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Traps for Rent?

  • 1.  Traps for Rent?

    Posted 10-19-2023 10:13 PM

    Does anyone rent traps to the public for use in TNR?  If yes, how do you structure the process-do you charge a rental fee for a specific # of days?  What do you typically charge?Have you had issues with theft, breakage, etc? We would be renting to our TNR clients  if they lacked their own equipment (we assist with the cost of the cats'surgeries and also set up the vet appt's for the clients, so we do have a measure of control over the situation.) 

    Any info will be most appreciated!


    #CommunityCatManagement

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    L.A Nesbitt
    President
    Pets In Need Action League
    Casa Grande, AZ 85130
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  • 2.  RE: Traps for Rent?

    Posted 10-20-2023 05:13 AM

    I have personally lent out traps and some have come back to me and some have not :/

    Our municipal shelter lets people borrow traps for free, especially during their targeted mass trapping projects. During the targeted trappings, they are on-site with the community and are handing out the traps and taking the cats for TNVR that day. 

    Our local large rescue charges $75 for someone to rent 1 trap. If someone is trapping for their spay day and takes multiple traps, this adds up quickly. I was quoted $500 to rent traps, which they waived since I am in rescue and a regular trapper- others were not so lucky.  I have seen this be a deterrent to people in the community who want to do a good thing but do not have that amount of money to secure the traps. 



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    Amanda Gray
    Fundraising and Grants Manager
    Operation Liberation
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  • 3.  RE: Traps for Rent?

    Posted 10-20-2023 11:27 AM

    Our county shelter also rents traps, but the fee isn't that high! I'm contemplating purchasing some traps for my org to provide to clients, but know that we can't take the risk of making the investment and then loaning them out for free. We primarily serve a lower income population in general, so I guess my issue is trying to come up with a figure that will make this feasible to do for both us and the public.



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    L.A Nesbitt
    President
    Pets In Need Action League
    Casa Grande, AZ 85130
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  • 4.  RE: Traps for Rent?

    Posted 10-20-2023 07:09 PM

    I would like to know about the same question.  I am thinking to do the same thing, and here in Charleston SC, the only place that rent traps is Charleston Animal Society and are so expensive,    



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    Myriam Martinez
    President
    Mujeres Latinas SC
    SC
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  • 5.  RE: Traps for Rent?

    Posted 10-20-2023 07:15 PM

    I've noticed that we share a common goal – working on our respective projects – and I'm excited to connect with someone who's as passionate about this as I am.

    One area that particularly interests me is our organization's upcoming TNR event, which is set to be our first. I'm sure you have some valuable insights and knowledge to share on this topic. If you wouldn't mind, I would love to discuss this and explore how we can collaborate and support each other in making our respective projects a great success.

    Thank you for considering this collaboration, and I'm excited to hear from you soon.



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    Myriam Martinez
    President
    Mujeres Latinas SC
    SC
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  • 6.  RE: Traps for Rent?

    Posted 10-21-2023 06:45 AM

    Hi...  I've been doing TNR for many years -- as an individual and when I had a nonprofit spay-neuter assistance organization.  I've had as many as 25 traps that I've LOANED, no charge or deposit.  I can only think of twice there was any delay getting them back.  I do make sure I know exactly where my traps are going -- address, what the situation is, etc.  People need a lot of hand holding through the TNR process.  Their lives are busy without adding cat trapping.  So I really help them along the way with Cat Trapping 101, tips and tricks, Youtube videos (sometimes you only have one shot to catch a cat without scaring it off.    And I typically transport the trapped cats to and from the S/N clinic.  I want it to be as easy as possible, no impediments or obstacles to a successful TNR experience for everyone, especially the cats :)



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    Monica Mestas
    FTAspay
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  • 7.  RE: Traps for Rent?

    Posted 10-21-2023 05:11 PM

    Hi Monica,

    Thnaks for the feedback. My org is VERY small, so we would not be making this a big project; rather, we would be loaning/renting a few traps to folks who didn't have/couldn't secure any. At present when I get a non-trap owning client request for community cat spay-neuter I try to fix them up with someone I know in the community who DOES have traps and is willing to loan them; so far, my org hasn't ventured into loaning or renting and doesn't currently own any traps. Perhaps best for us to simply continue doing what we've been doing...at least until we get more demand from the public.



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    L.A Nesbitt
    President
    Pets In Need Action League
    Casa Grande, AZ 85130
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  • 8.  RE: Traps for Rent?

    Posted 10-21-2023 05:11 PM

    Dear Monica,

    I want to express my gratitude for the invaluable information you've provided thus far. I'm sorry to bother you again, but I have another question for you.

    When you began your TNR initiative, did you have a well-defined plan in place from the start? If so, did it unfold as successfully as you had envisioned?

    Thank you for taking the time to share your insights and experiences.

    Sincerely. 

    Myriam Martinez



  • 9.  RE: Traps for Rent?

