Eastern Pennsylvania Free Roaming Cat Initiative
TRAP - NEUTER - RETURN (TNR)
TRAP - NEUTER - RETURN (TNR)
The primary goal of the Eastern Pennsylvania Free Roaming Cat Initiative is to spay or neuter free roaming and homeless cats for a reasonable fee so they can live out their lives without producing litters of unadoptable kittens. Financial assistance may be available depending upon circumstances and the number of cats you need to sterilize.
Our secondary goal is to support local animal shelters- and especially NO KILL shelters- by reducing the number of cats that are dropped off at shelters in eastern Pennsylvania.
Studies show that 70% of cats taken to shelters are euthanized because there are not enough homes for them. Virtually 100% of feral cats taken to shelters are killed. If fewer kittens are born, fewer cats will be killed.
Our most important goal is to educate the public about TNR and create a network of volunteers who are dedicated to ending euthanazia of unwanted animals. It is a hopeless cycle that can only be stopped through low cost spay/neuter programs.
The domestic cat population is estimated to be 82 million cats. The feral or free roaming cat population may be as high. While 82% of domestic cats are spayed or neutered, only 3% of feral cats are sterilized. Most of the 4.5 million cats and kittens euthanized in the United States each year are offspring of free roaming cats.
Join us! Here's what we are doing in eastern Pennsylvania to reduce the number of unadoptable cats.
Resources
Organizations
Alley Cat Allies
www.alleycat.org
A national network of people who are working on feral cat Trap, Neuter, Return programs.
Spay USA
www.spayusa.org
A project of the North Shore Animal Leagues. Spay USA has some grant money available for individuals who are doing TNR. Call 1-800-248-7729 to see if funding is currently available. Money is sent directly to the spay/neuter clinic where the feral cats are sterilized.
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
http://www.aspca.org/adoption/feral-cats-faq.html
See the ASPCA feral cat Frequently Asked Questions page for useful information.
Best Friends Animal Society
http://network.bestfriends.org/campaigns/felines/default.aspx
Visit the "Focus on Felines" page for an online community of TNR advocates.
Videos
E-How.com
www.ehow.com/videos-on_1413_understanding-feral-cats.html
Video series on feral cats by a TRN advocate in Los Angeles.
Alley Cat Allies
www.alleycat.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=358
Viideo series on feral cats
Articles on Animal Laws
Stray Pet Advocacy
http://www.straypetadvocacy.org
Articles and links to animal and cruelty laws and proposed legislation.
Free roaming cats will be left ear tipped for identification.
Organizations
Alley Cat Allies
www.alleycat.org
A national network of people who are working on feral cat Trap, Neuter, Return programs.
Spay USA
www.spayusa.org
A project of the North Shore Animal Leagues. Spay USA has some grant money available for individuals who are doing TNR. Call 1-800-248-7729 to see if funding is currently available. Money is sent directly to the spay/neuter clinic where the feral cats are sterilized.
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
http://www.aspca.org/adoption/feral-cats-faq.html
See the ASPCA feral cat Frequently Asked Questions page for useful information.
Best Friends Animal Society
http://network.bestfriends.org/campaigns/felines/default.aspx
Visit the "Focus on Felines" page for an online community of TNR advocates.
Videos
E-How.com
www.ehow.com/videos-on_1413_understanding-feral-cats.html
Video series on feral cats by a TRN advocate in Los Angeles.
Alley Cat Allies
www.alleycat.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=358
Viideo series on feral cats
Articles on Animal Laws
Stray Pet Advocacy
http://www.straypetadvocacy.org
Articles and links to animal and cruelty laws and proposed legislation.
Free roaming cats will be left ear tipped for identification.
1. Trap
This is easier than it sounds. See the resources section below for online videos or websites with information on how to safely trap and transport feral cats to a clinic. EPAA will have several training sessions throughout the year for people who want to become TNR volunteers. Check the Events section of the website for dates and times.
Experienced volunteers are available to teach you how to safely trap cats in your neighborhood- or do it for you if necessary.
Traps can be borrowed from several organizations for a deposit. Below are the names of some local organizations who have traps followed by a list of individuals willing to help.
