When Alley Cat Allies was founded in 1990, the world was a very different place for cats. Email did not exist the way it does today and the web was only a glimmer of what it would become, so instead, we pounded the pavement, sent communications via fax, and connected with supporters and other cat advocates on the telephone. We still have that first rolodex displayed in our office.
The movement for the humane treatment of cats changed forever. We showed up to any conferences we could to speak on behalf of cats. Through expertise and passion, we won over often-skeptical audiences on a revolutionary concept called “Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR).”
People had few options to protect cats outdoors in those times. Animal shelters and animal control agencies were routinely killing cats, and Alley Cat Allies was deluged by requests for help. We’re in a much better place today, but getting here took a lot of determination, passion, know-how, and a willingness to roll up our sleeves.
In the 29 years since our founding, Alley Cat Allies has made TNR mainstream in the United States as the humane and effective approach to community cats, set the standards and best practices for cat care, and held countless workshops to educate caregivers and other members of communities on how to protect cats.
We’ve mobilized thousands of cat advocates, promoted pro-cat legislation, and spoken out against laws that harm cats. We’ve transformed entire communities to be more feline-friendly and helped animal shelters adopt lifesaving policies and programs. We’ve produced educational materials on everything from how to tell how old a kitten is to how to draft a TNR ordinance. We’ve had the pleasure of working with veterinarians, animal shelter professionals, elected officials, advocates, caregivers, other animal protection groups, and our own Feral Friends Network® superstars.
Most importantly, Alley Cat Allies has saved the lives of cats across the country and around the world.
We’ve been able to do it all because of our supporters. Without you, none of this would have been possible. We hope you’ll be with us in the years to come and that our movement to protect and improve the lives of cats continues to grow. Thank you!