Free Roaming Cat Task Force Recommendations

Browse Search

DRAFT As with public outreach and awareness, this part of the plan will depend upon strong partnerships with non-profit organizations committed to addressing the problem of pet overpopulation. As can be seen from the following discussion, a number of these partnerships are already in place as a result of our prior effort to proactively reduce the number of homeless cats and dogs in Orange County. • AnimalKind has been a major partner of Orange County Animal Services since before the strategic plan for managing pet overpopulation was launched in 2010. It is fundamental to the targeted sterilization now done in Orange County, providing veterinary services and hundreds of spay/neuter surgeries each year on a low-cost or no-cost basis. • The Spay Neuter Assistance Patrol (SNAP) Mobile Spay Neuter Clinic is already in operation in Orange County, providing sterilization services at the Animal Services Center every 10 to 14 days on average. SNAP is another proven partner in the county’s current effort to deliver targeted sterilization for cats and dogs, having spay/neuter agreements with both AnimalKind and Orange County Animal Services. It is possible for these partnerships to change to include vouchers for greater numbers of free-roaming cats. • Independent Animal Rescue (IAR), as previously noted, works with residents in problem cat areas where they can help with care and spay/neuter for a number of resident cats. They also foster feral kittens so that these have the opportunity to be tamed and adopted rather than being recycled as part of a specific colony of free-roaming cats. Increased awareness, coupled with ease of access to beneficial programs, will be crucial for finding success in these areas. Collaboration and community support will be the most important features that allow free-roaming cats to have the focus and follow through needed to begin seeing tangible improvements throughout the community.