The Humane Society of Greenwood, South Carolina is working to identify and help feral and community cats in the Greenwood County area. This may not sound like big news to some, but with so many communities against TNR, it’s good to see anyone out there helping animals.
On November 2, the team at Humane Society of Greenwood broke a personal record by performing 49 spay/neuters and posted this milestone to their Facebook page.
“Forty-nine (49) feral and community cats — 18 male and 31 female(!) — were spayed and neutered yesterday — a record! Thank you to Dr. Paula Watkins and Dr. Scarlett Springate for providing their professional services! And a huge “thank you” to staff member, Lacey Miller, and volunteers, Mary Ann Cooper, Sandy Smith, and Laura Egbert for helping make it all happen!! And an even BIGGER “thank you” to the people of our community who trapped the cats and chose to have them sterilized and returned, rather than relinquished to the shelter.”
This form is being circulated among feral colony caregivers, asking for information on the cats they care for. The Humane Society says they’re ‘developing’ a TNR program, but in reality, a lot of caregivers have been involved in this project for a long time. We spend the evening before TNR clinic out trapping feral cats in the middle of the night, then drop the cats off between 7:15-7:30 a.m.
The cats are fixed on-site one Wednesday each month, given their rabies vaccination and mandatory ear tip, then are picked up around 4:30p.m. the same day. Those who can’t keep their feral baby indoors in the trap overnight are offered overnight lodging at the clinic. The cats are released once the caregiver deems it safe. For females, this can be several days, since glue is used and shouldn’t become wet. This is done at the cost of $25 per cat, a service that could run close to $180 for a female and $150 for a male cat at a private veterinary practice.
Every cat TNR’d is one less out there who can add to the growing population of unwanted and abandoned cats. Because that’s what these cats are. Initially abandoned by their family in many cases, these cats go on to reproduce several litters each year.
Great job, Humane Society of Greenwood! If only all communities would come together and offer such a wonderful program. And a HUGE thank you to the feral colony caregivers who take the time to not only care for these cats but to do everything possible to keep them out of the shelter, where they’d most likely be killed.
Photos courtesy of Humane Society of Greenwood.
Elisa
Sure there are cats that get hit by cars but that happens to any animal outside. Without TNR there would be millions more cats wandering around and slowly dying by disease and poisoning. There are plenty of extremely happy outdoor cats that have shelters and committed caregivers. They can live extremely long fulfilled lives. Gotta love those who make the decision that they are miserable and kill them out of kindness…I think the cat would want to live. Not sure what gives you the right to take that life from them.
And here’s what they all look like.
http://realoutdoorcats.tumblr.com
If not today then very very soon.
Yes, your roads to hell have all been clearly paved. There’s no doubt about that, none at all.
No, hell would have been allowing those 31 female cats to reproduce. Four litter average x 3 litters per year minimum and all the females from each litter being able to become pregnant at 4-5 months old. That would be the REAL hell. I don’t like them being left to fend outside either. Of the 9 I’ve had TNR’d I eventually was able to recapture and successfully rehome 6 of them to indoor homes. Unfortunately, the others hated the indoor life. Coyotes have also been bad this year and are killing colony cats throughout the area. Not just in SC but it seems everywhere. Urban development and all. You know, the same thing that’s forcing birds out of their area and crashing into tall buildings.
Because death by road-kill or coyote is so much more humane than peacefully going to sleep in a vet’s office when you first caught them. All you are doing is trying to make yourself feel good and YOU not experience any pain or discomfort. Yes, TNR is humane alright, it’s only humane for the human practicing and promoting it and inhumane for all other life on earth, especially inhumane for cats. This has NOTHING to do with any cats and their well-being and keeping them from suffering. Your road to hell is still clearly marked, one on which you will justify your skipping merrily along until you get to your final destination. A destination that all too well deserved for those that don’t have the strength of heart to do what is right.
Why is TNR inhumane for cats? People who manage feral colonies are doing it for the love of animals and vulnerable cats. They are decent people. Unlike you.
Great story Elisa – thank you. It is important to publicise this sort of work. It is the nitty gritty of animal welfare. I admire these people so much. Their efforts go a long way to improving animal welfare. They deserve praise. Thanks for doing just that.