Listen to the Lowell TNR Coalition answer questions back on Monday, October 11th 2010 on the Wicked Local Show with Jack Baldwin & Max Bowen, Editor of the Billerica Minuteman.
Total Spay/Neuter Goal by June 2012:
What We Do
The volunteers of Lowell TNR dedicate their time to plan, coordinate and execute monthly Trap-Neuter-Return efforts for the feral and stray cats of Lowell.
Step1:
Concerned residents and community members let us know about feral and stray cats in their neighborhood that are in need of spay/neuter services.
Step2:
A TNR coordinator will communicates the process with the caller/emailer, assign the site to an upcoming clinic, and align trapper(s) to the site.
Step3:
24 hours prior to trapping, the colony feeder withholds all food (water is ok). This will ensure a successful trapping effort as food is used to lure the cats into the traps.
Step4:
Volunteers humaely trap the cats at the specified site and transport them to a safe and temperature controlled location for holding.
Step5:
All trapped cats are brought to clinic for spay/neuter surgery, vaccination and ear tipping. As many as 30 cats are trapped and operated on at a time at our clinics.
Step6:
The cats are brought back to the centralized holding location where they are monitored and cared for to ensure a smooth recovery.
Step7:
Once fully recovered, the feral cats are released back to their original locations to live out the rest of their lives. The friendly strays are taken in by our partnering rescue groups to be put up for adoption.
What We Don’t Do
Lowell TNR is not a 24x7 rescue organization. Unfortunately, our resources are limited so in most cases, we are only able to provide our services on a monthly basis according to our clinic schedule.
All requests are added to our queue and dealt with on a first-come, first-serve basis unless special circumstances warrant more immediate attention (kittens, pregnant females, very sick or injured cats, etc). We thank you in advance for your patience!
How Does Lowell TNR Ensure that Owned Cats are not Affected?
Microchip Scans
Lowell TNR scans for microchips at every clinic. If one is found, we do not operate on the cat and the owner is contacted immediately.
Online Monitoring
We monitor Craigslist and the Lowell Sun classifieds for lost cats reports. If a report matches a cat we have trapped, we contact the potential owner to be reunited.
Notification to Other Groups
Lowell Humane and the ACO are contacted whenever a friendly cat is trapped in hopes that a lost cat report has been filed.
Trapping Flyers
Flyers are posted during trapping times in hopes that owners will see the flyers and keep their cats indoors during these times.
Step4: