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HSVMA award-winner and expert kitten socializer Mike Phillips visits with foster caretaker Janet Granger and one of her feline charges. Photo by Gary Granger Urban Cat League's Mike Phillips Among Winners of HSVMA Award Urban Cat League's Mike Phillips is among the three outstanding veterinary professionals named by the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association (HSVMA) as recipients of the "Best Friend to Feral Cats" award for their significant contributions in helping feral cats in their communities. Dr. Laura Gay Senk of Farmingdale, New York, and Dr. Sara White of Hartland, Vermont, were also honored. The three recipients were selected from a nationwide pool of more than 100 nominees for the inaugural HSVMA award. "It was difficult to select winners from among so many dedicated individuals," said Dr. Richard Bachman, who specializes in shelter medicine and is continually exposed to the feral cat overpopulation problem impacting California shelters. "But these three veterinary professionals have truly gone above and beyond the call of duty in addressing the feral cat overpopulation problem, as well as working to improve the quality of life for feral cats in their communities." Mike Phillips (Veterinary Technician category) is a licensed veterinary technician and founder and president of the Urban Cat League, a feral cat organization based in the notorious Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of New York City. He volunteers his time coordinating TNR of feral cats in this area, as well as assisting at spay and neuter clinics for feral cats in New York and New Jersey. Additionally, Mike is considered an expert in socializing feral kittens and instructs workshops on this subject in several states. His instructional videos are featured on the Mayor's Alliance YouTube channel. He also offers advice on socializing feral kittens and trapping through his Feral Cat/Kitten Socialization blog.
On August 10, HSVMA award-winner Dr. Laura Gay Senk (center) accepted her certificate and plaque from (left to right) Barbara Levine, Veterinary Assistant; Lynne Carson, Licensed Veterinary Technician; Patrick Kwan, HSUS New York State Director; Edward Mangano, Nassau County Executive; Joan Phillips, President, Animal Lovers League; and Jeanne Tiedemann, RN and Veterinary Assistant. Photo by Animal Lovers League Dr. Laura Gay Senk (Private Practitioner category) has been helping feral cats on Long Island for approximately 20 years. She was one of the first veterinarians in the area to operate a clinic that advertised, "Ferals Welcomed." Today, she runs a clinic in Farmingdale, NY, which offers low-cost spay and neuter and medical care to feral and other rescue cats. Dr. Senk has volunteered for monthly feral cat clinics and mass TNR events on Long Island over the years. She also created the Long Island Cat Project, which provides resources and assistance to feral cat caretakers and veterinarians working with feral cats. Dr. Senk has worked with several municipalities on Long Island to implement TNR programs. Dr. Sara White (Nonprofit category) started Spay ASAP, a nonprofit mobile spay/neuter clinic, in 2006. Since that time, she has spayed and neutered more than 13,500 cats in Vermont and New Hampshire, many of whom were feral. Dr. White also obtained grant funding for a Vermont Humane Federation feral cat program, that will provide free spay and neuter for 2,000 feral cats during the next two years, and coordinates administration of this program at several clinic locations throughout the state. Congratulations, winners!
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