BETHESDA, MDIn honor of National Feral Cat Day® (Oct. 16), Alley Cat Allies is donating essential Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) equipment to Garland Pawsibilities, a nonprofit animal group located in Garland, Texas.
Alley Cat Allies is purchasing ten traps, two trap dividers and four CatStopsultrasonic cat deterrentsto support Garland Pawsibilities in its efforts to launch a new citywide TNR pilot program. Approved by the City of Garland on Oct. 6, the pilot TNR program will work to stabilize and reduce the community cat population and decrease the number of citizen calls about cats.
Celebrating a victory for community cats, Garland Pawsibilities plans to TNR 40 to 50 cats each month. The organization will hold two seminars on the benefits of TNR on Oct. 25 and Nov. 22, 2014 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Pet Adoption Center located at 813 Main Street, downtown Garland.
By supporting the pilot program, which will begin on Oct. 16, National Feral Cat Day®, Alley Cat Allies hopes the Garland City Council adopts a formal TNR ordinance.
National Feral Cat Day® was launched by Alley Cat Allies in 2001 with one of its central goals being the promotion of Trap-Neuter-Return. This year’s National Feral Cat Day® theme, “TNR: From the Alley…to Main Street,” speaks of how far the movement has come.
Once a program only practiced in alleyways with volunteers and animal groups, the last decade has seen an increase in support of Trap-Neuter-Return, which is now the method used by a significant number of America’s shelters and local governments.
“Trap-Neuter-Return has become the mainstream way to care for community cats,” says Becky Robinson, president and founder of Alley Cat Allies. “If your local shelter isn’t doing TNR they are behind the times, and you should ask them to adopt the program. It saves lives and tax dollars.”
In addition to the over 600 nonprofit groups nationally practicing TNR, there are more than 430 cities and counties with official ordinances or policies endorsing Trap-Neuter-Return for community cats. Learn more at www.alleycat.org.
###
About Alley Cat Allies
Alley Cat Allies is the only national advocacy organization dedicated to the protection and humane treatment of cats. Founded in 1990, today Alley Cat Allies has over half a million supporters and helps tens of thousands of individuals, communities, and organizations save and improve the lives of millions of cats and kittens nationwide. Its website is www.alleycat.org.