MT. RANIER, Md., March 3, 2021
/PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Alley Cat Rescue, Inc. announced today
the start of the Feral Fix Challenge, an annual global event that
brings veterinarians and communities together to save cats' lives.
The Challenge invites veterinarians to get involved with
trap-neuter-return (TNR) by providing low-cost or free spay/neuter
and rabies vaccination for free-roaming cats. Now in its eleventh
year, the year-long Challenge has resulted in the spay or neuter of
over 130,000 cats by more than 1,500 veterinary participants. Vets
in all of the following countries have participated in the
campaign: USA, Canada, South
Africa, Greece,
Israel, Japan, Croatia, Antigua, Nicaragua, India.
It is estimated that 860,000 cats are euthanized in U.S.
shelters every year, many of whom are newborn kittens or
unsocialized free-roaming cats. The two go hand in hand, as 80% of
kittens entering shelters each year are born to free-roaming cats.
Both groups often require a significant investment of time and
resources beyond a shelter's ability before they are adoptable. The
influx of kittens during the spring and summer months, also known
as Kitten Season, stretches shelters to the breaking point, leading
to euthanasia of healthy cats and kittens simply to make room for
each day's new arrivals.
"It is a tragedy that 2,500 cats and kittens are killed every
day in our shelters, places that are supposed to serve as a
temporary sanctuary and refuge for cats in need," said Louise Holton, Alley Cat Rescue president and
founder. "The best way to reduce the number of kittens flooding
into shelters is by spaying and neutering outdoor, free-roaming
cats. When the breeding cycle is stopped, unwanted kittens are
never born, and the adult cat receives health benefits too."
Targeted TNR programs have been shown to significantly reduce
shelter intake and euthanasia rates.
Vets can sign up to participate at
http://www.saveacat.org/the-feral-fix.html and pledge to provide
free or low-cost spay/neuter services to as many free-roaming cats
as is feasible for their individual practices.
Individuals are also encouraged to visit this page to request
Alley Cat Rescue send their vet an invitation to participate, or
for a sample invitation if they prefer to invite their vet
personally.
Alley Cat Rescue is a national nonprofit organization dedicated
to the welfare of all cats: domestic, stray, abandoned, and feral.
ACR advocates for humane nonlethal control of feral cats. For more
information, visit their website http://www.saveacat.org.
Media Contact
Denise Hilton, Alley Cat Rescue,
Inc., 3012775595, dhilton@saveacat.org
SOURCE Alley Cat Rescue, Inc.