TRAP, NEUTER, RELEASE: 141 CATS TREATED LAST WEEK

A notched ear signals a cat has been spay/neutered. PHOTO BY CHONTELLE BROWN

Special to The Sun

RedRover is wrapping up its latest collaborative and Trap, Neuter, and Release (TNR) operation for 141 community cats, in thanks to a generous donation from BISSELL Pet Foundation. For four days, RedRover Responder staff and volunteers were on the ground helping Operation Catnip, PAWS of Wakulla, and community cat caregivers support free-roaming community cats (and their caretakers) in areas where they would be most impacted by hurricanes and flooding.
Teams have humanely trapped, spay/neutered, vaccinated, and treated the cats for parasites (fleas and worms), as well as other injuries/illnesses as needed. RedRover deployed a Team Leader and four RedRover Responders volunteers to assist in the humane trapping, and also cared for the cats in the temporary shelter, ensuring they had food, fresh water, and a clean space. Today the cats are being returned to the site where they were trapped for humane release.
RedRover Director of Field Services Beth Gammie said, “We are so very grateful to BISSELL Pet Foundation for their generous support! They have enabled us to return to Wakulla County to help further curb the overpopulation of community cats in this natural disaster-prone area with our partners Operation Catnip and PAWS of Wakulla, along with community volunteers.”
With more than 4,700 trained volunteers in the United States and Canada, RedRover can deploy its volunteers quickly when communities become overburdened by a crisis involving a large number of animals. The volunteers provide a skilled and compassionate workforce which enables a jurisdiction to address local cases of animal cruelty and neglect.
 
To donate to RedRover’s Emergency Response Fund, visit redrover.org/donateresponders. To learn how to become a RedRover Responders volunteer, visit:redrover.org/volunteer.
 
RedRover is a 501(c)(3) national animal welfare nonprofit organization. Since 1987, RedRover has focused on bringing animals out of crisis and strengthening the human-animal bond through emergency sheltering, disaster relief services, financial assistance, and education. RedRover is a founding member of the National Animal Rescue and Sheltering Coalition (NARSC), established after Hurricane Katrina’s devastating impact to more people and animals than any other storm in the history of the United States. RedRover has earned a coveted 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity evaluator. To learn how RedRover is creating a more compassionate world, visit RedRover.org.
BISSELL Pet Foundation is a charitable 501©(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to help reduce the number of animals in shelters through pet adoption, spay/neuter programs, vaccinations, microchipping, and crisis and disaster response. Founded in 2011 by Cathy Bissell, BPF is an extension of her long-standing love for animals and commitment to their welfare. BPF has since partnered with more than 5,700 shelters and rescues across the U.S. and Canada to help pets find loving homes. The foundation is supported by generous donors and BISSELL Inc. where every purchase saves pets. To learn more, visit www.bissellpetfoundation.org.