There was reason for us to celebrate in New Orleans this week at the Humane Society of the Unites States’ annual Animal Care Expo. I was there with my Alley Cat Allies colleagues, witnessing the enormous strides that have taken place with regard to cat protection policies over the past decade in the years since Hurricane Katrina.

Alley Cat Allies Volunteers in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina.

Alley Cat Allies Volunteers in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina.

In the aftermath of the storm, my colleagues and I served as boots-on-the-ground volunteers helping to rescue thousands of displaced cats. Hurricane Katrina shed a sobering light on the inadequate and inhumane animal evacuation and rescue protocol during natural disasters. In the days following Katrina, local shelters refused entry to cats taken there by evacuated pet owners. Hundreds of cats were left behind and forgotten in the flooded homes and streets of New Orleans, frightened, lost, and hungry.

Fast forward to today and we take heart in knowing that new state and federal laws, including the Pet Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act, have been passed that specifically address the management of displaced animals within disaster planning protocol to mitigate such chaos and confusion when the next disaster strikes.

I also couldn’t help but notice one of the Expo’s key themes: the humane management of cat populations. I’ve learned the Humane Society of Louisiana, Plaquemines Cat, and the Louisiana SPCA now regularly educate the general public on TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return). Numerous studies show catch and kill fails to stabilize populations and TNR is highly-effective.

Receiving Lifetime Achievement Award from Jeff Dorson, Executive Director, Humane Society of Louisiana.

Receiving Lifetime Achievement Award from Jeff Dorson, Executive Director, Humane Society of Louisiana.

Finally, this week I was immensely honored to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from Jeff Dorson, the executive director of the Humane Society of Louisiana. It’s hard to believe but for 25 years now, Alley Cat Allies has served to protect and improve the lives of all cats. Today, 500 communities across the U.S have official TNR policies. And without you, our supporters, this would not have been possible.

There is still a lot more work to be done when it comes to changing hearts, minds, and antiquated polices. Though many animal control agencies and shelters have altered their approach to cats, as we look ahead to the next decade, we as taxpayers and informed members of the general public need to ensure every agency and shelter follows suit.

October 16th every year is National Feral Cat Day and we ask that 2015 be the year that you get involved! It’s easy to get started – just visit www.nationalferalcatday.org.

On behalf of our feline friends in The Big Easy this week and all across the nation, a heartfelt thank you to our existing supporters, and an enthusiastic call to action to the new friends and supporters we know are out there, and whom we look forward to meeting!

Becky Robinson is the President and Co-Founder of Alley Cat Allies, the only national advocacy organization dedicated to the protection and humane treatment of cats.

Follow Becky Robinson on Twitter: www.twitter.com/feralbecky