This month, we decided to highlight another special individual as our Humane Hero of the month.
Cheryl Phillips is this month’s nominee for Humane Hero for her extensive efforts with the TNVR (trap, neuter, vaccinate, and return) of community felines.
We are also highlighting how her efforts with TNVR led to her founding GG’s Foundation, whose mission is TNVR, and educating our communities on reducing overpopulation. Through TNVR (trap, neuter, vaccinate, and return), GG’s Foundation conducts TNVR and funds spay/neuter, vaccinations, and medical care for homeless, neglected, abandoned and abused feral community felines.
About Cheryl Phillips
Cheryl grew up in Detroit and now spends her time between Northville and Florida. Her love for animals started on her great grandparent’s dairy farm in Rochester, MI. She has been active in volunteer work since 2003.
Cheryl retired, after 42 years, from Masco Corporation as Vice President, Director. She is currently sitting on the Beaumont Health Advisory Committee, Dearborn, MI. She’s also the Executive Director, Founder for GG’s Foundation (TNVR and Humane Education for youth and adults).
Cheryl is also the author of “GG’s Journey: From Lost to Loved.” This book is about a rescue dog named GG and how she overcame sickness, breed discrimination, and found a loving home. You can learn more about the book here:
Fun Fact: Cheryl chaired the DPTV committee for Be Humane, Animals Have Feelings Too for a series of PSAs for youth and adults. One segment won a 2013 Emmy!
How She Got Started with TNVR
In 2010, Cheryl’s mother had community felines at her home. Upon seeing the community cats, she contacted a group to conduct TNR.
“It was then that I realized the magnitude of the plight of abandoned cats and the need to help stop the overpopulation, suffering and help the colony caretakers. “The colony caretakers are the heroes who day in day out care for the kitties.” Cheryl said.
She also found how difficult it was for people to get TNVR help even today. “I get many calls saying they did not receive a call back from groups they reached out to for help with TNVR. ” Cheryl said.
Because of that, Cheryl decided to teach people how to use humane traps and help educate them on caring for their colonies.
In 2016, she founded GG’s Foundation, Mission:
The purpose of this foundation is to help rescue cats, conduct TNVR, fund spay/neuter, vaccinations, and medical care for homeless, neglected, and abused feral (community felines). This help extends to other abandoned animals.
The goal is to assist persons and organizations in caring for and placing these rescued animals in suitable homes as family pets for responsible and loving pet owners or other appropriate environments. The other central area of focus is to conduct humane education for youth and adults.
Cheryl’s TNVR partner, Barbara, fosters cats and kittens to help them recover from medical issues and socializes cats to give them a chance at a loving home.
Impact of GG’s Foundation
Cheryl’s efforts have proved just how much TNVR works. She said, “Once, I trapped a skunk, whispered to him, and he moseyed out of the trap. No SPRAY!”
With GG’s Foundation, Cheryl and her team have trapped, neutered, vaccinated, adopted, and released over 900 felines.
In 2020, Cheryl and Barbara drove over 13,000 miles and did TNVR for 304 kitties. With the help of two fantastic organizations, 140 kitties are in loving homes. Of the 304, Barbara conducted TNVR for 79 cats from a trailer park that had been asking for help for at least two years, and she fostered 76 kitties.
Thus far, they have responded to hundreds of calls to rescue kittens and for TNVR. Cheryl and her team assist colony caretakers with medical care, food, and shelters. They have rescued 11 dogs and two horses, of which the Humane Society of Macomb assisted in the rescue. They even helped save a rooster, deer, possum, and four bunnies.
Cheryl believes that it takes a village to make an impact like this for community animals.
Future Plans
Cheryl is continuing her goal to teach others to do TNVR and educate youth and adults on the importance of spay, neuter, vaccinations, vet care, food and shelter, and animal protection laws.
She works to educate colony caretakers and continues to provide humane education to youth and adults.
Cheryl’s advice to everyone is to please spay, neuter, and if you cannot keep your pet, surrender them to a no-kill shelter and give them a chance at a loving home. Working together, we make a difference in the lives of all animals. It Takes a Village!
If you would like to learn more about TNVR and GG’s Foundation, visit their website here.