Polco’s Post

Please take a moment to share your thoughts in the survey!

Three months into our new strategic plan, and check! Progress being made. Like most strategic plans, the proof's in the pudding. Plans aren't made to sit on a shelf. I'm super proud of the OHS team, who's making sure that doesn't happen. One of the pillars of the new strategic plan is to provide more second changes for all animals - and our community was pretty specific: they're concerned about homeless cats. So, we need to find out more, to figure out how best to help. Ottawa connections - can you help? YOU ONLY NEED ONE MINUTE! To achieve our goal, we've launched a very quick survey about outdoor cats. Well over a thousand responses to date - but our goals are lofty - we want five thousand! Help me out and respond yourself, and share the link! I look forward to sharing the results, both with our community and to the humane sector! https://lnkd.in/dZQp_G_a

Three months into our new strategic plan, and check! Progress being made. Like most strategic plans, the proof's in the pudding. Plans aren't made to sit on a shelf. I'm super proud of the OHS team, who's making sure that doesn't happen. One of the pillars of the new strategic plan is to provide more second changes for all animals - and our community was pretty specific: they're concerned about homeless cats. So, we need to find out more, to figure out how best to help. Ottawa connections - can you help? YOU ONLY NEED ONE MINUTE! To achieve our goal, we've launched a very quick survey about outdoor cats. Well over a thousand responses to date - but our goals are lofty - we want five thousand! Help me out and respond yourself, and share the link! I look forward to sharing the results, both with our community and to the humane sector! https://lnkd.in/dZQp_G_a

This issue of Louisa County's newsletter, The Informed Citizen, offers updates from departments including Parks, Recreation & Tourism, Community Development, General Services/the Animal Shelter, and Administration. It also features updates from the Louisa County Sheriff's Office, the Assessor's Office, and partners like the Louisa Arts Center, the Louisa County Historical Society, the Commission on Aging, JABA, the Louisa County Library, the Virginia Cooperative Extension, Firefly, and FFA. Each issue aims to communicate to citizens how their local government is working for them and provides useful partner resources. Featured in this issue: * Louisa County Photo Contest * Upcoming Events * Firefly Fiber Broadband's Progress in Numbers * Household Hazardous Waste Day * Community, Staff and Board Spotlights * What to Do If You Find a Lost Animal * Board of Supervisors Updates ... and more See past issues at https://lnkd.in/er3FMvju. Hard copies are available in the County Office Building (1 Woolfolk Ave, Louisa). See past issues at https://lnkd.in/er3FMvju. Sign up at https://lnkd.in/gjydJjZR to receive email or text notifications of new issues.

Trap-Neuter-Return (#TNR) is the only humane and effective approach to community cats, or unowned cats who live outdoors. Get the facts, know-how and research on #TNR and its lifesaving power: https://ow.ly/v9Uc50QFFhn

Looking for more after you've finished reading through our 2023 Impact Report? We're always adding new resources for shelters and rescue organizations to use as they work to increase dog adoptions. Check them out here: https://lnkd.in/ejTkUX2m

Many well-intentioned people see an unfamiliar cat outdoors and automatically assume the animal is homeless—and needs to come to your shelter pronto! But that’s not always in the cat’s (or your shelter’s) best interests. Help guide people through the steps they should take when they come across an unfamiliar cat: Download the fact sheet at https://bit.ly/3taVS8a. 🐱 ⁣ #LostCat #CommunityCats #FactSheet

Very helpful fact sheet!

Who are community cats, what does the term mean, and why is #TNR the best way to help them? We'll walk through the basics so you can spread the word and save cats' lives! 🐈🐈 alleycat.org/CommunityCats

My yearly PSA as a fellow beekeeper (and if you see a swarm, call me, I’ll be right over): The swarm season for bees is starting. If you see a cluster of bees hanging on a limb (or other object), you need a beekeeper, NOT an exterminator, NOT a flamethrower, NOT a water hose, and NOT bug spray. Please call a beekeeper, your County Extension Office, local beekeeping club, police department, or a similar organization. Many of them will gladly direct you to a beekeeper who would be happy to pick up these bees and give them a good home. Side note: Swarms are quite literally homeless bees. As such, they are not defending a hive, and are usually quite docile. But that doesn't mean you should mess with them unless you know what you're doing.