Inheritance donated to control Putnam's pet population | Palatka Daily News, Palatka, Florida

Carole Mussoline with her dog, Luna, holds a picture of her late brother, Tom Drusa, who died in April and left her $50,000. Drusa is pictured with his dog, River.
Positively Putnam FL

One East Palatka woman with an inheritance from her late brother couldn’t think of a better way for it to be used than donating it to Saving Animals From Euthanasia Pet Rescue.

Carole Mussoline received $50,000 from the estate of Tom Drusa after he died April 13 at age 81.

“Tom was my only sibling and had been living on the property next to me for over 20 years after he relocated from Orlando,” said Mussoline, who is a board member with S.A.F.E. “He was a very giving person who loved animals. He was kind and generous, too.”

With the donation in hand, S.A.F.E. will begin signing up local families from 1-3 p.m. Saturday to have their female dogs spayed.

The first signup will be at the S.A.F.E. Adoption Center, 819 S. Moody Road in Palatka, where anyone who registers must be a Putnam County resident and bring their driver’s license.

Surgery appointments will begin Sept. 8. Other signup dates will be announced at a later time.

The cost for spaying will be $35, which is nonrefundable for those who don’t show up for their appointments.

“We want to make this affordable for every family who has a dog in Putnam County,” said Robin Nordan, founder and president of S.A.F.E. “The surgery will be a flat $35, and Carole’s donation will make up the rest.”

According to a news release from S.A.F.E., which has locations in Hollister, Palatka and St. Augustine, the organization will be working with veterinarians, including Animal Health Center, Animal Medical Center, Shelton Vet, Melrose Animal Hospital and First Coast No More Homeless Pets in Jacksonville.

S.A.F.E. volunteers and staff members will transport the dogs and the money donated will be used for only spaying and neutering.

Mussoline, a S.A.F.E. board member who also served on the board of the Putnam County Humane Society, said the local shelters get so many puppies from female dogs who have not been spayed.

“I think this will help the shelters,” she said. “There are a lot of unwanted puppies. This year has been terrible.”

There have been more than 47 puppies dropped off at S.A.F.E. in the past two weeks, Mussoline said.

Nordan said her facility is overflowing with animals, as is Putnam County Animal Control and other rescues.

“When a female dog has pups and a rescue cannot take them because they are full, pups are then given away and end up reproducing themselves,” she said. “This has been ongoing for many years, and Putnam County is in a crisis mode at this time.”

Nordan said S.A.F.E. is a nonprofit organization run by donations and can take in only so many animals before it is full.

“Today, we are taking care of 121 dogs in our facilities, 48 cats and we have 68 dogs in foster,” she said. “We are overflowing and struggling. We have a staff of 15 and they are tired. We have about 80 volunteers and foster homes.”

Anyone who would like to make a donation to S.A.F.E. can visit www.safe-pet-rescue-fl.com or mail checks or money orders to S.A.F.E., P.O. Box 840215, St. Augustine, FL 32080. Donations can also be dropped off at any S.A.F.E. location.

Mussoline said there may be many reasons paying to spay your female could create hardship.

“You love her. You want her to have a healthy life. You understand it needs to be done. But you just can’t afford to get her spayed,” she said. “It’s like $300 with a rabies shot to get it done. People can’t afford that. There is a need for this help.”

Nordan said she would love to see individuals or businesses in Putnam County consider matching or adding to Mussoline’s donation. Donations are tax-deductible.

“The way to stop this crisis is to spay and neuter,” she said. “If anyone is interested in making any donation towards spaying and neutering they can text me at 904-325-0196 and either myself or Carole will call them back.”

For now, Mussoline is happy to know her brother would have been proud of what she is doing with the money she inherited from him.

“He never told me what to do with the money, but because he loved animals, I thought it would be a good thing to do,” she said. “My brother had a therapy dog named River up until he died. I do remember my brother saying you need to do something about spaying and neutering. That’s the best thing we can do in Putnam County for animals.”

Nordan said if someone wants to sign up to have their dog spayed but doesn’t have transportation to get her there, they can text her at the number listed above.

“This donation means the world to us and to the residents of Putnam County,” she said. “This donation will prevent and help stop the endless cycle of suffering and neglect that we see every day. I’m grateful beyond words.”

Mussoline has a reminder for the community, the same thing she’s been advocating for 20 years: “Spay and neuter is so much cuter.”

“It is still so true,” she said. “That’s the answer. Our county needs a low-cost spay and neuter facility like I’m donating money for,” she said. “Hopefully, we will get a good response.”