Animal Welfare Professionals

#CommunityCatManagement

------------------------------
julie bacon
President
It's Raining Cats and Dogs
AR
------------------------------

I can say this is completely 100% true and I hope that everyone who works with community cat caregivers in their communities know this. The vast majority of the people we help with their outside cat colonies are retired, many over 65 and a significant number with a physical disability or limitation that makes lifting traps difficult. They also are less likely to drive, do not want to drive downtown where our HQHVSN clinic is location, or they don't have the space to hold the night before or night after clinic. Also since Covid, many have become more housebound, scared to leave their homes because they have other health conditions that put them at very high risk of getting seriously ill if they catch Covid. 
Another interesting data point we have observed is some of them are so incredibly lonely, they will do whatever it takes to have you continuously stop by to check in, whether that is not trying hard for those last cats, or asking for help or advice for minor things. It's almost like they are part of an invisible population that has been forgotten about in society, plus you can add in the shame of having a lot of cats and this is pure social work. 
But this is also a livability issue when it gets to this, and truly rewarding to be able to help these folks with their cats, improving the lives of the cats and the people. 

You are 90% correct about your thoughts. However, I would like to share that I am approaching my 60s and contemplating retirement. As I consider this new phase in my life, I aspire to contribute positively beyond my professional endeavors. I aim to be the kind of person who leaves a lasting, positive impact on others, creating memories that will be remembered long after I've left this earth.  Assisting and learning from animals is my passion, and I aspire to sustain this commitment even as I age. My hope is to continue making a positive impact in their lives, 

At times, people may not fully understand the TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) process. Currently, we are bringing together volunteers who are eager to assist community cats in their neighborhoods. Through face-to-face interactions, we provide comprehensive explanations about our TNR program. We utilize videos and materials sourced from Maddie's Pet Forum. supplemented by the invaluable support of dedicated volunteers. This collaborative effort is crucial in launching and implementing the TNR initiative within the Hispanic community.

I agree that there are a lot of barriers to access for a large part of the population when it comes to animal welfare services, and this is especially true of TNR where the trapping as well as the cost and transportation of the cats is on the one seeking service. It's important to examine what specific barriers there are in our communities and help to find ways to remove them, and unfortunately that does fall to the animal welfare workers already doing the bulk of the labor. Plenty of rescues, organizations, and shelters have already stepped up (and up again, and up again, ad nauseum) and often with minimal resources themselves. I've been looking into what options there are for the community we serve, as an inability to either trap or transport is a huge barrier to access our TNR services. I think it actually falls back on the community to help provide a solution, since community cats are a community problem and it isn't fair or possible for a select and already overwhelmed few to solve it. What I've seen many other groups do so far is put out pleas to the community for volunteer trappers and/or transporters, and also urging these individuals facing barriers to ask their own social circles: friends, family, neighbors, members of their church, etc.. In the majority of cases, there is someone able to help and the person seeking service just needed guidance and ideas. For the rest of the cases, we've been fortunate enough to find volunteers willing to trap and/or transport. Putting the ask back out to the community at large and networking with the other TNR warriors in our community has made a HUGE difference. 

------------------------------
Krystyna Zarn-Langford
Human & Animal Services Manager
Geauga Humane Society's Rescue Village
Novelty, Ohio
------------------------------