Animal Welfare Professionals

My post is a question regarding how to tap into public care and concern for animal welfare by educating them about the priority of spay/neuter.  More specifically the importance of TNR in reducing the number of cats and kittens in shelters.   I believe there is not nearly  enough emphasis by humane societies and other large animal welfare organizations on the urgent need for TNR groups and funding .  TNR is on the peripheral of what is focused on and deemed important.  How do we bring TNR to the center of our focus?  It comes down to more emphasis on prevention.

#CommunityPartnerships*
#DataandTechnology
#FundraisingandDevelopment

------------------------------
Holly Hocker
board member
Friends of Woodford County IL, Feral cats
IL
------------------------------

My post is a question regarding how to tap into public care and concern for animal welfare by educating them about the priority of spay/neuter.  More specifically the importance of TNR in reducing the number of cats and kittens in shelters.   I believe there is not nearly  enough emphasis by humane societies and other large animal welfare organizations on the urgent need for TNR groups and funding .  TNR is on the peripheral of what is focused on and deemed important.  How do we bring TNR to the center of our focus?  It comes down to more emphasis on prevention.

#CommunityPartnerships*
#DataandTechnology
#FundraisingandDevelopment

------------------------------
Holly Hocker
board member
Friends of Woodford County IL, Feral cats
IL
------------------------------

My post is a question regarding how to tap into public care and concern for animal welfare by educating them about the priority of spay/neuter.  More specifically the importance of TNR in reducing the number of cats and kittens in shelters.   I believe there is not nearly  enough emphasis by humane societies and other large animal welfare organizations on the urgent need for TNR groups and funding .  TNR is on the peripheral of what is focused on and deemed important.  How do we bring TNR to the center of our focus?  It comes down to more emphasis on prevention.

#CommunityPartnerships*
#DataandTechnology
#FundraisingandDevelopment

------------------------------
Holly Hocker
board member
Friends of Woodford County IL, Feral cats
IL
------------------------------

Hi Holly,

          My best suggestion is to continue to share TNR information on social media all of the time.  I have been truly amazed when scanning local community posts how many people know about TNR and are supportive of it.  If people are against TNR, they are usually not against s/n for owned pets so you might start out from that angle.  I find that if a community has enough s/n and TNR s/n capacity then the community is more receptive to using those services.  Educating folks about TNR with out easy/affordable access to appointments doesn't help much unfortunately.    

           If you are concerned about reducing the number of kittens in the shelter another very viable approach is to get all of our local veterinarians to offer feline fix by five.  https://www.unitedspayalliance.org/feline-fix-by-five/.   Dr. Phil Bushby has spoken at length that if we just got the standard practice of s/n to be before 5 months or the first heat, this would reduce the number of kittens in our shelters significantly.    Do you think the local private practice veterinarians would be willing to consider this change?  Right now with the vet shortage, this may be the best approach to having impacts in our shelters.

           In terms of strategy- just doing TNR won't help reduce the number of cats in your shelter without access to affordable s/n of owned cats.  So just be aware of the fact that s/n capacity right now is very important to make changes and our focus should be building up capacity in every community through different models(mash, voucher, private practice, mobile, stationary) there are lots of options. But that is off topic, sorry. 

          Anyway, here are some options.  I am happy to expand more.  Thank you so very much for everything that you do help cats!

My post is a question regarding how to tap into public care and concern for animal welfare by educating them about the priority of spay/neuter.  More specifically the importance of TNR in reducing the number of cats and kittens in shelters.   I believe there is not nearly  enough emphasis by humane societies and other large animal welfare organizations on the urgent need for TNR groups and funding .  TNR is on the peripheral of what is focused on and deemed important.  How do we bring TNR to the center of our focus?  It comes down to more emphasis on prevention.

#CommunityPartnerships*
#DataandTechnology
#FundraisingandDevelopment

------------------------------
Holly Hocker
board member
Friends of Woodford County IL, Feral cats
IL
------------------------------

My post is a question regarding how to tap into public care and concern for animal welfare by educating them about the priority of spay/neuter.  More specifically the importance of TNR in reducing the number of cats and kittens in shelters.   I believe there is not nearly  enough emphasis by humane societies and other large animal welfare organizations on the urgent need for TNR groups and funding .  TNR is on the peripheral of what is focused on and deemed important.  How do we bring TNR to the center of our focus?  It comes down to more emphasis on prevention.

