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DRAFT  <br />Our goal is simple, reduce cat euthanasia now and in the future by decreasing the number <br />of free roaming cats in Orange County and the number of cats entering the shelter <br />system. <br /> <br />3. Benefits <br /> <br />The benefits of decreasing the number of free roaming cats are far reaching and will <br />have many positive influences on our community on all socioeconomic levels. <br />•The overall cost of sheltering and animal control nuisance calls will be reduced thereby <br />decreasing tax dollars spent. <br />•There will be less predation on wildlife species as the population of outside cats <br />decreases. <br />•The overall health and welfare of the free roaming cat improve as they are more <br />adequately vaccinated, identified and not producing multiple litters. Fewer cats <br />equals fewer internal and external parasites and less disease associated with the <br />stress of living outside. <br />•Our public health will improve as fewer cats means less spread of zoonotic disease <br />(Rabies, fecal intestinal parasites and protozoal parasites). <br /> <br />4. Strategies and Initiatives <br /> <br />The number and span of free roaming cats makes this a problem that’s bigger than <br />Animal Services can handle by itself. There are several organizations and initiatives <br />already in operation in Orange County that can be expanded on and utilized to help meet <br />our goals. <br /> <br />•Public Outreach/Community Education <br />Our public education and outreach is targeted towards educating our community <br />about opportunities for low cost or no cost spay/neuter programs, the benefits of <br />keeping cats indoors, the importance of vaccinations and care of cats and <br />identification. <br /> <br />Already in our community we have several groups working towards these goals. <br />Enhancing and encouraging their work, will allow greater overall success. <br />•Kids for Kindness is a non-profit that started in Hillsborough and teaches 4th <br />graders the importance of spaying and neutering pets and the reality of <br />sheltered pets. <br />•Independent Animal Rescue is a non-profit that has a huge positive influence <br />on the free roaming cat population providing underprivileged citizens with low <br />or no cost surgery opportunities and fostering feral kittens to make them <br />adoptable and less likely to stay outside. <br />•Veterinarians are already seeing cat patients every day and will be enlisted to <br />help spread the word about the benefits of keeping cats inside, identification <br />3