The Big Fix II—Community Cats Get Neutered!
Hamptons,
. Three animal welfare organizations on eastern Long Island announced today that they are teaming up once again to conduct a mass trapping for community (feral) cats on Sunday, March, 10, 2013. The three participating organizations include: Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons, Inc. (ARF), Kent Animal Shelter and the Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation. Calling it “The Big Fix II” the goal of the day is to get 80 cats neutered and vaccinated as part of an ongoing TNR (trap/neuter/return) program that each organization endorses.
A veterinarian and a team of volunteers will be stationed at each facility to process the cats. The treatment for each cat will include neutering, vaccination against rabies and distemper and an ear tip to identify the cat in the future. Volunteer trappers will trap the cats at colonies in East Hampton, Southampton and Riverhead Towns, and bring them to the nearest facility for treatment.
TNR is the nationally recognized, humane way to manage community cats. Neutered cats in managed colonies are healthy and no longer reproducing. Objectionable behavior such as spraying and yowling cease after neutering. Over time, the managed colony decreases in size until all the cats have passed on.
The Big Fix is being privately funded by each organization. Pam Green, Executive Director of the Kent Animal Shelter commented “Our funding for this important project is being provided by a grant from PetSmart Charities. Kent will work closely with S.A.V.E.S. to spay and neuter feral cats in several locations in the Riverhead community.”
Anyone with knowledge of an unmanaged colony of cats is encouraged to call Rita Del Rey, The Operation Cat Coordinator for the Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons for information on how to participate in the Big Fix.
Donald Bambrick, the Animal Shelter Supervisor for Southampton Town noted that “TNR is the official policy of the Town of Southampton for feral cats. With cat and kitten numbers at capacity at our shelter, TNR is important to keep feral cats and their offspring out of the shelter”.
The following veterinarians will be heading up the surgical teams: Dr. Sarah Alward for ARF, Dr. Teri Meekins for Southampton Shelter, and Dr. John Berger for Kent.