#CommunityPartnerships*
#DataandTechnology
#FundraisingandDevelopment

------------------------------
Holly Hocker
board member
Friends of Woodford County IL, Feral cats
IL
------------------------------

Our city and county shelter do not accept healthy cats nor do they provide TNR.  The city shelter director told me he believes cats should be left on the street but he would TNR if funds were donated for that purpose. He was just awarded best shelter director from some group. The county shelter stopped accepting healthy cats in 2014 but will accept sick/injured cats, I assume they euthanize them, and those unable to self-feed. They  reach out to local rescue groups to take any cats or kittens.  Our elected officials are not interested, either. I regularly ask citizens to contact their elected official about TNR but no one does. Our climate allows for year round breeding. 

I know it's a sad situation here but I have hope and many ideas to improve our situation. A media campaign could make it "cool" to like cats and cool to spay neuter them. Funding to provide spay neuter for those unable to afford it is another plan. I can speak to community groups to educate on TNR.  Turning cat haters into cat helpers is part of the effort, too. People don't like snakes or rats, so cats can be part of the solution to that issue. We have to change the way people feel about cats in general. 

My post is a question regarding how to tap into public care and concern for animal welfare by educating them about the priority of spay/neuter.  More specifically the importance of TNR in reducing the number of cats and kittens in shelters.   I believe there is not nearly  enough emphasis by humane societies and other large animal welfare organizations on the urgent need for TNR groups and funding .  TNR is on the peripheral of what is focused on and deemed important.  How do we bring TNR to the center of our focus?  It comes down to more emphasis on prevention.

#CommunityPartnerships*
#DataandTechnology
#FundraisingandDevelopment

------------------------------
Holly Hocker
board member
Friends of Woodford County IL, Feral cats
IL
------------------------------

Hi Valerie -

At first I thought you were talking about one of our shelters, who just won a big award, but they hardly take anything other than lost and found.  I've even heard they only take animals that are microchipped so they are easily reunited and tell folks to put the animals back.  Our other huge shelter wants ZERO to do with TNR, community cat, and feral cat programs.
Some things we are doing to get the word out about TNR or helping fix lower income pets is we have some volunteers who work at clinics and they have convinced the clinic management to have a clinic for us, for free, for 15-20 cats a month. We focus on friendlies that are owned, that don't qualify for the TNR slots at our HQHVSN clinic. Another thing we do is highlight our trappers on social media and have photos of them in groups, so it doesn't seem so lonely (because it can be). Those posts show camaraderie, friendship and fun, all for TNR.  It's easier to do outreach as a team as well - you don't look like a "crazy old cat lady". 
But capacity will continue to be an issue unfortunately, but we are seeing big differences in areas where we have done high intensity TNR. 

Our city and county shelter do not accept healthy cats nor do they provide TNR.  The city shelter director told me he believes cats should be left on the street but he would TNR if funds were donated for that purpose. He was just awarded best shelter director from some group. The county shelter stopped accepting healthy cats in 2014 but will accept sick/injured cats, I assume they euthanize them, and those unable to self-feed. They  reach out to local rescue groups to take any cats or kittens.  Our elected officials are not interested, either. I regularly ask citizens to contact their elected official about TNR but no one does. Our climate allows for year round breeding. 

I know it's a sad situation here but I have hope and many ideas to improve our situation. A media campaign could make it "cool" to like cats and cool to spay neuter them. Funding to provide spay neuter for those unable to afford it is another plan. I can speak to community groups to educate on TNR.  Turning cat haters into cat helpers is part of the effort, too. People don't like snakes or rats, so cats can be part of the solution to that issue. We have to change the way people feel about cats in general. 

My post is a question regarding how to tap into public care and concern for animal welfare by educating them about the priority of spay/neuter.  More specifically the importance of TNR in reducing the number of cats and kittens in shelters.   I believe there is not nearly  enough emphasis by humane societies and other large animal welfare organizations on the urgent need for TNR groups and funding .  TNR is on the peripheral of what is focused on and deemed important.  How do we bring TNR to the center of our focus?  It comes down to more emphasis on prevention.

#CommunityPartnerships*
#DataandTechnology
#FundraisingandDevelopment

------------------------------
Holly Hocker
board member
Friends of Woodford County IL, Feral cats
IL
------------------------------

Our city and county shelter do not accept healthy cats nor do they provide TNR.  The city shelter director told me he believes cats should be left on the street but he would TNR if funds were donated for that purpose. He was just awarded best shelter director from some group. The county shelter stopped accepting healthy cats in 2014 but will accept sick/injured cats, I assume they euthanize them, and those unable to self-feed. They  reach out to local rescue groups to take any cats or kittens.  Our elected officials are not interested, either. I regularly ask citizens to contact their elected official about TNR but no one does. Our climate allows for year round breeding. 

