26 06, 2012

Operation Cat Snip, Inc.

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2/10/12 Clinic

Spay Hampton Roads frequently receives requests for assistance from Hampton Roads residents residing outside the target neighborhoods that are part of the Norfolk Pet Project. Unfortunately, we cannot provide free spay/neuter for everyone, but we can refer people to the many low cost options in our area. These clinics provide very affordable spay/neuter surgeries, as well as vaccinations and other regular care (e.g., flea and tick preventatives). For residents on the other side of the tunnel seeking help with feral and free-roaming cats, there is Operation Cat Snip, Inc.

Based in Newport News, Operation Cat Snip, Inc. is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) as the humane method to reduce overpopulation of feral cats on the greater peninsula. They will be the administrators for a local clinic which has recently received a PetSmart Charities Grant for TNR of feral cats in Newport News, VA. This grant pays for surgeries and vaccinations. Caregivers should email spayneuter2012@gmail.com for additional information, to receive an appointment, or obtain a voucher for the program.

Related news and press releases:

Newport News Animal Services Receives a $95,465 Grant from PetSmart Charities® for Feral Cat Program Outreach and Services

NN gets grant for feral cat services

A Cooperative TNR Effort in Virginia’s Tidewater Region

Operation Cat Snip, Inc.artanimals2017-07-17T16:18:03-04:00

22 03, 2012

March 18, 2012 community cat clinic

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SpayHR sponsored our first cats-only clinic on Sunday for free-roaming/community cats.

Our dedicated TNR volunteers had twenty-five cats ready for surgery Sunday morning, then recovered everyone this week. Thank you!

Old Man

One cat who really caught our attention was Old Man. He’s actually quite friendly but has had a rough time on the streets. Old Man has been recovering indoors and has no interest in returning to outside life. Please contact us if you would like to adopt him.

See our facebook page for more pictures from the clinic.

March 18, 2012 community cat clinicartanimals2017-07-17T16:18:04-04:00

2 03, 2012

TNR coverage on WVEC

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Norfolk considers controversial proposal to control feral cats

Christie Chipps Peters of the Portsmouth Humane Society addresses the notion of “controversy” in the story well: “It’s a problem that’s already there and I think that we’re just being able to provide a solution,” she added, “I don’t understand the controversy. to me it’s black and white. you save a life or you don’t.”

Thanks to Norfolk City Council member Tommy Smigiel for voicing his support.

Part of the video segment is filmed at the Lambert’s Point colony near Tortilla West.

Sharon Adams of the Virginia Beach SPCA argues that a TNR effort by the city of Norfolk may encourage residents to abandon their cats That already happens. Residents abandon their dogs, too. Adams also makes the specious argument that feral cats die violent deaths, such as being hit by cars or shot by BB guns. That does happen, as it does to “owned” cats who are allowed to roam.

Ultimately, more TNR support and action would lead to a decrease in the overall population of free-roaming cats and the subsequent intake of these cats by Animal Control.

TNR coverage on WVECartanimals2017-07-17T16:18:06-04:00

3 02, 2012

Legislative Help for Feral/Free-Roaming/Community Cats

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Please read Susanne Kogut’s blog post about SB 359 and follow her guide for helping this population of homeless animals.

From Your Voice Matters SB – 359

SB 359 is a bill designed to permit more wide-scale trap, neuter, return efforts in our Virginia Communities. This Bill was introduced by the City of Charlottesville and presented to the Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources by the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA. SB 359 was reported out (approved) by a 10 to 5 vote. This bill was discussed for over 40 minutes with opposition that we believe was simply not truthful in their statements. Fortunately the members of the Senate Committee were able to see through this smoke and mirror presentation and voted in favor of the Bill.

To read more, visit the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA Blog.

It’s especially important to thank Senator Deeds and your legislator (if she or he supported SB 359).

Additional links:

Richmond SPCA Blog

Waggin’ Tales Blog

Legislative Help for Feral/Free-Roaming/Community Catsartanimals2017-07-17T16:18:06-04:00

19 12, 2011

Feliz Navidad, Gatos de Lambert’s Point

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Earlier this year the Lambert’s Point feral cat colony got an extreme makeover in the form of a full renovation to their house.

