'Spay-Ghetti' Fundraiser In Hamptons Helps Spay, Neuter Homeless Cats

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — An annual event hosted by the Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation seeks to help spay and neuter hundreds of local community cats.

The Annual Spay-ghetti fundraiser hosted by the Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation is slated to take place Saturday, Feb. 25 and Sunday, Feb. 26.

The goal, SASE said, is to raise funds and create awareness about the Advo-Cat program; funds raised helps to spay and neuter hundreds of community cats in Southampton each year.

SASE offers free spay and neutering for all homeless cats across Southampton Town, SASE said. The cost to spay or neuter and vaccinate all the community cats brought to the clinic is roughly $15,000 a year, SASE said.

Per cat, that comes out to a little over $120, after the surgery, microchipping and vaccinations, SASE said. The foundation takes in the feral kittens, socializes them, feeds and houses them until they find their forever homes.

Instead of a sit-down dinner, the fundraiser offers a gift certificate for a spaghetti dinner from Uncle Joe’s Pizzeria and Restaurant in Hampton Bays, along with a cupcake from Cathy’s Cupcakes. After guests purchase their $40 ticket online, they will schedule an appointment to come in on either Feb. 25 or Feb. 26 to pick up the gift certificate and participate in an auction. Currently, the center is still accepting sponsors and auction items .

To purchase tickets and schedule a pick-up appointment call 631-728-7387 ext 221, click here or email events@sasf.org.

For sponsorship opportunities, click here.

“We are proud of our work in assisting the community in its efforts to control the local feral cat population," SASE said. “We have been supporting a local colony for the past four years located in Flanders. This has been a difficult and tricky situation that started with 25 cats. With the support of the town, we have reduced that number to 5. This is just one example of the many colonies we support.”

The foundation also worked with a private residence that had feral cats, which were trapped and neutered. During the process, one of the cats had kittens, and due to low temperatures, one of the kittens sustained life-threatening injuries, SASE said. The kitten was rushed to the wellness clinic at the shelter, and after intensive care, Snowflake recovered. The kitten was placed in a loving forever home with new owners.

The Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, said they are supported exclusively by donations and grants from the community.