Eastern Pennsylvania Animal Alliance
Route 209 Rainbow Plaza
Brodheadsville
570-994-5846
Monroe Animal League
PO Box 23
Stroudsburg, PA 18360-1720
570-476-8444
www.monroe-animals.org
Animal Welfare Society of Monroe (AWSOM) www.awsomanimals.org
Godfrey Ridge Road,
Stroudsburg, PA 18360
570-421-3647
Pocono Summit area:
Lynn Castiglia
570-982-9081
Bangor area:
Phil Bell
610-393-0223
Lehigh Valley area:
Martha 610-737-7490
Carbon and Schuykill Counties:
Diane 570-778-6886
Feral Cat Neutering of Luzerne County
1078 Wyoming Ave #145
Wyoming PA 18644
Gladys 570-822-0437
Feral Cat problem and live near Tamaqua?
Contact Sue 570-527-6808.
Feral Cat problem and live near Honesdale?
Contact Kendra 570-357-8929
This is easier than it sounds. See the resources section below for online videos or websites with information on how to safely trap and transport feral cats to a clinic. EPAA will have several training sessions throughout the year for people who want to become TNR volunteers. Check the Events section of the website for dates and times.
Experienced volunteers are available to teach you how to safely trap cats in your neighborhood- or do it for you if necessary.
Traps can be borrowed from several organizations for a deposit. Below are the names of some local organizations who have traps followed by a list of individuals willing to help.
Eastern Pennsylvania Animal Alliance
Route 209 Rainbow Plaza
Brodheadsville
570-994-5846
Monroe Animal League
PO Box 23
Stroudsburg, PA 18360-1720
570-476-8444
www.monroe-animals.org
Animal Welfare Society of Monroe (AWSOM) www.awsomanimals.org
Godfrey Ridge Road,
Stroudsburg, PA 18360
570-421-3647
Pocono Summit area:
Lynn Castiglia
570-982-9081
Bangor area:
Phil Bell
610-393-0223
Lehigh Valley area:
Martha 610-737-7490
Carbon and Schuykill Counties:
Diane 570-778-6886
Feral Cat Neutering of Luzerne County
1078 Wyoming Ave #145
Wyoming PA 18644
Gladys 570-822-0437
Feral Cat problem and live near Tamaqua?
Contact Sue 570-527-6808.
Feral Cat problem and live near Honesdale?
Contact Kendra 570-357-8929
2. Neuter
Feral cats brought to EPAA do not need an appointment. Please coordinate with our clinic to set your traps on days when the clinic is open. On days when we take the mobile clinic to other areas for spay or vaccination clinics the office in Brodheadsville is closed. Generally, we are open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Payments must be made in cash.
Monroe Animal League has a voucher program for feral cats which reduces the cost for Monroe County residents. Call MAL at 570-476-8444 for information on this program.
Do not feed the cat for 12 hours prior to surgery. Leave the cat in the trap, but remember to place plenty of absorbent newspaper under the trap when transporting in your car so it does not soil your carpet or upholstery. Cover the trap with a sheet or towel so the cat will remain calm. Wear gloves and do not attempt to touch the cat.
Cats are picked up the same day as surgery. We recommend keeping cats in the trap for at least a 24 hour period after surgery. Give them food and water when fully awake and cover the trap.
Feral cats brought to EPAA do not need an appointment. Please coordinate with our clinic to set your traps on days when the clinic is open. On days when we take the mobile clinic to other areas for spay or vaccination clinics the office in Brodheadsville is closed. Generally, we are open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Payments must be made in cash.
Monroe Animal League has a voucher program for feral cats which reduces the cost for Monroe County residents. Call MAL at 570-476-8444 for information on this program.
Do not feed the cat for 12 hours prior to surgery. Leave the cat in the trap, but remember to place plenty of absorbent newspaper under the trap when transporting in your car so it does not soil your carpet or upholstery. Cover the trap with a sheet or towel so the cat will remain calm. Wear gloves and do not attempt to touch the cat.
Cats are picked up the same day as surgery. We recommend keeping cats in the trap for at least a 24 hour period after surgery. Give them food and water when fully awake and cover the trap.
3. Return
After the recovery period, take the cat back to the place where it was trapped. It is NOT fair to release a feral cat to a new location. Cats are creatures of habit. They do not adapt to new environments easily.
After the recovery period, take the cat back to the place where it was trapped. It is NOT fair to release a feral cat to a new location. Cats are creatures of habit. They do not adapt to new environments easily.
