Tuesday, July 16, 2013

MICHIGAN HUMANE SOCIETY TO HOLD WORKSHOP FOR FERAL CAT COLONY CARETAKERS ON JULY 31

Trap-Neuter-Return Program
will reduce the number of homeless cats and save lives

On Wednesday, July 31, the Michigan Humane Society (MHS) will hold a feral cat workshop for residents who want to help reduce the number of homeless cats and provide feral cats with much-needed care. This workshop will teach residents how utilize a “Trap-Neuter-Release” (TNR) strategy, which has proven to be the most effective and humane way of handling feral cats.

MHS’ TNR program gives individuals who wish to manage a feral cat colony near their home or place of employment the chance to provide the animals with vaccinations, sterilization and veterinary care. Caretakers will be trained on proper techniques and equipment to humanely trap feral cats and bring them to the Michigan Humane Society for sterilization and identification. The animals will then be released back to their habitat by their caretaker.

For those interested in becoming a feral cat colony caretaker and participating in the TNR program, MHS is hosting this required workshop on Wednesday, July 31, at 5:30 p.m. at the Michigan Humane Society’s administrative office, located at 30300 Telegraph Road, Suite 220 in Bingham Farms. Register online or get more information at www.michiganhumane.org/feral or call (248) 283-1000, ext. 127. An RSVP is required.

Providing a TNR service for feral cats is a critical component of lowering the number of unadoptable animals coming into shelters, as feral cats generally cannot be adopted into homes unless they are young enough to be properly socialized with humans. TNR is the best way to allow the cats to humanely live out their lives in their natural habitat, while preventing them from contributing to the pet overpopulation problem.

The Michigan Humane Society is the largest and oldest animal welfare organization in the state. MHS works to end companion animal homelessness, provide the highest quality service and compassion to the animals entrusted to our care, and to be a leader in promoting humane values.




19 comments:

  1. Seems they do fantastic work preventing more feral cats joining the population. We wish them well. Have a terrific Tuesday.
    Best wishes Molly

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  2. This sounds awesome! I hope it is well-attended.

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  3. We love MHS! They do so much, and have so many wonderful programs to help animals in the community!

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  4. EXCELLENT. We sure wish they'd do that in our area.....

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  5. That really is mega-wonderful and simply made my whiskers grin up. Ferals so need the help.

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  6. That is a great program.

    Thanks for your kind comments on our blog today.

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  7. Hurray! What a great program--your Humane Society rocks, Caren & Cory! I wonder if they do those here? I might look into that!

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  8. It is wonderful to help the feral cats. Many years ago we took in a feral kitten. For the first few weeks I looked as though I had shaken hands with Freddy Kruger but eventually he became the sweetest cat and would lie in my arms like a baby :)
    Lynne x

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    1. "Freddy Kruger" too cute! I love how you mention that the kitty DID grow into the "sweetest" cat because YES the vast majority do! xoxo

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  9. We have several NGOs who promote TNR but are unable to get the council's agreement NOT to capture these animals (which are ear notched). It's an ongoing battle with the dumbos sitting in the council.
    I've TNR'd a couple of cats who wander around my street. Thankfully our immediate neighbors are pretty accepting of these cats.

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  10. We just trapped our latest newcomer to the Riverfront Colony--Sinbad, a tuxedo. He actually backed up into the trap! That is a first.

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    1. that is too cute! It's as if he knew you were going to take good care of him!

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  11. MHS ROCKS!!!! Thank you so much for sharing all the wonderful things they are doing for animals with your readers Caren! You make a huge difference and are a wonderful part of saving feral cats lives by sharing this!

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    1. that is so kind of you Amelia! I feel that it is important to share too, some think that because it is a Michigan rescue it doesn't pertain to them, but in reality, it does. Other rescues can get ideas by seeing what others are doing. Plus, if it will help save some cats and help to control the unwanted kittens being born I am all for it! I feel it is super important to share and I THANK YOU for agreeing, it makes me sad because my rescue posts or Michigan Humane posts are the LEAST read. Regardless, I will continue to share what I feel is important to share! (((((hugs)))) THANK YOU!

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  12. This is an awesome idea I love it, gratefully there are no feral cats in my area that I know of there used to be but, not no more and do not know what happened to them all except hopefully they all found caring homes. ♥

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