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OPERATION CATNIP: Idealism in Action
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Staffing:
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2
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Technicians
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1
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Transporter
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ALL STAFF MUST CHECK IN AT THE VOLUNTEER TABLE.
GLOVES MUST BE WORN AT ALL TIMES.
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ALWAYS VISUALLY VERIFY GENDER!
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Check for a vulva or penis.
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You will be shown the difference before starting at your station.
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Do NOT rely on palpation (touch) to determine gender.
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* Neutered and cryptorchid males will not have testicles. *
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The Spay Board Station is responsible for verify the gender of the cats; securing female cats and cryptorchid males on spay boards and delivering them to the Spay/Neuter Prep Station. The Ear Tip or Express Technician will deliver cats to this station.
Technician Instructions
The Spay Board Technicians are responsible for securing female cats and cryptorchid males on the spay boards and verify the sex of each cat.
1) VERIFY the sex of each cat VISUALLY. Do NOT rely on palpation (touch) to determine gender. CHECK FOR A VULVA OR PENIS. You will be shown the difference before starting at your station. Remember, neutered and cryptorchid males will not have or display testicles. Neutered males and spayed females should be brought to the attention of the Supervisor. NEVER ASSUME ANY CAT BROUGHT TO SPAY BOARDS IS A FEMALE.
2) MONITOR the cats carefully: respiration (>6/minute), heartbeat (>100/minute), and gum color (pink). If the cat is not breathing well or its gums are blue, pull firmly on the tongue, press a fingernail on the nose leather and NOTIFY THE CLINIC SUPERVISOR.
3) CENTER spay boards across the table so the ropes are accessible under the board at each corner.
4) SECURE pregnant cats and cryptorchid males on their backs. Tie each leg to the spay board by sliding the slip knot in the rope over the joint of each leg, gently tightening the knot, then tying a half hitch (wrap the rope once around the leg) further down the leg (closer to the paw).
5) SECURE lactating and some (dependent upon present DVMs) non-pregnant cats on their sides for flank spays. Position them right side down. Tie the hind legs and front legs together to the board. Slide the slipknot over the joints of both legs, gently tightening the knot, then tying a half hitch (wrap the rope once around the legs) further down the legs (closer to the paws).
6) SECURE the rope to the top of the board through one of the slots and slide the rope locks down the rope to the board to hold the cat in place. Bind the cat tightly enough to hold the limbs away from the torso but do not overstretch. If there is a large amount of rope, coil it neatly on the board between the legs.
Transporter Instructions
The Spay Board Transporters are responsible for delivering cats to the Spay Prep Station and cleaning the boards returned from the Recorder Station.
1) DELIVER secured cats from the Spay Board Station to the Spay Prep Station in the order in which they are bound.
2) NOTIFY the Spay Prep staff if any cat is a cryptorchid male or flagged as contagious.
3) CLEAN each spay board returned from the Records Station, stacking them to be reused by the Spay Board Technicians.
4) PREPARE all the cleaned boards for storage once the last cat has cleared the Rabies Certificate Station. Stretch the ropes over the board and loosely tie them together. Slide the black catches to the end of the rope (there is a stop knot) then hook the slipknot into the slots at the opposite end of the board. Tighten the slipknot by enlarging the loop to take up extra slack.
5) CLEAN up the station and dispose of trash once the last spay board is returned and cleaned.
6) REPACK the station kit, inventorying supplies (see Supply List in the kit). Return the kit, any extra items and the spay boards to the supply storage room.