Javascript is required to use this website.

Featured

The cat is out of the bag: Barn cat program at Madison County Vet Clinic an unusual public service

Kristen Sindelar
Nov 22, 2024
Nov 22, 2024

Barn cat program 1.JPEG — Luke is a big help with the Barn Cat Program at the Madison County Veterinary Clinic. He tells everyone that he “only likes cats.”
Submitted photo

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

Since she was 3, Kathleen Ritzmann knew she wanted to work with animals.

kAmvC@H:?8 FA @? 2? 24C6286 :? $:=G6C $AC:?8[ |2CJ=2?5[ D96 5C62>65 @7 364@>:?8 2 G6E6C:?2C:2?] qFE 2D D96 8@E @=56C[ 96C >:DD:@? 3642>6 5@:?8 AF3=:4 962=E9 H@C<]k^Am

kAm}@H 2D 2? 25F=E[ sC] z2E9=66? #:EK>2?? 92D 4@>3:?65 2== 96C 49:=59@@5 2DA:C2E:@?D H9:=6 H@C<:?8 2=@?8D:56 96C 9FD32?5[ sC] y677C6J z@CFD[ 2D G6E6C:?2C:2?D 2?5 @H?6CD @7 E96 |25:D@? r@F?EJ '6E6C:?2CJ r=:?:4 W|r'rX :? |25:D@?[ }63C2D<2]k^Am

Barn cat program 4.JPEG — Dr. Jeff Korus provides veterinary care for both large and small animals at the Madison County Veterinary Clinic in Madison, Neb.
Submitted photo

kAm%96 4@FA=6 >6E H9:=6 3@E9 2EE6?5:?8 z2?D2D $E2E6 &?:G6CD:EJ r@==686 @7 '6E6C:?2CJ |65:4:?6] y677 @C:8:?2E65 7C@> CFC2= {:?5D2J[ }63C2D<2[ H96C6 96 H2D 24E:G6 :? !=2EE6 r@F?EJ c\w] w:D 525 >256 DFC6 y677 6IA6C:6?465 =:G6DE@4<[ 3C:?8:?8 ;FDE 23@FE 6G6CJ <:?5 @7 D>2== 2?5 =2C86 72C> 2?:>2=[ 6I46AE 8@2ED[ E@ E96:C 24C6286]k^Am

kAm%9C@F89 E96D6 6IA6C:6?46D[ y677 3642>6 H6== 24BF2:?E65 H:E9 “>:C24=6 @7 =:76]”k^Am

kAmx?DE625 @7 AFC492D:?8 9@8D @C D966A E@ D9@H 2E E96 72:C[ 9:D 525 H@F=5 72CC@H @C =2>3 @FE E96:C @H? 2?:>2=D E@ C2:D6]k^Am

kAm“pE @?6 A@:?E :? E:>6[ H6 =2>365 @FE `ad 6H6D ECJ:?8 E@ 86E c\w =2>3D[” y677 D2:5]k^Am

kAm(9:=6 2EE6?5:?8 z2?D2D $E2E6[ y677 C6EFC?65 9@>6 6249 DF>>6C E@ :?E6C? H:E9 sC] z:C< }66=6J 2E |25:D@? r@F?EJ '6E6C:?2CJ r=:?:4] y677 D2:5 96 H2D E@=5 “E96 5@@C H2D 2=H2JD @A6?” :7 96 H2?E65 2 ;@3 E96C6]k^Am

kAmp7E6C 8C25F2E:?8 7C@> G6E D49@@= :? a__g[ E96 4@FA=6 8@E >2CC:65 2?5 >@G65 E@ x==:?@:D 7@C D6G6C2= J62CD]k^Am

Barn cat program 2.JPEG — Husband and wife team Dr. Jeff Korus and Dr. Kathy Ritzmann have owned and operated the Madison County Veterinary Clinic in Madison, Neb., since 2017. The couple have two children, Charlotte, 8, and Luke, 5.
Submitted photo

kAmx? a_`e[ E96 5@@C DHF?8 H:56 @A6? 7@C y677 2?5 z2E9J E@ C6EFC? E@ }63C2D<2]k^Am

kAm“(6 H6C6 8:G6? E96 @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ 3FJ E96 |25:D@? r@F?EJ '6E6C:?2CJ r=:?:4[” y677 D2:5]k^Am

