Please share with others ways that you are currently serving the community. It may inspire someone else to make a difference too!

I am currently a C.I.A. member and very proud of our group efforts. We started this group and have several aldermen that attend the meeting and are just like the concerned citizens - trying to make a difference. Many of our ideas are submitted by the committee leaders to the city council and ask for their help. We are wanting to make a difference in Casey and cleanup the town, so when the recession is over; we can attract industries and families. However; to do that we need to make Casey as attractive to an outsider as possible.

The group's attitude is contagious... we have teenagers to retired people attending from all walks of life. However; all of these people care about Casey. The group on Facebook is nearing 200 people, with about 50 people in attendance the last few weeks. My team on Casey In Action is City-Wide Cleanup, whereby we are trying to find solutions for trash, unsightly yards, buildings and homes; and work with the City in regard to solutions to these problems.

I'm a CIA member and have been working with the animal shelter group. We have adopted bylaws elected a board and will be opening a bank account--all in preparation of eventually becoming a humane society with a building and enough financial support to operate as a no-kill facility.

Right now, we're preparing to work with the city to assist with the dog pound and build a facility for cats. We will socialize the animals, walk them, groom them, and take photos for the city website and for the paper. We will help unite lost animals with their owners and find new homes for strays. We're looking into starting a spay and neuter program.

We're always looking for people interested in improving the lives of animals.

I have only been to the last two meetings, but the excitement is contagious. So many people all willing and wanting to get the town going again. There are many topics to choose from. We have a great town and a lot of possibilities.
Come to the next meeting and check it out. You'll be happy you did.

Belinda Nickles wrote:

I'm a CIA member and have been working with the animal shelter group. We have adopted bylaws elected a board and will be opening a bank account--all in preparation of eventually becoming a humane society with a building and enough financial support to operate as a no-kill facility.
Right now, we're preparing to work with the city to assist with the dog pound and build a facility for cats. We will socialize the animals, walk them, groom them, and take photos for the city website and for the paper. We will help unite lost animals with their owners and find new homes for strays. We're looking into starting a spay and neuter program.
We're always looking for people interested in improving the lives of animals.

Have they started collecting cats? I have lost a very friendly calico and have notice that the 2 strays I always took care of have disappeared as well? If the facility has started where is it and who do I contact to see if my cat is among the others?

Concerned Pet owner wrote:

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Have they started collecting cats? I have lost a very friendly calico and have notice that the 2 strays I always took care of have disappeared as well? If the facility has started where is it and who do I contact to see if my cat is among the others?

No we haven't started picking up cats yet. First we have to build a facility to house them. The money for that has to be inserted in next year's budget. So we are looking at a year before we can start building

We are already working on ways to identify pets from strays and we will advertise in the paper ahead of time with contact information.

If your cats are male, hopefully they are just romancing some female and will come back home soon. I have cats too and always worry when they wander off for a day or two.

Thank you for that information, Belinda. I appreciate your reply Our cat is female..and she is spayed so no chance of kittens. I am not completely sure of the gender of the two strays we have been taking care of trying to gain their trust for adoption purposes. She's been out of our sight since Saturday evening so we're hoping for the best and hoping she's safe. She doesn't like missing breakfast. Too bad a no kill shelter is not something that is able to be created in lieu of our other options for the area. We love our pets and wish others would take proper care of theirs. Thanks again.

Concerned Pet owner wrote:

Thank you for that information, Belinda. I appreciate your reply Our cat is female..and she is spayed so no chance of kittens. I am not completely sure of the gender of the two strays we have been taking care of trying to gain their trust for adoption purposes. She's been out of our sight since Saturday evening so we're hoping for the best and hoping she's safe. She doesn't like missing breakfast. Too bad a no kill shelter is not something that is able to be created in lieu of our other options for the area. We love our pets and wish others would take proper care of theirs. Thanks again.

A no-kill shelter is exactly what we are aiming for. Our goals are the following:

Short Term:
Build a cat facility--with enough support from the community, we will not only build a cat facility but also a new dog facility. Money to do this must be included in next year's budget by July. We are researching the costs now when it comes time to present it to the city council we will need community support.

Socialize the animals--brushing, spending time with them, a little training and walking for the dogs. We are waiting to hear whether we can work under the city for this or if we need our own liability insurance.

Publicizing the animals--We are workng out the details to have a Casey Animal Shelter page on the city website and we'll post pictures in the Reporter. This will make it easier for owners to find their animals and for strays to get adopted.

Pet Food Bank--we think people are already abandoning their animals because they can't afford to feed them. We're setting up a pet food bank and are working on how to identify the people who really need it.

Spay and Neuter program--We're working with Casey's vet to set up a program to help people pay for spaying and neutering their pets.

Long term:
Find a suitable building--A building has to be big enough for growth and it has to be easily converted into our needs.

Get our non-profit status--This takes close to a year and costs about $600. But we have to be non-profit so people can take their donations off their taxes, so we can get dog and cat food at a discount, etc.

Become a no-kill humane society--We are realistic and no-kill might not be possible, especially at first. But with the support of the community, we will do our best. As a humane society, we will be licensed by the federal government and there will be yearly, unannounced inspections to insure we are doing everything for the welfare of the animals.

You are welcome to join us. The Casey In Action group meets every two weeks. Our next meeting is May 7, 6 p.m. at the Casey Senior Center.

And I hope your cat comes home. I know what it's like to worry when a pet is missing.

I def. think that is a good idea. When we lived there I don't know how many cats we have tried to send away from our trash. All animals need good care. I just wonder if that might also give some local kids something to do in their free time. They could help groom and take care of pets. Def. something to consider.

tingfamof5 wrote:

I def. think that is a good idea. When we lived there I don't know how many cats we have tried to send away from our trash. All animals need good care. I just wonder if that might also give some local kids something to do in their free time. They could help groom and take care of pets. Def. something to consider.

Since you are from Martinsville,you might mention that to your mayor. I know he's contacted our new mayor, Scott Elkins, about the cat problem. They are scheduling a meeting after May 4,(when Scott is sworn in)to discuss working together.
Once we have liability insurance (we have about half the money needed) we will definitely want help with socializing the animals. I can't think of any better way to teach kids to respect and care about animals than having them work with them.

Hi, I just wanted to encourage others like me to participate in the Casey Community. I live in another state but am involved with CIA through their facebook page. I love being able to be involved! For once, I can say "Isn't technology great?"