GSAL:Trap-Neuter-Return

It’s happening right in your own backyard! Maybe you’ve seen them behind a restaurant or in an alley or park. Feral (wild) cats live everywhere, forming colonies wherever they find scraps of food and a bit of shelter, e it in dumpsters or under a boardwalk. Tens of millions of feral cats now live in the U.S.

Reduce overpopulation and homelessness of feral cats living in Manatee County through our Trap-Neuter-Return Program. The usual animal control solution isn’t a solution.

There is a solution that not only reduces feral cat populations, but also improves the lives of the feral cats. Trap-Neuter-Return. TNR is a proven procedure in which entire colonies of stray and feral cats are humanely trapped, then evaluated, vaccinated, ear tipped and spayed/neutered by veterinarians. Kittens and tame cats are adopted into good homes. Adult cats too wild to be adopted are returned to live out their lives under the watch of voluntary caregivers.

TNR Works – The breeding stops. Populations are gradually reduced. The annoying behaviors of breeding cats, like howling or spraying, stop. The cats are vaccinated against disease, and they are fed on a regular schedule. This ongoing care creates a safety net for both cats and the community.

Approximately 6,000 pets are put down in Manatee County each year. This heartbreaking problem is only compounded by lack of awareness regarding spaying and neutering pets. Theoretically, in seven years, one female cat and her offspring can produce 420,000 cats. Through community education and spay/neuter assistance programs GSAL hopes to decrease the number of homeless animals generated in Manatee County.

Gulf Shore Animal League is available to present a TNR educational program upon request. Workplaces, schools, civic groups, religious organizations, etc. are all welcome.

To request a program: info@gsalinc.org or 941-747-2284

Birth Control NOT Pest Control

Gulf Shore Animal League is modeled after successful programs in Europe and in the U.S. cities of New Orleans, San Diego, Miami Beach, Washington, D.C. and Orange County, Florida. The trap-neuter-return program uses a humane method of animal control because it breaks the cycle of kittens born feral and unwanted and the problem of over population of a particular colony. Through this method the population of the colony is stablized, the cats in the colony are healthier, young kittens that can be socialized are adopted into suitable homes, and the volunteer caretakers enjoy a colony where the cats live peacefully and safely within their territory. Typical problems generally associated with a colony of feral cats such as yowling females and spraying toms are eliminated and the incidence of malnutrition and disease are almost non-existent. Join forces with us today to help protect all the cats in our community.

We are a major contributor in the community-wide effort to end the killing of companion animals as a means of population control. Join us and make great things happen right in your neighborhood.

To continue this important work we need your help. Please be generous by making a donation of money and time. We operate without paid staff and all board members hold full time jobs. Your support allows Gulf Shore Animal League to continue to assist you, your friends, and your neighbors in our joint mission of making Manatee County a "No-Kill" community by 2012. Together we can make it happen!

Spay/Neuter Options For Feral and Free Roaming Cats in Manatee and Sarasota Counties:

The Humane Society of Manatee County sponsors a monthly feral cat spay/neuter clinic at the Humane Society of Manatee on the 1st Sunday of each month unless otherwise noted. Cats must be feral, not owned pets. Appointments are required. All cats MUST be in a humane trap-no carriers allowed. Trap rentals available. Open to residents of both Manatee and Sarasota Counties. Call 941-747-8808 ext. 309 or Lhevesy@yahoo.com.

The Humane Society of Manatee County also provides low cost spays/neuters for feral cats. Appointments are required. Trap rentals are available. Call 941-747-8808.

Gulf Shore Animal League provides free and low-cost spay/neuter for feral cats from Manatee County colonies Monday thru Friday. Call 747-2284 and leave a message, call Audrey at work 748-8734 for a reservation or info@gsalinc.org. Traps are also available with a trap deposit.

Animal Rescue Coalition (ARC) Feral cat spay/neuter clinic is held once a month at Ashton Animal Clinic in Sarasota. Typically held on the 3rd Sunday of each month unless otherwise noted. Free to all, no income guidelines for the feral cat program, but cats must be feral. All cats MUST be in a humane trap-no carriers allowed. Appointments are required. Trap rentals available. Open to residents of both Sarasota and Manatee Counties. Call 941-957-1955 ext 5 or Stephanie@animalrescuecoalition.org.

Sarasota in Defense of Animals (SDA) offers FREE spay/neuter for free-roaming and feral cats. Clinics held one a month. Contact (941) 924-2505.

Cat Depot in Sarasota, offers free spay/neuter for feral cats.
Contact (941) 351-0824 or info@catdepot.org .

Love That Cat www.lovethatcat.com

The Cat Network www.thecatnetwork.org

Manatee County has joined other progressive communities by adopting a "feral friendly" ordinance. TNR is not only allowed, but is encouraged. Many thanks to all the people who made this dream a reality.

For more information on TNR and how it works visit www.alleycat.org

Local Feral Cat Organizations:
Gulf Shore Animal League info@gsalinc.org or (941)748-8734
Animal Network landerson53@tampabay.rr.com or (941)729-2350
Cat Depot info@catdepot.org or (941) 351-0824
Animal Coalition of Tampa www.actampa.org or (813) 250-3900
Project Spay Day www.spayday.com or (813) 818-9381
Cat Call, Inc. in Brandon (813) 657-7078 or catcall911@catcall.org

Feral Cat Information Sources:
Alley Cat Allies at www.alleycat.org
Neighborhood Cats at www.neighborhoodcats.org
Operation Catnip at www.vetmed.ufl.edu/sacs/catnip
Feral Cat Coalition at www.feralcat.com
Feral Cat Caretakers at www.feralcatcaretakers.org
Best Friends Animal Sanctuary at www.bestfriends.org
Feral Cat Spay/Neuter Project at www.feralcatproject.org