kAmw2G:?8 ;FDE H6=4@>65 E96:C 7:CDE 49:=5[ E96 4@FA=6 C62=:K65 E92E E96J H2?E65 E@ 36 4=@D6C E@ 72>:=J] y677 2?5 z2E9J AFC492D65 E96 G6E 4=:?:4 :? y2?F2CJ a_`f]k^Am

kAm“xE D66>65 =:<6 E96 DE2CD 2=:8?65 7@C FD E@ 4@>6 324< 96C6 2?5 4@?E:?F6 AC24E:4:?8[” z2E9J D2:5]k^Am

kAmy677 2?5 z2E9J ECJ E@ >2<6 E96:C 4=:?:4 2D 72>:=J @C:6?E65 2D A@DD:3=6] %96J 2=D@ AC@G:56 “AC24E:42= >65:4:?6]”k^Am

kAm“(6 <?@H E96 4@DE @7 6G6CJE9:?8 :D 8@:?8 FA[ 3FE H6 5@?’E H2?E 2?:>2=D 8@:?8 H:E9@FE E96 42C6 E96J ?665[” z2E9J D2:5] “(6 H@C< H:E9 E96 @H?6C[ 6IA=2:? H92E :D 36DE 7@C E96 2?:>2= 2?5 4@>6 E@ 2? 28C66>6?E 23@FE H92E E96J 42? 277@C5]”k^Am

kAm%9:D >:?5D6E 56C:G6D 7C@> E96 2=>@DE `_ J62CD z2E9J H@C<65 H:E9 =:>:E65 C6D@FC46D 2D 2 D96=E6C G6E6C:?2C:2? 7@C E96 p?:>2= !C@E64E:G6 {628F6 :? x==:?@:D]k^Am

kAm“(6 =62C?65 E@ H@C< E@86E96C E@ 5@ H92E6G6C H6 4@F=5[” D96 D2:5]k^Am

kAmq642FD6 @7 E96:C AC24E:42= >65:4:?6 >6?E2=:EJ[ |25:D@? r@F?EJ '6E6C:?2CJ r=:?:4 25>:?:DE6CD >65:42= 42C6 7@C >2?J =@42= D96=E6CD :? ?@CE962DE6C? }63C2D<2[ :?4=F5:?8 E96 p?:>2= $96=E6C 2?5 !FAAJ {@G6 :? }@C7@=<[ }63C2D<2] %96J 2=D@ DA2J 2?5 ?6FE6C E96 2?:>2=D 7@C !2HD 2?5 r=2HD :? r@=F>3FD[ }63C2D<2[ 2?5 r2EK p?86=D rp#t :? uC6>@?E]k^Am

kAm|25:D@? r@F?EJ '6E6C:?2CJ r=:?:4 :D A6C92AD >@DE C6?@H?65 7@C :ED 32C? 42E AC@8C2>]k^Am

kAm(92E 3682? 2D 2 H2J E@ 96=A =2C86 2?:>2= 4=:6?ED 4@?EC@= E96 ?F>36C @7 72C> 42ED 2E 2 5:D4@F?E65 AC:46 92D EC2?D7@C>65 :?E@ 2 4@>>F?:EJ D6CG:46 AC@;64E E@ >2?286 E96 962=E9 2?5 A@AF=2E:@? @7 3@E9 72C> 2?5 76C2= 42ED]k^Am

kAm$:?46 368:??:?8 :? a_`g[ E96 AC@8C2> 92D 364@>6 D@ A@AF=2C E92E 6249 %9FCD52J :D C6D6CG65 2D “q2C? r2E s2J” 2E |25:D@? r@F?EJ '6E6C:?2CJ r=:?:4]k^Am

kAm“%96 @?=J E9:?8 H6 5@ 2== 52J :D DA2J 2?5 ?6FE6C 42ED D@ H6 42? 7@4FD[” D2:5 z2E9J]k^Am

Barn cat program 3.JPEG — Each Thursday, the Madison County Veterinary Clinic spays or neuters and vaccinates outdoor cats as part of its Barn Cat Program. They typically fix between 30-45 cats within the workday.
Submitted photo

kAm%96 4=:?:4 7@==@HD E96 AC@E@4@=D 7@C 9:89\G@=F>6 DA2J 2?5 ?6FE6C AC@465FC6D 6DE23=:D965 3J E96 p>6C:42? $@4:6EJ 7@C E96 !C6G6?E:@? @7 rCF6=EJ E@ p?:>2=D] p55:E:@?2= G6E6C:?2CJ E649?:4:2?D 2C6 3C@F89E :? E@ AC@A6C=J 6I2>:?6[ 2?6DE96E:K6 2?5 AC6A2C6 E96 42ED 5FC:?8 AC@465FC6D] y677 2?5 z2E9J A6C7@C> E96 24EF2= @A6C2E:@?D]k^Am