For the season, one of their caretakers has added holiday decorations, bringing cheer to human passersby…and maybe even the feline residents.

Feliz Navidad, Gatos de Lambert’s Pointartanimals2017-07-17T16:18:07-04:00

2 11, 2011

Berkley update

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Oakfield 4

Another successful TNR in Berkley. According to his caretaker, “Oakfield 4, the wide eyed little kitten in the first photo was neutered before ever having had the opportunity to contribute to the feral population!” He recovered quickly from surgery and was released back to his colony.

Unfortunately, another cat trapped in this area had had a much rougher life. With a severe inflection and no teeth, her quality of life was waning. Her caretaker made the choice to have her put down by the veterinarian, “and she passed away very quietly in a warm, dry room with lots of gentle pats.”

Berkley updateartanimals2017-07-17T16:18:07-04:00

30 10, 2011

Vox Felina

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About Vox Felina
This blog is intended to be a repository of research notes, news stories, correspondences, and associated commentary focused on a range of issues related to “the plight” of feral cats in general, and trap-neuter-return (TNR) in particular. The blog format offers two significant benefits for this project: (1) by limiting the scope of each post, I’m able to zoom in on the details—critical for understanding deeply the complexities of the topic, and (2) the hypertext and tags permit linking and cross-referencing impossible in the print domain.

Vox Felinaartanimals2017-07-17T16:18:07-04:00

15 10, 2011

National Feral Cat Day, October 16, 2011

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National Feral Cat Day is tomorrow, October 16.

How can you help feral cats? SpayHR is seeking donations of humane traps for TNR assistance. Contact us for more information.

Note: We have received a few comments opposingTNR and certainly understand that feral and otherwise free-roaming cats are viewed as predators and destructive to native wildlife. Our stance, though, is not to punish – through shooting, poisoning, or other methods of killing – the cats.

Cats in the community, feral or friendly, are there because of human action and inaction. Companion animals are regularly abandoned, left to fend for themselves and overpopulate (because they were not sterilized). There are rarely legal consequences for these human actions; punitive recourse is instead directed at the cats, whether through their being trapped and brought to municipal shelters to be euthanized or through recommendations by law enforcement* to kill them. These are easier responses for some to take, as it does not involve confronting people who can retaliate or who may ignore requests to take responsibility.

We simply choose to help those who are taking compassionate responsibility where others have not.

* per one reply from a TNR opponent

National Feral Cat Day, October 16, 2011artanimals2017-07-17T16:18:07-04:00

19 09, 2011

TNR Project Halts Cat Overpopulation on Island

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Just up the Chesapeake Bay, a community effort is helping hundreds of cats:

Tangier residents embrace spay/neuter for their community cats

More than half of the community cat population roaming tiny Tangier Island, Virginia, was spayed or neutered during a weeklong trap/neuter/return (TNR) project in mid-May. Despite flooding that hindered trapping efforts, 250 of the island’s estimated 500 cats were spay/neutered and returned to their colonies. The project was a joint venture of Best Friends Animal Society and Operation Catnip of Gainesville, Florida. Sheltering Hands of Williston, Florida, also provided traps.

Community Cats and Neighborhood Heroes

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Berkley kittens

Those cats hanging around the neighborhood didn’t get there themselves. Friendly, semi-friendly, or feral, the cats (or their predecessors) were at some point cared for by humans. When those humans no longer care, they leave the cats as the community’s responsibility.

One of our goals is to help people who are stepping up to care for these community cats. In the Berkley neighborhood of Norfolk, Gloria S. is doing just that. Gloria contacted us for help with two adult cats and four kittens. She has been feeding them and wants to be sure they stop reproducing.

Birdy

So far, we’ve been able to trap, spay, and return two of the kittens – Birdy and Berkley. Birdy is a wild gal, and Berkley is a shy, cautious kitten. Neither is a candidate for shelter adoption, so they are being released back to Gloria’s yard.

Community Cats and Neighborhood Heroesartanimals2017-07-17T16:18:07-04:00