Yes! As many of you know, there are lots of feral cats
in our county. Many of them live on local farms in barns, and others live in residential
communities. While in some circumstances, individuals may welcome the presence of a few
strays on their property, feral cats are perceived by many to be a nuisance. Feral and
stray cats live difficult lives as they are susceptible to disease, starvation and other
hazards of living outdoors. Left on their own, they breed future generations of feral
cats who face the same fate.
The Addison County Humane Society is in the initial stages of starting a program to
effectively address this issue. Through our research, we have determined that the most
effective and humane way to care for the feral population, prevent the spread of disease,
and curb or eliminate the growth of the population, is the implementation of a “TTVNR”
program. TTVNR stands for “Trap, Test, Vaccinate, Neuter, and Release.” Upon release
the cats are to live in areas where volunteers continue to feed them and look out for
their well-being in designated areas called “colonies.”
While ACHS does not have the resources to trap and treat (spay, neuter, test, vaccinate)
every stray and feral cat within our county, we wish to, at this stage, assemble all of
the information, procedures, and available community resources to assist those currently
caring for these animals. We are seeking the help of members of our community that are
presently managing a colony or caring for strays, to provide input and volunteer some
time for the implementation of this program.
ACHS board member, George Ely, is heading up this program and is working to set up an
initial brainstorming/planning meeting to assess needs and determine next steps. The
target timeframe for this meeting is late June. If you can help or would like more
information, please contact George Ely at 897-2477. If you are not currently caring
for cats, but have interest in this issue and time available to help coordinate this
meeting, your assistance would be greatly appreciated.
The issue of feral and stray cats is complicated and widespread. There are an estimated
60 million homeless cats in the US. A number of communities have had great success
with TTVNR programs and it is our belief, that Addison County has great potential in
playing a leadership role for addressing this problem in Vermont.
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