Q: Do the Allisons receive funding from any organizations for their work with feral cats on Jekyll Island? How would I send a donation?
—Dave Nugent, Canton
A: John and Shelley Allison, who have helped decrease the feral cat population on Jekyll Island through a spay, neuter, adopt and release program, accept donations at Suzie's Friends, Inc. c/o EnviroSpec, 751 MLK Highway, Homerville, Ga., 31634. For more information, go to www.suziesfriends.org/Donate.htm. Suzie's Friends is an animal shelter operated by the Allisons in Homerville. The Allisons "like to receive gift cards from PetSmart to help pay for food," Eric Garvey, the chief communications officer with the Jekyll Island Authority, told Q&A on the News in an email. The Allisons work with the authority. The number of feral cats on the island has decreased from around 400 to about 75 in the past seven years, The Brunswick News reported.
Q: Can we rule out that Aimee Copeland could not have received the bacteria in the hospital where her wound was first treated? It’s said that the infection begins locally at a site of trauma, which may be severe (such as the result of surgery), minor, or even non-apparent.
—Rob Branson, Atlanta
A: Doctors believe the bacteria, called Aeromonas hydrophila, entered Copeland's body through the gash in her leg, which she injured during a zip line accident on the Little Tallapoosa River. The germ is common in warm water, but is not a threat to most people. Doctors at the Tanner Medical Center in Carrollton needed 22 staples to close Copeland's injury. The hospital won't comment on her treatment, citing patient privacy laws.
Andy Johnston wrote this column; Jeffry Scott contributed. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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