Becoming an Organization Feral Friend

Including Government Agencies, Veterinary Practices and Spay/Neuter Clinics

Frequently Asked Questions

What is expected of my organization as a Feral Friend?

My organization wants to join the Feral Friends Network, how does it apply?

Is there a fee to join the Feral Friends Network?

What information about my organization may be given out to the public by Alley Cat Allies?

What are the benefits to my organization of becoming a Feral Friend?

We are a busy veterinary practice. What is done so that we don’t get calls regarding services we don’t offer?

If we agree to provide advice about Trap-Neuter-Return will we be contacted for other types of help that we don’t provide?

What if my organization decides later that it doesn’t want to be a Feral Friend?

Does being a Feral Friend make my organization or the people working or volunteering for it members or volunteers of Alley Cat Allies?

If my organization is a Feral Friend, can I also be an individual Feral Friend?

What is expected of my organization as a Feral Friend?

• That it adheres to Alley Cat Allies’ philosophy of managing feral cat colonies with nonlethal methods.

• That it will respond within a reasonable time to all inquires about feral cats. If the organization is unable to provide the necessary services, it will make efforts to refer to other known organizations or individuals that can help.

• The organization is not required to provide services at less than its normal fees, if any. Since the availability of spay/neuter is often the major impediment to Trap-Neuter-Return in a community, any amount of discounted or no-cost spay/neuter of feral cats that the organization is able to offer is a sincerely appreciated community service.

• Identify a person within the organization who will be Alley Cat Allies’ contact if we have questions about the organization’s role as a Feral Friend. The contact will also keep Alley Cat Allies updated with any changes to contact information or services provided.

My organization wants to join the Feral Friends Network, how does it apply?

It’s easy. As long as you are 18 or older and have authorization from the organization to apply on its behalf, click here to complete the online application.

Completing the online application is preferred, but if you would rather print and mail or fax the application, download it here.

Is there a fee to join the Feral Friends Network?

No.

What information about my organization may be given out to the public by Alley Cat Allies?

• The organization’s name, city, state or province, and country.

• The contact information that you have provided in your application and have granted permission for Alley Cat Allies to provide to caregivers.

• The services related to feral cats that the organization provides and any associated requirements for providing those services such as that all cats be eartipped.

• The areas (city, county, etc.) where the organization provides services.

• The Trap-Neuter-Return or veterinary practices the organization follows.

• Any information contained on the organization’s website.

• The above information and/or a link to the organization’s website may be included on the Alley Cat Allies website at Feral Cat and Spay/Neuter Organizations.

• Alley Cat Allies may include the information in a list of Feral Friends that is provided to caregivers looking for assistance. See a sample list of Feral Friends.

What are the benefits to my organization of becoming a Feral Friend?

• Being a Feral Friend will give your organization national and international exposure by being included on our website and in our other lists of Feral Friends. In addition to helping people who want to help feral cats find you, it can lead to additional volunteers and donors for your organization. When we are contacted by someone who wants to volunteer by helping feral cats we often direct them to our Feral Friends in their area. For veterinary practices and spay/neuter clinics, being a Feral Friend generally leads to additional clients who may also choose your practice for their pets’ veterinary needs.

• Feral Friends can join Feral Friends Online, Alley Cat Allies’ e-mail list and online community just for Feral Friends. It allows them to learn from each other’s knowledge and experience and provide encouragement and support to each other.

We are a busy veterinary practice. What is done so that we don’t get calls regarding services we don’t offer?

Alley Cat Allies identifies which Feral Friends provide veterinary services and asks that they be contacted about those services only. We rarely receive a report of a veterinary Feral Friend being contacted with irrelevant questions.

If we agree to provide advice about Trap-Neuter-Return will we be contacted for other types of help that we don’t provide?

Because of the high volume of requests Alley Cat Allies receives and the large number of Feral Friends, Alley Cat Allies provides lists of Feral Friends based on their location or the area in which they provide services but cannot attempt to match the specific type of non-veterinary help wanted with specific Feral Friends who offer that type of help. Therefore, non-veterinary Feral Friends might be contacted for help that they don’t provide. In such a case, all the organization is expected to do is give any advice it can and make referrals to other organizations or individuals who might provide the desired help.

What if my organization decides later that it doesn’t want to be a Feral Friend?

The organization can inform Alley Cat Allies at any time that it wishes to be removed from the Feral Friends Network, and Alley Cat Allies will remove the organization and stop disseminating its information.

Does being a Feral Friend make my organization or the people working or volunteering for it members or volunteers of Alley Cat Allies?

Alley Cat Allies does not have a formal membership concept but instead has supporters, donors, and others who are affiliated with us in various ways. A person is an Alley Cat Allies volunteer only if he is working directly with us on a program that we are managing and has completed a volunteer agreement. The Feral Friends Network is a much more informal affiliation in which we put those who want to help feral cats in contact with those who might be able to offer them assistance. Alley Cat Allies asks that our Feral Friends not represent themselves as Alley Cat Allies volunteers though they may say they are a member of the Alley Cat Allies Feral Friends Network.

If my organization is a Feral Friend, can I also be an individual Feral Friend?

Yes. If you are experienced with Trap-Neuter-Return, are willing to be contacted directly for advice, are willing to provide referrals to other local feral cat resources, and are at least 18 years old then you can learn more about becoming an individual Feral Friend and apply here.

To download a FFN application or view the sample list of Feral Friends you will need the Adobe Reader. Click on the button to download it for free.