kAm%96 D6CG:46 :D @776C65 7@C @FE5@@C 2?5 76C2= 42ED] u@C Sd_[ E96 42E :D DA2J65 @C ?6FE6C65 2?5 C646:G6D 2 C23:6D G244:?6[ 2D H6== 2D 2? 62C E:A E@ 56D:8?2E6 E92E :E 92D 366? 7:I65] s6H@C>:?8 2?5 5:DE6>A6C G244:?2E:@?D 2C6 @776C65 2E 2 5:D4@F?E65 AC:46]k^Am

People are also reading…

Good cattle and a giving nature: Late cowboy to receive hall of fame honors
Meristem focuses on reducing crop input costs for farmers
County school’s Easter parties created lasting memories
Rural America at its finest: fire relief efforts in Nebraska show best of humanity
Proposals aim to improve pool of rural veterinarians
Nebraska ranchers reel from fire losses
Rail merger would hurt farmers
From rose farms to rice fields, travel continues
Geopolitical issues influencing soybean market
Divine intent of creation respected
Study reveals how bull buyers use key genetic information
Iowa farmer sees new path for agriculture
With labor tight, incentives key to finding the right help
Seed, weeds and satellites at Commodity Classic
Social media talk burns my britches

kAm|@DE 4=:?:4D H:== A6C7@C> @?=J 7@FC @C 7:G6 DA2JD 2?5 ?6FE6CD :? E96 >@C?:?8[ D2:5 y677] ~? q2C? r2E s2J[ E96 DE277 2E |25:D@? r@F?EJ '6E6C:?2CJ r=:?:4 DA6?5D E96 6?E:C6 H@C<52J 7:I:?8 36EH66? b_\cd 42ED] %96:C C64@C5 H2D eb :? 2 52J]k^Am

kAm“(6 92G6 2 8C62E DFAA@CE DE277 E92E C62==J >2<6 :E A@DD:3=6[” D2:5 z2E9J]k^Am

kAmq642FD6 E96 42ED =:G6 @FE5@@CD[ E96J 2C6 <6AE 2E E96 4=:?:4 E96 6?E:C6 52J @C @G6C?:89E E@ 7F==J C64@G6C 7C@> 2?6DE96D:2]k^Am

kAm“(6 5@?’E H2?E E96> E@ 36 DFD46AE:3=6 E@ AC652E@CD @C 6IEC6>6 E6>A6C2EFC6D[” z2E9J D2:5]k^Am

kAmu2C>\@H?65 2?5 76C2= 42ED 92G6 366? 3C@F89E E@ E96 |25:D@? r@F?EJ 4=:?:4 7C@> 2== 5:C64E:@?Di }@CE9 !=2EE6[ qC@<6? q@H[ vC2?5 xD=2?5[ ~>292[ $@FE9 s2<@E2 2?5 x@H2] %96C6 :D D:>A=J 2 =24< 7@C DF49 2 AC@8C2>]k^Am

kAm“%96 D6CG:46 :D ?66565 32D65 @? 9@H 3FDJ H6 2C6 H:E9 E96 q2C? r2E !C@8C2>[” y677 D2:5] “x 7:8FC65 H6 H@F=5 CF? @FE @7 42ED 2E D@>6 A@:?E[ 3FE A6@A=6 <66A 3C:?8:?8 FD 42ED]”k^Am

kAm$@>6 A6@A=6 H:== EC2A 76C2= 42E 4@=@?:6D E@ 36 DA2J65 @C ?6FE6C65[ E96? C6EFC?65 E@ E96:C 9@>6] |2?J 76C2= 42ED 2C6 3C@F89E :? 3J r2>: zF69=6C[ H9@ CF?D E96 }@C7@=< r2E !C@;64E]k^Am