I know it's a sad situation here but I have hope and many ideas to improve our situation. A media campaign could make it "cool" to like cats and cool to spay neuter them. Funding to provide spay neuter for those unable to afford it is another plan. I can speak to community groups to educate on TNR.  Turning cat haters into cat helpers is part of the effort, too. People don't like snakes or rats, so cats can be part of the solution to that issue. We have to change the way people feel about cats in general. 

My post is a question regarding how to tap into public care and concern for animal welfare by educating them about the priority of spay/neuter.  More specifically the importance of TNR in reducing the number of cats and kittens in shelters.   I believe there is not nearly  enough emphasis by humane societies and other large animal welfare organizations on the urgent need for TNR groups and funding .  TNR is on the peripheral of what is focused on and deemed important.  How do we bring TNR to the center of our focus?  It comes down to more emphasis on prevention.

#CommunityPartnerships*
#DataandTechnology
#FundraisingandDevelopment

------------------------------
Holly Hocker
board member
Friends of Woodford County IL, Feral cats
IL
------------------------------

Hi Valerie,

I'm really confused (concerned!).  Your county shelter only takes in sick/injured cats and euthanizes them? They don't accept healthy animals? And the shelter manager thinks cats should live on the streets? It sounds like you and others like you need to begin to act politically.  Alley Cat Allies has lots of information/guide for TNR activism.  I hope things get better for you and the cats.  A lot of misinformation is out there, and education can help!

Cat Advocacy | How to Pass Laws to Help Community Cats and Kittens (alleycat.org)

www.alleycat.org

Our city and county shelter do not accept healthy cats nor do they provide TNR.  The city shelter director told me he believes cats should be left on the street but he would TNR if funds were donated for that purpose. He was just awarded best shelter director from some group. The county shelter stopped accepting healthy cats in 2014 but will accept sick/injured cats, I assume they euthanize them, and those unable to self-feed. They  reach out to local rescue groups to take any cats or kittens.  Our elected officials are not interested, either. I regularly ask citizens to contact their elected official about TNR but no one does. Our climate allows for year round breeding. 

I know it's a sad situation here but I have hope and many ideas to improve our situation. A media campaign could make it "cool" to like cats and cool to spay neuter them. Funding to provide spay neuter for those unable to afford it is another plan. I can speak to community groups to educate on TNR.  Turning cat haters into cat helpers is part of the effort, too. People don't like snakes or rats, so cats can be part of the solution to that issue. We have to change the way people feel about cats in general. 

My post is a question regarding how to tap into public care and concern for animal welfare by educating them about the priority of spay/neuter.  More specifically the importance of TNR in reducing the number of cats and kittens in shelters.   I believe there is not nearly  enough emphasis by humane societies and other large animal welfare organizations on the urgent need for TNR groups and funding .  TNR is on the peripheral of what is focused on and deemed important.  How do we bring TNR to the center of our focus?  It comes down to more emphasis on prevention.

#CommunityPartnerships*
#DataandTechnology
#FundraisingandDevelopment

------------------------------
Holly Hocker
board member
Friends of Woodford County IL, Feral cats
IL
------------------------------

Hi Valerie,

I'm really confused (concerned!).  Your county shelter only takes in sick/injured cats and euthanizes them? They don't accept healthy animals? And the shelter manager thinks cats should live on the streets? It sounds like you and others like you need to begin to act politically.  Alley Cat Allies has lots of information/guide for TNR activism.  I hope things get better for you and the cats.  A lot of misinformation is out there, and education can help!

Cat Advocacy | How to Pass Laws to Help Community Cats and Kittens (alleycat.org)

www.alleycat.org

Our city and county shelter do not accept healthy cats nor do they provide TNR.  The city shelter director told me he believes cats should be left on the street but he would TNR if funds were donated for that purpose. He was just awarded best shelter director from some group. The county shelter stopped accepting healthy cats in 2014 but will accept sick/injured cats, I assume they euthanize them, and those unable to self-feed. They  reach out to local rescue groups to take any cats or kittens.  Our elected officials are not interested, either. I regularly ask citizens to contact their elected official about TNR but no one does. Our climate allows for year round breeding. 

