No More Homeless Pets Conference 2013 Community Cat Programs That Work Let s Save Them All October 10-13, 2013 1
Groundbreaking Success: The Next Generation Shelly Ko7er Best Friends Animal Society Community Cats Program Manager Best Friends Community Cat Programs Four DirecEons St. George, Utah DeKalb County, Georgia Free Fix L.A. October 10-13, 2013 2
Best Friends & PetSmart ChariEes Community Cats Projects San Antonio, Texas Albuquerque, New Mexico Launched April 2012 Three- year project, partnered with PetSmart ChariEes NEW: BalEmore, Maryland Launched July 2013 Historically Rounding up community cats and taking them to the shelter Filling our shelters with unadoptable cats Killing more then 70% of all cats entering the shelters Killing friendly cats because of space Killing ki\ens from the same mother over and over October 10-13, 2013 3
Historically Spending dollar a]er dollar killing Not impaceng the populaeon Not addressing the nuisance concerns with the public Not stopping the flow of cats entering the shelter system Not making a difference in health and welfare of the community or the cats CollaboraEon October 10-13, 2013 4
Community Cats Project Partnership among: Municipal shelter and animal care providers Spay/neuter providers AdopEon providers Foster homes Volunteers TNR groups Funders and what they bring: PetSmart ChariEes: counsel, mentorship, commitment Best Friends Animal Society: leadership, structure, experese, commitment Program goals and metrics TNR goal of 3,500 in each city by March 31, 2013 Reduce cat euthanasia by 25% by March 31, 2013 (for target area) Reduce cat intake by 10% by March 31, 2014 (for target area) Increase live release rate by 30% by March 31, 2015 (for target area) The majority of cats in each idenefied colony will be spayed or neutered by the end of the project period (March 31, 2015) October 10-13, 2013 5
How does it work? Reduce cat intake and euthanasia Cats enter shelter Determine eligibility of cats for TNR Eligible cats fixed and returned to impound locale TNR all community cats in return area MiEgate nuisance issues Community Cats Project Cats enter the shelter via ACO or residents Eligible cats are turned over to the project Spayed/neutered Vaccinated (rabies, distemper) Treated for parasites, injuries and illnesses as needed Ear- Epped Held for recovery Intake informaeon on each cat entered into the database Returned to their neighborhood Door hanger is placed on the block where the cat was trapped Follow- ups are done to ensure that all the cats are idenefied in that area for spay/neuter We work with feeders to help them become be\er caregivers October 10-13, 2013 6
ReducEon in ki\ens In 2012: San Antonio: 4,665 Albuquerque: 3,034 DeKalb County: 539 Southern Utah: 2,724 Los Angeles: 3,350 Approximately 22,000 ki\ens not born! Shelter cats vs. field cats Shelter cats are the low- hanging fruit. Saving them impacts the killing from day one. Shelter cats are the red flag cats. Field cats are the bigger challenge because they are the future intake cats. October 10-13, 2013 7
Cats that qualify Free- roaming, outdoor cats Healthy weight adults Ki\ens weighing 2 lbs. or more Un- owned, no collar Who doesn t qualify? Owner surrenders Indoor cats Declawed cats Very sick and untreatable cats Ki\ens too small to fix Eligible cats San Antonio CCP October 10-13, 2013 8
Year 1 stats: Albuquerque April 1, 2012 March 31, 2013 compared to April 1, 2011 March 31, 2012: Euthanasia: Intakes: 7,996 to 6,785 (exceeding 2014 GOAL!) 47% (exceeding GOAL) Live Release Rate: 68% to 76% (very close to 2015 GOAL) February 2011: 100% killed. February 2013: zero killed. Year 1 stats: San Antonio April 1, 2012 March 31, 2013 compared to April 1, 2011 March 31, 2012: Euthanasia 51% (exceeding GOAL!) Intakes: significantly increased Live Release Rate: 37% to 63% (above 2015 GOAL!) October 10-13, 2013 9
San Antonio and Albuquerque 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 16% ALB Euthanasia % 31% 30% SA 62% Yr 1 Baseline 80% Significant decreases in euthanasia as a percentage of all outcomes Live Release Rate 76% 66% 63% Significant increases in live release rates (without blanks) 60% 40% 20% 0% ALB SA 35% Yr 1 Baseline Animal control support TNR without ACO support: Unknown: past nuisance reports and chronic complaints ACO can offer no alternaeve to killing Unable to target high- intake locaeons with preveneon methods like TNR TNR with ACO support: Support in the field Able to target high- intake locaeons Work with the complaints and caregivers Help with educaeng the public about TNR October 10-13, 2013 10
Conflict / friendly fire ConEnued relaeonship- building with AC staff Intake staff Shelter clinic staff Kennel staff Animal control officers Hotline operators Leadership Training October 10-13, 2013 11
ACO shi] Old feelings about TNR Waste of Eme Residents would resist Complaint calls conenually increase Residents could harm or even kill cats No reduceon in the number of cats Would impede doing their job Taking cats off the streets is in their best interest and the best interest of the community New feelings about TNR Worth the effort More residents love the program than loathe the program Like being able to offer an alternaeve to trap and kill Appreciate the support Having a humane solueon feels be\er No longer the enemy of community cats and their caregivers Cats can live a healthy life through TNR Working with spay/neuter providers High- volume or family vet pracece? How many surgeries per day? Any package deal? Any up charges? How will they bill you? Official agreement with parecipaeng clinics? Pre/post surgery holding? October 10-13, 2013 12
Groundbreaking Success: The Next Generation Cat deterrents video bestriends.org/deter Transport October 10-13, 2013 13
Groundbreaking Success: The Next Generation Geung your community ready Ordinances or laws that allow TNR Support of health department Support of city council and/or county commissioners Strong relaeonship with municipal animal shelter Low- or no- cost high- volume spay/neuter providers Supported TNR programs AdopEon opeons for adoptable ki\ens Foster care program LocaEon for pre- and post- op holding Taking it to the next level Best Friends has an aceon kit called AdvocaEng for TNR in your Community on our website: felines.besgriends.org Editable PowerPoint To- do checklist FAQs Leave your cat socks at home October 10-13, 2013 14
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