kAm%96 8@2= @7 E96 32C? 42E AC@8C2> :D E@ <66A E96 42E A@AF=2E:@? 7C@> 6IA=@5:?8[ z2E9J D2:5]k^Am

kAmp?J@?6 H:E9 42ED @? E96:C 72C> =:<6=J 42? C6=2E6 E@ E9:D AC@3=6>] p <:EE6? 42? 36 76CE:=6 3J c >@?E9D @7 286[ 2?5 2? F?DA2J65 76>2=6 H:== 4J4=6 6G6CJ EH@ E@ E9C66 H66<D 7C@> DAC:?8 F?E:= 2FEF>?] (:E9 2 86DE2E:@? A6C:@5 @7 @?=J eb\ed 52JD[ E96 >2>2 42E D66>D E@ 92G6 =:EE6C 27E6C =:EE6C] $@@?[ 96C @77DAC:?8 2C6 2=D@ C6AC@5F4:?8]k^Am

kAm“p== @7 2 DF556?[ J@F’C6 DE2C:?8 2E fd 42ED[” y677 D2:5] “(6 ;@<6 E92E 42ED 42?’E 255[ 3FE E96J DFC6 42? >F=E:A=J]”k^Am

kAmq6D:56D AC6G6?E:?8 @G6CA@AF=2E:@?[ 7:I:?8 42ED 42? 2G@:5 :?3C665:?8 :? 4=@D65 4@=@?:6D DF49 2D 2 72C>] s64C62D:?8 E96 ?F>36C @7 F?H2?E65 =:EE6CD 2=D@ >62?D E92E 76H6C 42ED H:== 6?5 FA :? D96=E6CD @C 36 G:4E:>D @7 G69:4=6D @C AC652E@CD]k^Am

kAmu:I65 42ED 2=D@ E6?5 E@ DE2J 4=@D6C E@ 9@>6[ H9:49 72C>6CD 92G6 7@F?5 36?67:4:2= 7@C C@56?E >2?286>6?E] r2E 3692G:@C 42? 2=D@ 36 A@D:E:G6=J 27764E65]k^Am

kAm“}F:D2?46 3692G:@CD 2DD@4:2E65 H:E9 76C2= 42ED =:<6 J@H=:?8[ DAC2J:?8[ C@2>:?8 2?5 7:89E:?8 2C6 4FC365 3J DA2J:?8 @C ?6FE6C:?8[” z2E9J D2:5]k^Am

kAmr@?EC@==:?8 E96 42E A@AF=2E:@? 2?5 AC@G:5:?8 G244:?2E:@?D E9C@F89 E96 32C? 42E AC@8C2> :D :>A@CE2?E 7C@> 2 AF3=:4 962=E9 A6CDA64E:G6[ 2D H6==] }@E @?=J 5@6D :E :>AC@G6 E96 :?5:G:5F2= 2?:>2=’D H6==\36:?8[ 3FE E96C6 :D =6DD C:D< @7 DAC625:?8 EC2?D>:DD:3=6 5:D62D6D] u:I:?8 2 42E C65F46D E96 C:D< @7 >2>>2CJ 42?46C :? 76>2=6D 2?5 E6DE:4F=2C 42?46C :? >2=6D[ z2E9J 25565]k^Am

kAm%96 32C? 42E AC@8C2> :D 2 7@C> @7 AF3=:4 D6CG:46 7@C y677 2?5 z2E9J[ H9@ 766= DEC@?8=J 23@FE 96=A:?8 @E96CD]k^Am

kAm“(6’G6 366? AC6EEJ 3=6DD65[ D@ :7 H6 92G6 E96 23:=:EJ E@ <66A AC:46D 2D =@H 2D H6 42? 7@C A6@A=6[ :E’D 2 8@@5 H2J E@ 96=A E96 4@>>F?:EJ[” y677 D2:5]k^Am

kAmpD 3FDJ 2D E96 4=:?:4 :D 42C:?8 7@C D>2== 2?:>2=D[ E96 @H?6CD 2C6 24FE6=J 2H2C6 @7 E96 D9@CE286 @7 =2C86 2?:>2= G6E6C:?2C:2?D] y677 AC@G:56D G6E6C:?2CJ D6CG:46D 7@C =2C86 2?:>2=D E@ DFAA@CE E96 =@42= =:G6DE@4< AC@5F46CD]k^Am

kAm“(6 ?665 E@ <66A =:G6DE@4< 2D 962=E9J 2D A@DD:3=6 D@ H6 42? AFE E96 36DE AC@5F4E @? E96 E23=6 7@C A6@A=6 E@ 62E[” 96 D2:5]k^Am

