TNR, or humanely trapping stray cats for spay or neuter surgery and then releasing them back into their environment, is a proven program that helps reduce both the feline population and cat euthanasia.
Volusia County Animal Services already provides the service for free for stray cats brought in from anywhere in unincorporated Volusia County. There had been a $45 per-cat charge for trap-neuter-return (TNR) service for stray felines brought in from within the municipal limits of the 16 cities in the county. However that fee for cats that come in from the cities is now being waived, thanks to a $10,000 grant from the nonprofit Franklin’s Friends that will cover the costs. The organization helps to support animal welfare programs in the eight-county Central Florida area, including Volusia. Animal Services was notified on Sunday that its grant application was approved. The county’s animal care clinic performed 1,739 TNR surgeries last year and more than 500 so far this year. The grant money will cover the cost of trap-neuter-release services for about 500 or more additional cats that roam free in the community and allow cities to utilize the service at no cost.
“Thank you so much for your recent application for a grant from Franklin’s Friends,” the organization’s president, Dr. Monisha Seth, wrote in a letter to Volusia County Animal Services Director Adam Leath. “We applaud you for the fine work you do for Central Florida animal welfare.”
Leath said he was elated to learn that the grant had been approved, allowing Animal Services to expand its services at no additional cost to taxpayers. Leath said the county has already noticed a decrease in the number of stray/feral cats in the county and the number of cat impoundments. The grant money will help improve conditions even more. Additionally, changes in the program are expected to decrease the wait time to get the service. Because they’re afraid of people, community cats can’t be adopted if they’re taken to a shelter.
“The county’s TNR program already has shown proven results,” said Leath. “The good news is that the grant funds will enable us to provide even more service. Every TNR surgery is an animal life saved.”
In addition to the spay or neuter surgery, community cats that are brought in for TNR service also are vaccinated against rabies and distemper before being returned to the location where they were removed so that they can continue to enjoy their lives in the outdoors without reproducing and adding to the animal over-population. Their ears are also notched for identification.
Previously, Volusia County Animal Services performed TNR services in its animal care clinic on Tuesdays and Fridays, by appointment only. Beginning next month, the surgeries will be performed on Tuesdays only, with no appointment needed. For all other clinic services, such as non-TNR spay and neuter, vaccinations and microchips, making appointments just got easier and more convenient and can now be made online. Click on the link below to make an appointment:
https://clinichq.com/online/43afe94b-4e91-4773-809e-22253b78033d
And in even more positive animal welfare news, Volusia County Animal Services is expected to take possession of a brand new, 38-foot mobile hospital on wheels later this month.
Original source can be found here.
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