MANAWA – A local woman is hoping to establish a feline spay and neuter service in Manawa and beyond with a new nonprofit aimed at curbing the stray cat population.
Paw and Order founder Carrie Thompson said the organization’s mission is to spay and neuter cats to prevent suffering “before it even starts.” The group is already recognized as a nonprofit by the state and is awaiting finalization of its 501(c)(3) status from the IRS.
Thompson said the idea for Paw and Order began about two years ago, when she noticed a cat living in the parking lot at her workplace in Manawa.
“I just couldn’t turn a blind eye,” she said. “So I went back for three weeks to gain his trust, and he eventually did get in my vehicle with me, and I brought him home, and that’s kind of what opened my eyes up to the crisis.”
The stray she befriended now answers to the name Binx and spends his days glued to her side.
Later, a coworker’s complaint about a neighbor’s cats being a “nuisance” led her to knock on the neighbor’s door. Inside, she found a houseful of unaltered animals. That household has since become one of Paw and Order’s first major projects.
The group has already helped get two cats neutered and 10 more were scheduled for surgery earlier this week. Another 10 cats are waiting to be spayed or neutered once appointments can be secured.
Thompson said Paw and Order plans to use every donated dollar to pay for spay and neuter services. If the group can get ahead of the problem in Manawa, she hopes to expand to nearby communities, including Waupaca, where she says stray and feral cats are also a visible issue.
So far, much of the cost has fallen on Thompson and her husband Dan. With full nonprofit status on the horizon, Thompson said she is hopeful that more community members will step up to support Paw and Order’s spay and neuter efforts.
She has placed donation boxes at several local businesses including Steve and Michelle’s Midtown, Fuel On, Hello Beautiful, Linda Mae’s and Sunrise Cafe. Community members interested in donating or seeking help can reach Paw and Order through its Facebook page and by email at pawandordercommunity@yahoo.com.
While the organization is currently focused on spay and neuter services, Thompson said that with enough funding, she would like to expand into helping pet owners who are struggling to afford veterinary care.
She also started a petition in December to draw government attention to animal overpopulation and euthanasia. Nationally, she said, the stakes are high.
According to Best Friends Animal Society, 1,200 dogs and cats are euthanized per day in the United States.
Thompson said she is taking action, starting with the cats she sees in her own neighborhood.
“Basically, instead of crying about the heartbreak, I want to do something about it,” she said.
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