RMAA veterinary technician, Karen Nelson, comforts Princess and Copper Langlis after their sterilization surgeries  at RMAA low-cost spay/neuter clinic.	The Rozzie May Animal Alliance is pleased to announce  that the one thousandth spay/neuter surgery took place Thursday, November 19 at the RMAA's  clinic at 175 Kancamagus Highway, Conway.  Dr. Monique Kramer of Stow, Maine performed this milestone surgery in the 55th one-day clinic offered by RMAA.  The RMAA has surgically altered  895 cats, 104 dogs and 1 rabbit.  What do these numbers mean? According to Spay USA "If two cats and their offspring remain unaltered, (and produce two litters a year with only three kittens surviving) the total numbers in five years is twelve thousand and in nine years eleven million"  The Rozzie May Animal Alliance began offering low-cost spay/neuter to northern NH in Sept. 2007 thanks to Dr. Sara White of Spay ASAP. Seeing the need for such services, RMAA began a mobile spay/neuter clinic in May of 2008. The RMAA van, loaded with equipment necessary for day surgery, would travel for up to an hour from the Valley,  unload, set up for the day, alter 20-30 animals, pack up after a long day and head home. The first mobile clinic was held in Berlin, where we altered 32 cats. Since that time clinics have been held in Sweden, Maine, Gorham, NH, Laconia, NH, Tamworth, NH, Chocorua, NH, and Albany, NH (where the Town of Albany provided a winter home.)
RMAA made the decision to set up a stationary clinic in July 2009.  At the clean and well organized space in Conway  animals arrive between 7:30 and 8:30 and are greeted by RMAA volunteers.  The animal is checked in, paperwork completed, and the day begins. First, veterinary technicians perform  a weigh in, flea combing and check up. Then the doctor gives every animal a physical before surgery begins. The animals flow through an efficient system of prep, surgery, recovery and discharge, always under watchful eyes. The families reunite in the afternoon armed with post-operative instructions. This new location allows RMAA to offer weekly clinics to cats and dogs. The first clinic at the new home was August 6 of 2009 and clinics are planned weekly for the rest of the year.  The goal for 2010  is to help 1,000-1,500 animals. Aimee Hartmann, ASPCA Senior Director of Mobile Spay/Neuter Clinics, says "Unfortunately, people don't always  make the connection between their own pets' offspring and the animals  in shelters. If your pet has a litter of five and you find homes for those five, then five animals sitting in shelters remain homeless." Spay USA says " For every baby born in the U.S. seven puppies and kittens are born. As long as these birth rates exist there will never be enough homes for all of them."   The Rozzie May Animal Alliance is committed to reducing the number of homeless animals and minimizing the strain on animal shelters.  Together we are making a huge difference. How about giving the gift that keeps on giving this year, a spay/neuter gift certificate for that special someone's pet? Please call RMAA for more information, appointments, or stop in at  www.rozziemay.org .

The Rozzie May Animal Alliance finally has a stationary home at 175 Kancamagus Highway in Conway, NH. Volunteers have been working on the building, painting the reception room a sunny yellow and preparing for the first clinic in the organization's new home on July 30th with Dr. Kramer. "Having a stationary clinic gives us a separate surgery room and saves hours of travel and time setting up the equipment, making for longer surgery days that can include more animals," said Roz Manwaring, the RMAA's director. "Our goal is to do 1500 animals a year with a focus on cats. We will continue to travel where we are needed, doing 2 to 3 clinics in Berlin every summer. We will be organizing transport for animals to the clinic. The RMAA is also able to assist groups with feral cat colonies and barn cats or any special situation with a number of cats. We are getting calls from all over for help. " The group's wish list for people wishing to support the clinic includes: paper towels, trash bags, Q tips and cotton balls, bleach and old towels. "I'd like to thank all of our volunteers who have worked so hard to make this possible," said Roz. "They've helped on the road, unloading and loading the van in the early hours in all weathers, they've been here getting the building ready to open and the RMAA could not exist without them." The goal of the Rozzie May Animal Alliance is to lower the numbers of homeless pets crowding shelters. The Keeping Families Together Food Drive accepts food donations which are then distributed to local food pantries from Bartlett to Tamworth. The group also works to educate children and adults on animal care. The website is www. RozzieMay.org and the phone is 447-3477 for appointments and more information.

Once there was a farm. It was a large farm, with fields and woods, a bed and breakfast and a barn. In the barn were cows. And cats. Twice a day the farmer milked the cows and the cats gathered around the pans of milk. The cats lived a wild, free and dangerous life. They caught the mice eating the farmer's grain. They slept in the hay. They roamed the woods. Every spring there were kittens . . . First, Roz and John met at the farm and looked over spaces where a clinic could be held. They chose the basement of the Inn. Next, Roz had to find a doctor willing to do this kind of clinic. Dr. Steve Caffrey of Fryeburg Veterinary Hospital said he would love to help and December 10th was on the calendar. Then Roz decided on the RMAA team for the clinic. Head RMAA Tech Stephanie Macomber, and experienced vet techs Kim Zulker and Kristy McNulty were available. It was especially important to have a knowledgeable team running this clinic as these were not going to be easy cats to handle, ranging from almost tame, curious kittens, to the queen of the barn, known as the Tasmanian Devil.  .  . .On the day of the clinic the team arrived in the early morning and set up a day surgery. John Edge started even earlier, offering canned food to entice the cats into crates and carriers. After four hours of surgery altering six females and seven males, with all felines safely  on the way to recovery, the team packed up and carried everything back out to  the van.  Roz and Stephanie  returned the equipment back to Albany Town Hall, the RMAA's winter "home." . John Edge of  Rockhouse Mt. Farm called, Tuesday May  26th to announce for the first time in many years . . . no spring kittens!! Operation spay/neuter a success!!! Thanks to John Edge RMAA altered a total of 25 cats of Rockhouse Mt. Farm!