I know it's a sad situation here but I have hope and many ideas to improve our situation. A media campaign could make it "cool" to like cats and cool to spay neuter them. Funding to provide spay neuter for those unable to afford it is another plan. I can speak to community groups to educate on TNR.  Turning cat haters into cat helpers is part of the effort, too. People don't like snakes or rats, so cats can be part of the solution to that issue. We have to change the way people feel about cats in general. 

My post is a question regarding how to tap into public care and concern for animal welfare by educating them about the priority of spay/neuter.  More specifically the importance of TNR in reducing the number of cats and kittens in shelters.   I believe there is not nearly  enough emphasis by humane societies and other large animal welfare organizations on the urgent need for TNR groups and funding .  TNR is on the peripheral of what is focused on and deemed important.  How do we bring TNR to the center of our focus?  It comes down to more emphasis on prevention.

#CommunityPartnerships*
#DataandTechnology
#FundraisingandDevelopment

------------------------------
Holly Hocker
board member
Friends of Woodford County IL, Feral cats
IL
------------------------------

My post is a question regarding how to tap into public care and concern for animal welfare by educating them about the priority of spay/neuter.  More specifically the importance of TNR in reducing the number of cats and kittens in shelters.   I believe there is not nearly  enough emphasis by humane societies and other large animal welfare organizations on the urgent need for TNR groups and funding .  TNR is on the peripheral of what is focused on and deemed important.  How do we bring TNR to the center of our focus?  It comes down to more emphasis on prevention.

#CommunityPartnerships*
#DataandTechnology
#FundraisingandDevelopment

------------------------------
Holly Hocker
board member
Friends of Woodford County IL, Feral cats
IL
------------------------------

My post is a question regarding how to tap into public care and concern for animal welfare by educating them about the priority of spay/neuter.  More specifically the importance of TNR in reducing the number of cats and kittens in shelters.   I believe there is not nearly  enough emphasis by humane societies and other large animal welfare organizations on the urgent need for TNR groups and funding .  TNR is on the peripheral of what is focused on and deemed important.  How do we bring TNR to the center of our focus?  It comes down to more emphasis on prevention.

#CommunityPartnerships*
#DataandTechnology
#FundraisingandDevelopment

------------------------------
Holly Hocker
board member
Friends of Woodford County IL, Feral cats
IL
------------------------------

The problem in our area is that TNR is technically illegal. There are no programs for it because city law prohibits it. In order to trap, you have to feed and you aren't allowed to feed the strays. Granted there are some of us doing it anyway. Recently someone reported a lady for it. Animal control hid in the area where she was feeding the colony, followed her home, and wrote her a $1000 ticket for feeding them. Since she has been feeding them for more than 3 days, they said they are now all her personal cats. You are allowed 5 animals total. So every cat (in her home and in her colony) that exceed the 5, is another fine of like $20 or $50/day. They gave her a week. 
Also mind you, or our local animal control will not take owner surrenders either. Sooooo - You can see how they skirt around this issue with their archaic laws. Meanwhile, the cats just roam & reproduce and they do nothing about it unless people complain. In which  they trap and euthanize since they are feral.
No one involved in TNR wants to go to the city and press the issue because they don't want their name on the radar. And anyone not involved doesn't care enough to go fight for it.

My post is a question regarding how to tap into public care and concern for animal welfare by educating them about the priority of spay/neuter.  More specifically the importance of TNR in reducing the number of cats and kittens in shelters.   I believe there is not nearly  enough emphasis by humane societies and other large animal welfare organizations on the urgent need for TNR groups and funding .  TNR is on the peripheral of what is focused on and deemed important.  How do we bring TNR to the center of our focus?  It comes down to more emphasis on prevention.

#CommunityPartnerships*
#DataandTechnology
#FundraisingandDevelopment

------------------------------
Holly Hocker
board member
Friends of Woodford County IL, Feral cats
IL
------------------------------

The problem in our area is that TNR is technically illegal. There are no programs for it because city law prohibits it. In order to trap, you have to feed and you aren't allowed to feed the strays. Granted there are some of us doing it anyway. Recently someone reported a lady for it. Animal control hid in the area where she was feeding the colony, followed her home, and wrote her a $1000 ticket for feeding them. Since she has been feeding them for more than 3 days, they said they are now all her personal cats. You are allowed 5 animals total. So every cat (in her home and in her colony) that exceed the 5, is another fine of like $20 or $50/day. They gave her a week. 
Also mind you, or our local animal control will not take owner surrenders either. Sooooo - You can see how they skirt around this issue with their archaic laws. Meanwhile, the cats just roam & reproduce and they do nothing about it unless people complain. In which  they trap and euthanize since they are feral.
No one involved in TNR wants to go to the city and press the issue because they don't want their name on the radar. And anyone not involved doesn't care enough to go fight for it.

