For Immediate Release: January 13, 2014
Contact: JOHNNIE SIMPSON, [email protected] or (240)-482-3895 or HANNAH SHAW, [email protected] or (240)-482-1935
| WHO: | Hannah Shaw, Alley Cat Allies Campaigns Manager Azalea City Cat Coalition volunteers |
|---|---|
| WHAT: | Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) Workshoplearn how to help outdoor cats and kittens, cat history and behavior, Trap-Neuter-Return, and how to get involved in your community. Complimentary snacks will be provided. |
| WHEN: | Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015, 7-8:30 p.m. |
| WHERE: | Tillman’s Corner Community Center 5055 Carol Plantation RoadMobile, AL 36619Directions |
NIGHT-OF CONTACT: Hannah Shaw, 240-755-7045
Background for Media
Alley Cat Allies, in partnership with Azalea City Cat Coalition, will host a Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) workshop at Tillman’s Corner Community Center Jan. 27, 2015.
A Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program is essential in every community to help cats who make their home outdoors, are unowned, and not socialized to people. When community cats are impounded in shelters, they are killed there because they are unadoptable. In fact, nationally, over 70 percent of all cats who enter shelters are killed there. Communities nationwide are now recognizing that outdated policies of removing and impounding cats are not working to help cats or the community. But in a TNR program, the community cat population stabilizes and declines over time.
The number of cities and counties that officially endorse TNR and other proactive, effective approaches has increased ten-fold to over 450 in the last decade, including Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and Chicago. TNR stabilizes community cat populations and saves money that can be allocated for adoption and foster care programs as well as community education.
At the workshop, a representative from Alley Cat Allies will explain the basics of TNR, in which community cats are humanely trapped and brought to veterinary clinics for spaying, neutering, and vaccinations. Unsocialized, and therefore unadoptable feral cats are eartippedthe universal sign that cat has been neutered and vaccinatedand then returned to their outdoor homes, while friendly cats and kittens are placed in foster homes until adoption. The reproduction cycle stops immediately, the community cat colony size stabilizes decreases over time.
Alley Cat Allies has formed a new partnership with Azalea City Cat Coalition to enhance their programs to help Mobile County’s community cat population. Alley Cat Allies provided a $5000 grant and humane trapping equipment for Azalea City Cat Coalition to expand TNR and offer additional low-cost spay and neuter assistance. With a stronger TNR program, Mobile County will be able to focus on lifesaving programs for adoptable cats, and improve the community for both cats and residents. Alley Cat Allies is also collaborating with Mobile County government officials and shelter employees on strengthening their community cat policies and developing educational materials specific to the needs of county residents.
In addition to the more than 450 cities and counties with official ordinances or policies endorsing TNR for community cats, there are more than 600 grassroots, nonprofit groups nationally practicing TNR. 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 and celebrating 25 years of saving cats, 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.