Articles
Below are some of the stories I have written, they range from different genres and topics depending on the amazing people I met through intensive research and interviews.
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Projects
These are a collection of a video story, mini podcast series and article relating to the issues surrounding the overpopulation of stray animals in the Miami area that my team and I created.
Miami-Dade offers neutering and spaying for dogs to combat stray overpopulation
The overpopulation of stray pets in Miami-Dade County has prompted authorities to offer free neutering and spaying to its residents in order to address the problem.
Flora Beal, from the County’s Animal Services, encourages pet owners to have their animals microchipped so they can be returned to their owners if lost.
Regarding neutering and spaying, Beal explained that “it extends their life for about three years, so what wouldn’t you do to have an extra three years with your best friend.”
Dade County’s Animal Services offers spaying, neutering, and chipping services at a cost of $40. For some low-income families who qualify, the services are free.
Off the Streets Podcast
Off the Streets is a podcast that discusses the issue of the stray pet population in South Florida. In episode one, host Katie Kelly, sits down with Caitlin Dundey, who had devoted her time to rescuing homeless parrots. She explains how her relationship with parrots has developed as well as the process of fostering them. She also emphasizes the leading causes of the stray parrot population, including the extreme noise levels that they produce.
In episode two of Off the Streets, host Katie Kelly, speaks to Kiyomi Taylor about the TNR process in Japan, providing a global outlook to the issue of stray cat population. She discusses what trap, neuter, and return means which is the most humane way to reduce the number of stray cats in communities. The stray cats are trapped by volunteers who take the cats to vets to receive proper medical attention along with being spayed and neutered. Once the cats are recovered they will be released back to their original location and become community cats or adopted depending on their demeanor.
Episode 1
Episode 2
Fix it: A new push to tackle the growing problem of stray cats in South Florida
Cat Solutions 305 is a non-profit organization that is working toward opening their own clinic in early 2024, devoted to community cats.
Community cats are feral, outdoor cats that have been treated and fixed but released back to the area they were found in. They are marked by an "ear tip,” in which a small portion of the top of an ear is surgically removed in a straight line cut. The distinctive mark indicates the cats have already been treated.
In mid-November, the group held its first spay and neuter events at the new building that is currently under renovation. They hit their goal of treating 100 cats over the two days. Once the facility is fully up and running, hope to fix up to 14,000 cats a year.
The organization has requested $500,000 from Miami-Dade County and Broward County is chipping in $300,000 per year.
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