Like many places, Winter Garden, Florida, has become a “dumping ground” for unwanted cats, according to City Manager Jon Williams. It’s illegal to abandon an animal in Florida, but the area may have over 8,000 community cats, although the actual numbers are impossible to calculate.
Now, the city is taking an ameowzing step, partnering with the nonprofit Pet Alliance to provide strategic, targeted trap-neuter-release for cats living in “hot spots.”
Winter Garden has allocated $50K to Pet Alliance with the goal of TNRing 800 community cats. Although that sounds like a lot, it amounts to a tiny portion of the annual budget. And uniform guidelines will help streamline and make the process as effective and low-cost as possible.
“The $50k represents one-tenth of one percent of the city budget yet creates such a positive impact,” Commissioner Ron Mueller told VoxPopuli. “While the program benefits everyone, it is essentially for those on fixed incomes and near poverty as a higher number of homeless pets are found in these communities.”
Image via VoxPopuli ” Pet Alliance volunteer with cats in draped traps awaiting their spay/neuter and rabies vaccines.”
A TNR Model for Cities Everywhere
Allocating this money to a well-planned TNR effort will help save resources and the cost for each cat comes down significantly. Whereas taking a cat to a vet will cost up to $400, Pet Alliance’s spay/neuter surgeries cost more like $60 per cat.
We can’t tell you how wonderful this is, and we hope it will become a model for other cities nationwide. TNR (trap, neuter, return) or TNVR (V for vaccinate) is the most effective and humane approach to solving the cat population problem. Historically, efforts to solve the problem by trapping and euthanizing stray and feral cats have been an epic fail. The populations only keep growing as new cats arrived into areas where others are removed, creating a vacuum effect.
Stray mother cat with kitten, Image via Facebook/ Cat Man Chris
TNR Works
Since then, the TNR method is replacing outdated and cruel euthanasia thanks to rescuers like those at Alley Cat Allies. Not only is it more humane, but it works!
“TNVR was popularized in the 1970s in the United Kingdom and Europe before the global feline advocacy organization Alley Cat Allies imported it to the United States in the 1990s,” reported VoxPopuli.
TNR efforts help released cats live happier, healthier, more peaceful lives. As a result, it also helps entire communities. As we frequently share, TNR a side benefit is microchip reunions and adoptions for friendly cats and kittens. Plus, the remaining community cats have a colony caretaker who TNRs any newcomers and cares for the cats. Such managed cat populations drive away rodents with their mere presence, as seen in cities like Chicago.
Video about Pet Alliance of Orlando’s previous efforts to spay and neuter 1,500 cat in East Orlando:
Pet Alliance’s Targeted TNR Efforts
We love seeing how Pet Alliance is focusing on the strategic areas with multiple stray and feral cats, starting at around 15 cats. It quickly provides the most impact where it’s needed most. For areas where the number of cats is lower, they will direct people to Orange County Animal Services for up to five TNVR cats per year for free. Otherwise, they suggest contacting CARE FelineTNR.org.
“We are pleased to announce that we are partnering with the City of Winter Garden to expand our Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return program! The city has committed $50,000 over the course of one year to TNVR 800 community cats in the area,” Pet Alliance shared.
You can follow Pet Alliance on Facebook and Instagram.
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Another Groundbreaking Move to Help TNR Cats in Florida
Meanwhile, Alley Cat Allies applauded a new groundbreaking Florida Law that will help TNR efforts even more! The law was enacted on July 1, allowing retired or semi-retired veterinarians to practice spay and neuter surgeries for dogs and cats. Plus, they can perform routine preventative wellness services as unpaid volunteers. However, they must be licensed and in good standing in their jurisdiction and under the supervision of a Florida-licensed veterinarian.
“By allowing skilled veterinarians the chance to provide more low-cost spay and neuter services in the state, this law will save cats and kittens from being surrendered to shelters and killed in Florida,” said Coryn Julien, communications director for Alley Cat Allies. “This law is a win for residents, a win for animal shelters and a win for cats. We applaud Florida for taking this innovative step to save the lives of animals.”
Like the efforts in Winter Garden, this groundbreaking legislation could be a model for cities everywhere. Way to go fellow Floridians!
Image via Facebook/ Cat Man Chris
