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TRAP/NEUTER/RETURN PROGRAM
Information for Feral Cat Caretakers
General Information:
Our TNR (Trap/Neuter/Return) Program is for feral
cats, which are unsocialized cats either born outside never
having lived with a human or a house cat who has strayed from
home and over time has thrown off the effects of domestication
and reverted to a wild state. Please check with WCHS before
bringing a cat in since some municipalities do not allow TNR.
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WCHS's TNR program is currently free for
Washington County and $25 for out of county.
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Feral cats for the WCHS TNR Program should be
trapped on Sunday evening or Monday evening.
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Feral cats are accepted Mondays 8:30 a.m. -
7:00 p.m. or Tuesdays 8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
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Cats MUST be received no later than Tuesday
morning at 10 a.m. to be altered on Wednesday morning.
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Due to our anesthetic protocol, each cat MUST
have its own trap prior to and following surgery.
During surgery, each cat over 4 pounds will
receive a rabies vaccine. They will also be “ear-tipped”, which
means the tip of the left ear will be removed. This identifies
a free-roaming cat as altered which prevents the need for future
transport, stress and anesthesia.
Feral cats will recover at WCHS. Female cats
need to be held 48 hours after surgery and can be picked up on
Friday for re-release. Male cats need less time to recover and
can be picked up on Thursday.
Feral cats should be returned to their
established location where you found them. The alternative –
relocation - is a difficult, time-consuming and problematic
procedure, and it is not recommended except under extreme
circumstances. Relocating cats without the proper steps can
endanger the cat’s life. They will try to return to their old
home, and may become lost or attempt to cross major roads.
Also, feral cats form strong bonds with other cats in their
colonies. Separating a cat from their colony members and
leaving them alone in a new environment will cause stress,
depression and loneliness.
We insist on the respectful treatment of all
people, property and cats affiliated with our program and our
organization. We reserve the right to refuse future services for
any person who engages in any inappropriate treatment of staff,
volunteers, property or cats.
If you have questions about our
TNR program, please contact Tina Duris, Operations Manager, at
(262) 677-4388. Tina would be happy to explain the program in
detail.
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