TNR Program
The McHenry County Board approved in February of this year Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) as a humane solution in dealing with the ever-increasing feral cat population. By some estimates the number of abandoned, free- roaming, stray and feral cats in McHenry County is 20,000 but could be as high as 40,000. Helping Paws along with Animal Outreach Society has been instrumental in getting this ordinance passed. Over 90% of the kittens that we receive into our areas shelters are a result of a free roaming, stray or feral cats. All area shelters are full with cats right now and every kitten season the cycle begins again.
Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) is a full management plan in which stray and feral cats already living outdoors in cities, towns, and rural areas are humanely trapped, then evaluated, vaccinated, and sterilized by veterinarians. Kittens and tame cats are adopted into good homes. Healthy adult cats too wild to be adopted are returned to their familiar habitat under the lifelong care of volunteers. For those cats that must be removed due to a dangerous environment are placed in a barn home free of charge.
- “Trap” means to humanely trap every feral cat in the colony or colonies you care for.
- “Neuter” means to take the cats in their traps to a veterinarian or veterinary clinic that works with feral cats to be spayed or neutered, evaluated, vaccinated, and treated as needed.
- “Return” means to care for the cats through recovery from surgery, and then take them back to their established homes.
TNR evolved from nonlethal control programs practiced for decades in the United Kingdom, Europe, and Africa. In the U.S., TNR is practiced by thousands of individuals and hundreds of groups, with the help of sympathetic veterinarians. TNR is endorsed by numerous institutions and organizations, including the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, Cat Fancier’s Association, Cornell and Tufts Universities Schools of Veterinary Medicine, Doris Day Animal League, San Francisco SPCA, and SPAY/USA. In a growing number of communities, TNR Programs are receiving official sanction and funding.
Helping Paws established Helping Paws TNR Program in May ’03 with 2 private generous donations of $1000 each. We supply all of the surgical supplies and vaccinations and microchips at a cost of about $15.00/cat. Two local vet clinics, one in Woodstock and one in Huntley have been very generous with time and support of this program and perform the surgeries for a nominal fee, and do an average of 15- 20 cats per week. We ask $25.00/cat.
With the support of community we have trapped over 400 cats and kittens. We relocated over 30 cats and adopted out over 80 kittens.
If you are feeding stray cats or see stray cats in your area or just want more information on TNR, or are interested in adopting a feral cat for your barn or would like to help us trap area cats please call – Cindy Gaffney between 9 and 9 at 815-568-2916.
To make a donation to support this program please make checks payable to Helping Paws TNR