    Posted 10-22-2023 10:55 AM
    Not a clearly defined plan.  We had a website, Facebook page and a sizeable email list to begin putting out the word that we wanted to assist people with TNR, within about a 40-square-mile area.  Rather than us trying to identify where the cats were, individuals knew about colonies or a neighbor feeding a couple strays, etc., etc.  We also printed a million little quarter sheet flyers to help spread the word.  We would pass these out at our different events, like every month we held $10 microchip clinics.  And since our local shelter had no TNR plan in place, we made sure they knew that we were offering assistance.  The biggest piece, we partnered with a low-cost S/N clinic for reduced pricing.

    In addition, we got several grants to help fund our efforts.  Through the process of applying for grants, I learned that grantors love collaboration.  They want to see that you are teaming up with a spay-neuter clinic to do TNR at a reduced rate (this was, like, 2012 - 2016 and we could generally "fix" cats for $25 or less), or working with a city to target a specific area of town, and the city is funding a portion of the work.  Also, whenever possible, we would encourage the cat caretakers or an individual who let their own cats multiply to participate in the process, either financially (whatever they could afford) or trapping or transport, etc.  We S/N'd a lot of feral cats.  I'm guessing around 6,000 over four years.  

    And then everyone wants data... lots of data to show the results of your efforts.  Grantors also generally want your nonprofit to be well established (at least three years) before funding your first project; after that, they will fund pretty consistently once they see the results of your work and know their money was well spent.  

    Good luck to you.  The cats need all the help they can get.

    Monica Mestas





  • 10.  RE: Traps for Rent?

    Posted 10-22-2023 02:17 PM
    Can I have information about the website and facebook please? 

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  • 11.  RE: Traps for Rent?

    Posted 10-22-2023 01:28 PM

    It looks like you have a lot experience with TNR. At the moment, I am actively engaged in learning how to craft a successful TNR program. My hope is to garner support from individuals, volunteers, businesses, and government entities to help bring this initiative to fruition. It would be lovely if you can give me some advices, I'm currently working on involving people in my TNR project and event. While they seem enthusiastic about it, they haven't contributed as much as I had hoped to the project.



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    Myriam Martinez
    President
    Mujeres Latinas SC
    SC
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  • 12.  RE: Traps for Rent?

    Posted 10-22-2023 04:50 PM

    Myriam-have you seen the Best Friends "Community Cats Programs Handbook" or its "Feral Freedom Guide"? Tons of info on TNR program start-up/ how-to.   Also see: the HSUS' Implementing a Community Trap Neuter Return Program" by Bryan Kortis. Any of these might be useful for you.



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    L.A Nesbitt
    President
    Pets In Need Action League
    Casa Grande, AZ 85130
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  • 13.  RE: Traps for Rent?

    Posted 10-27-2023 07:44 AM
      |   view attached

    We rent out traps and use the attached rental agreement. Individuals can rent out 2 traps  at a time. The 2 local TNR clinics that take walk-ins allow up to 2 cats per person, which is why we landed on 2 trap rentals. 

    There is a $20 deposit per trap. The rental period is 2 weeks and they get their deposit back if the traps are returned on time. 

    We send a trap cover (sheet, blanket, towel, etc) out with every trap to help emphasize the importance of covering a trapped cat. There is no tracking method for covers (we are pretty well stocked on fabric items).

    All of our traps have a dog tag attached with the trap number and our shelter contact information on them.



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    Erin Dams
    Community Relations Coordinator
    Roanoke Valley SPCA
    Roanoke VA
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    Attachment(s)



  • 14.  RE: Traps for Rent?

    Posted 2 days ago

    We have a trap loan out program. Clients sign for the trap and agree to return it clean and in good condition within 2 weeks. We require a $50 deposit.We have about 10 traps on hand. Only once has some one failed to return the trap at all and the deposit covered the loss. We do extend the time upon request. We Acquired our traps from donations, rummage sales and new purchases.



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    Rochelle Hamp
    Executive Director
    Headwaters Animal Shelter
    MN
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  • 15.  RE: Traps for Rent?

    Posted 2 days ago

    I echo what Rochelle (spelling?) said.  I had a spay-neuter assistance organization for years and loaned out a LOT of traps within, like, a 25-mile radius.  We also assisted with transportation to vet appts and cost.  We did not take a deposit.  I would often deliver the traps so I could see where they would be, check out the situation, give some Trapping Tips, etc. for a successful effort.  And generally gave them more traps than they thought they needed.  It's been my experience that location is everything; and where a cat may be leery of one trap, they'll feel brave enough to go into a different trap.  I think it's so important that the trapper learn good technique.  Preparation is everything... like painting :)  I do refer them to some good YouTube videos, but most really appreciate the hands on tutorial.  Oh, I forgot the point of the question.  ONLY ONCE did someone not return a trap.   She said it got damaged and paid for it :)  Also, people were very appreciative and many donated to our organization; and I'm sure they paid the trust and extra effort forward, as well, in their life.



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    Monica Mestas
    FTAspay
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