Barn cat program 5.JPEG — Working alongside her parents at the Madison County Veterinary Clinic, Charlotte is learning how to properly care for animals.
Submitted photo

kAmy677 2?5 z2E9J 92G6 C64CF:E65 E96:C EH@ J@F?8 49:=5C6? E@ 96=A 2E E96 G6E 4=:?:4] %96:C J@F?86DE D@?[ d\J62C\@=5 {F<6[ 92D 2 E6?24:EJ 7@C 42ED] %96:C @=56DE 52F89E6C r92C=@EE6 :D 2 3:8 96=A 4=62?:?8 E96 <6??6=D 2?5 2DD:DE:?8 H:E9 E96 D>2== 2?:>2=D]k^Am

kAm“x7 2? g\J62C\@=5 4@F=5 36 2 G6E[ D96’5 36 C625J[” z2E9J D2:5]k^Am

kAm}@H E92E r92C@=@EE6 :D @=5 6?@F89 E@ D9@H =:G6DE@4< :? c\w[ E96 72>:=J 92D 364@>6 :?G@=G65 :? E96 AC@8C2> 2E |25:D@? r@F?EJ] %9:D A2DE DF>>6C[ |25:D@? r@F?EJ '6E6C:?2CJ r=:?:4 5@?2E65 E96 =:G6DE@4< D9@H 32??6CD E92E H6C6 2H2C565 E@ E96 492>A:@? 2?5 C6D6CG6 492>A:@? H:??6CD 2E E96 |25:D@? r@F?EJ u2:C 2?5 #@56@] q642FD6 @7 E96:C @FEDE2?5:?8 DFAA@CE[ E96J H6C6 C64@8?:K65 2D E96 a_ac c\w p5G@42E6 @7 E96 *62C 5FC:?8 E96 |25:D@? r@F?EJ c\w p49:6G6>6?E r6C6>@?J pF8] `g]k^Am

kAmy677 2?5 z2E9J 2C6 9:89=J :?G@=G65 :? E96 E@H? @7 |25:D@? 2?5 E96 DFCC@F?5:?8 C68:@?] z2E9J :D 24E:G6 H:E9 A2C6?E E62496C @C82?:K2E:@? 2E |25:D@? t=6>6?E2CJ] |2:5D@? r@F?EJ '6E6C:?2CJ r=:?:4 92D 2=D@ 4@?EC:3FE65 7:?2?4:2==J E@ D6G6C2= =@42= D49@@=D]k^Am

kAm%96 72>:=J A2CE:4:A2E6D :? G2C:@FD A2C256D 2?5 @E96C 4@>>F?:EJ 6G6?ED E9C@F89@FE E96 J62C]k^Am

kAm“(6 ECJ E@ 36 24E:G6 :? E96 4@>>F?:EJ 2?5 96=A @FE[” y677 D2:5]k^Am

kAmqJ DE2CE:?8 E96 32C? 42E AC@8C2>[ y677 2?5 z2E9J 2C6 >2<:?8 2 5:776C6?46 :? }63C2D<2 2?5 36J@?5] %96J 2C6 AC@G:5:?8 2 AF3=:4 D6CG:46 E92E 76H @E96CD 2C6 42A23=6 @7 5@:?8] !=FD[ z2E9J :D 7F=7:==:?8 2== 96C 49:=59@@5 5C62>D 3J H@C<:?8 H:E9 2?:>2=D 2?5 36:?8 :? E96 AF3=:4 962=E9 D6EE:?8]k^Am

kAmu@C >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@? 23@FE E96 q2C? r2E !C@8C2> @C E@ >2<6 2? 2AA@:?E>6?E[ 4@?E24E E96 |25:D@? r@F?EJ '6E6C:?2CJ r=:?:4 2E c_a\cdc\a``f]k^Am

kAm$FAA@CE6CD 42? ;@:? E96 U=5BF@j$A2J :E u@CH2C5UC5BF@j 42>A2:8? E92E 96=AD 7F?5 E96 4@DE @7 7:I:?8 42ED H:E9 ?@ @H?6C @C 42C6E2<6C] %@ 5@?2E6[ 42== c_a\cdc\a``f @C G:D:E E96 H63D:E6 k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^HHH]>25:D@?4@F?EJG6E6C:?2CJ4=:?:4]4@>QmHHH]>25:D@?4@F?EJG6E6C:?2CJ4=:?:4]4@>k^2m]k^Am

Reporter Kristen Sindelar has loved agriculture her entire life, coming from a diversified farm with three generations working side-by-side in northeastern Nebraska. Reach her at Kristen.Sindelar@midwestmessenger.com.