SIDNEY — Shelby County Animal Rescue Foundation (SCARF), the Shelby County Animal Shelter, and the city of Sidney are working together to control the feral cat population in Shelby County.
A feral cat is one that has been born into wildness or has not had human interaction for a significant period of time and is able to survive in the wild.
Every other month, starting March 14, the Shelby County Animal Shelter will conduct trap-neuter-return (TNR) clinics for feral cats in the community. SCARF volunteers will notify the neighborhoods where trapping will occur, trap cats and return them to their neighborhoods once the procedure has been completed. While the cats are at the clinic, they will be vaccinated against rabies and will each have an ear tipped for identification purposes. Neighbors will be asked to keep pet cats indoors during the trapping and to refrain from feeding the feral cats, so they may be more easily trapped. The costs of the program will be shared by the city of Sidney and SCARF.
According to Alley Cat Allies, a national advocacy organization dedicated to the protection and humane treatment of cats, scientific studies show that TNR is a humane and effective approach for managing feral cats. TNR improves the life of feral cats, improves their relationship with the people living near them and decreases the size of colonies over time. The neutered cats will roam less and will not fight for mates, thereby creating less noise.
Anyone wishing to volunteer for this program should call 498-7201 or visit helpshelbycountyanimals.com.
