ($60 w/o microchip) (includes Distemper, Rabies, Leukemia vaccine, deworming, Leukemia/FIV test, microchip & flea prevention application)

The mission of First Coast No More Homeless Pets (FCNMHP) is to eliminate the killing of dogs and cats in our community through free and low-cost spay and neuter programs.

Are you a supporter of your local Humane Society? Do you already know about the FCNMHP? Have you donated to such an organization?

History: First Coast No More Homeless Pets was originally created on Squidoo by JaguarJulie on May 21, 2008. Highest lensrank ever achieved: #1,494 overall. Lens #351 in the quest for Giant Squid 400 Club.