width="225"BETHESDA, MD Alley Cat Allies is extending the observation of National Animal Care & Control Appreciation Week, held April 9-15, throughout the month of April to call attention to the important role animal control agencies and animal shelters can play in improving the lives of cats. It will recognize the work of cutting edge animal control agencies, animal shelters and their staffs. These are the individuals who are breaking the mold by helping to save cats’ lives and making positive impacts for the cats in their communities.

“Innovative animal control officers are playing an essential role in the humane treatment of community cats both by serving as a resource for the public and also by advocating for programs like Trap-Neuter-Return and Shelter-Neuter-Return in their communities,” said Becky Robinson, president and founder of Alley Cat Allies. “We celebrate and thank animal control officers and animal shelter staff who have challenged the conventional wisdom to help protect the lives of cats.”

One animal control officer who has gone above and beyond is Sgt. Erin Brogan from the Shenandoah County Sheriff’s Office in Virginia, who helped save the lives of 70 cats in her community in a single incident. Alley Cat Allies is proud to highlight her work and the stories of other exceptional animal shelter staff and animal control officers on its Facebook page, www.Facebook.com/AlleyCatAllies. The page will recognize a different animal control officer or animal shelter each week during April.

Alley Cat Allies will also host a pair of webinars to further celebrate the month. The first, “The Benefits of a Community, Animal, and Shelter Supported Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) Program“ is now available on Alleycat.org/webinar for immediate viewing. The second webinar, “Working With Animal Control and Shelters to Save More Cats,” will take place on April 26 and will also be recorded for future viewing at the same web page.

About Alley Cat Allies
Alley Cat Allies, headquartered in Bethesda, Md., is the only national advocacy organization dedicated to the protection and humane treatment of cats. Founded in 1990, today Alley Cat Allies has more than 650,000 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, and Alley Cat Allies is active on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+ and YouTube.

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Media Contact:
[email protected] or by phone at 240-482-2597, or 240-482-1980