My post is a question regarding how to tap into public care and concern for animal welfare by educating them about the priority of spay/neuter.  More specifically the importance of TNR in reducing the number of cats and kittens in shelters.   I believe there is not nearly  enough emphasis by humane societies and other large animal welfare organizations on the urgent need for TNR groups and funding .  TNR is on the peripheral of what is focused on and deemed important.  How do we bring TNR to the center of our focus?  It comes down to more emphasis on prevention.

#CommunityPartnerships*
#DataandTechnology
#FundraisingandDevelopment

------------------------------
Holly Hocker
board member
Friends of Woodford County IL, Feral cats
IL
------------------------------

Hi Sarah,

We are in a similar situation - the city does not take cats.  It is illegal to feed them, therefore, TNR doesn't work.  We are hoping to put together a program and approach the city. 

The problem in our area is that TNR is technically illegal. There are no programs for it because city law prohibits it. In order to trap, you have to feed and you aren't allowed to feed the strays. Granted there are some of us doing it anyway. Recently someone reported a lady for it. Animal control hid in the area where she was feeding the colony, followed her home, and wrote her a $1000 ticket for feeding them. Since she has been feeding them for more than 3 days, they said they are now all her personal cats. You are allowed 5 animals total. So every cat (in her home and in her colony) that exceed the 5, is another fine of like $20 or $50/day. They gave her a week. 
Also mind you, or our local animal control will not take owner surrenders either. Sooooo - You can see how they skirt around this issue with their archaic laws. Meanwhile, the cats just roam & reproduce and they do nothing about it unless people complain. In which  they trap and euthanize since they are feral.
No one involved in TNR wants to go to the city and press the issue because they don't want their name on the radar. And anyone not involved doesn't care enough to go fight for it.

My post is a question regarding how to tap into public care and concern for animal welfare by educating them about the priority of spay/neuter.  More specifically the importance of TNR in reducing the number of cats and kittens in shelters.   I believe there is not nearly  enough emphasis by humane societies and other large animal welfare organizations on the urgent need for TNR groups and funding .  TNR is on the peripheral of what is focused on and deemed important.  How do we bring TNR to the center of our focus?  It comes down to more emphasis on prevention.

#CommunityPartnerships*
#DataandTechnology
#FundraisingandDevelopment

------------------------------
Holly Hocker
board member
Friends of Woodford County IL, Feral cats
IL
------------------------------

The problem in our area is that TNR is technically illegal. There are no programs for it because city law prohibits it. In order to trap, you have to feed and you aren't allowed to feed the strays. Granted there are some of us doing it anyway. Recently someone reported a lady for it. Animal control hid in the area where she was feeding the colony, followed her home, and wrote her a $1000 ticket for feeding them. Since she has been feeding them for more than 3 days, they said they are now all her personal cats. You are allowed 5 animals total. So every cat (in her home and in her colony) that exceed the 5, is another fine of like $20 or $50/day. They gave her a week. 
Also mind you, or our local animal control will not take owner surrenders either. Sooooo - You can see how they skirt around this issue with their archaic laws. Meanwhile, the cats just roam & reproduce and they do nothing about it unless people complain. In which  they trap and euthanize since they are feral.
No one involved in TNR wants to go to the city and press the issue because they don't want their name on the radar. And anyone not involved doesn't care enough to go fight for it.

My post is a question regarding how to tap into public care and concern for animal welfare by educating them about the priority of spay/neuter.  More specifically the importance of TNR in reducing the number of cats and kittens in shelters.   I believe there is not nearly  enough emphasis by humane societies and other large animal welfare organizations on the urgent need for TNR groups and funding .  TNR is on the peripheral of what is focused on and deemed important.  How do we bring TNR to the center of our focus?  It comes down to more emphasis on prevention.

#CommunityPartnerships*
#DataandTechnology
#FundraisingandDevelopment

------------------------------
Holly Hocker
board member
Friends of Woodford County IL, Feral cats
IL
------------------------------