Gridley Animal Control received a $2,000 grant from the Mike and Dotty Collett Animal Care Fund at the North Valley Community Foundation. The funding will support a trap-neuter-return program aimed at reducing the number of feral cats and unwanted kittens in the community. File photo

CHICO, CA (MPG) - Sixteen organizations across five Northern California counties received a combined $53,437 in grants from the Mike and Dotty Collett Animal Care Fund at the North Valley Community Foundation to support animal shelters, rescue operations, veterinary care and spay-and-neuter programs.

The foundation accepted applications in September and distributed the awards this week. Organizations in Butte, Glenn, Tehama, Plumas and Colusa counties qualified for the annual grant program. The foundation did not report any awards to organizations based in Yuba or Sutter counties.

Longtime Chico residents Mike and Dotty Collett established the fund to support programs that improve animals' quality of life through food, shelter, medical treatment and other services. Nonprofit organizations and local government agencies, including animal shelters, could apply.

Among the recipients, Gridley Animal Control received $2,000 for a trap-neuter-return program aimed at reducing the number of unwanted feral cats and kittens in the community.

Bidwell Wildlife Rehabilitation received $1,000 to purchase milk replacement formula for orphaned and injured baby squirrels, opossums and other mammals. The organization rehabilitates wildlife for release in Butte, Glenn, Colusa and Plumas counties.

Several Chico-area organizations also received funding.

The Butte Humane Society received $5,000 for its Shelter Care Fund, which covers animal intake, medical treatment and preparation for adoption.

Chico Cat Coalition received $5,000 to care for cats whose owners can no longer provide for them because of illness, age, relocation to assisted living or death.

Companion Animal Welfare Alliance received $1,237 to purchase humane cat traps. The Chico-based organization oversees Neighborhood Cat Advocates, a volunteer group that traps, sterilizes and returns feral and unowned cats.

Durham Doggie Posse and Kittens received $5,000 to support its work fostering and finding homes for abandoned animals and those living in unsafe conditions or at risk in shelters.

Friends of the Chico Animal Shelter received $2,800 to purchase an autoclave, a device used to sterilize medical equipment at its spay-and-neuter clinic.

True North Housing Alliance received $5,000 for Duke's Happy Tails, a program at Chico's Torres Shelter that provides pet food and supplies for animals belonging to people experiencing homelessness.

In Paradise, Kastlerock Ranch Foundation received $5,000 to cover feed, bedding, hoof care and veterinary services for 10 horses participating in its equine therapy program.

TOPCats on the Ridge, also based in Paradise, received $2,800 for vouchers to help low-income residents spay or neuter their cats.

Other recipients included Catnip and Cattitude in Willows, which received $4,700 for cat sterilization efforts, and Friends United in Rescue, which received $1,500 to trap, treat and find homes for approximately 80 stray cats at two mobile home parks in Los Molinos.

Serene Strides in Los Molinos received $2,400 to expand its equine therapy program.

In Plumas County, Friends of Plumas County Animals received $1,500 to construct two enclosed outdoor cat patios at its Quincy facility. High Sierra Animal Rescue in Portola received $3,500 to provide spay-and-neuter vouchers to local pet owners.

Jan's Rails to Trails received $5,000 to provide feed and medical care for abused and unwanted horses.

Kristin Pankhurst, an adviser to the Collett Animal Care Fund, said the couple's commitment to animals continues through the annual grants.

"Even beyond their life here on earth, Mike and Dotty continue to bless the animals of Butte County," Pankhurst said.

She recalled that the couple cared for a variety of animals, including dogs, cats, snakes, tarantulas and an iguana that Dotty brought into her classroom while teaching at Chico Unified.

"Their love for all creatures is shown annually through the Mike and Dotty Collett Animal Care Fund that they established to donate to local charities helping animals," Pankhurst said.

The foundation plans to continue the grant program annually.

Additional information about the fund and its grant program is available at www.nvcf.org/mike-and-dotty-collett-animal-care-grant-program.