Through its Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program, the city’s Animal Control Division lent a helping paw and recently neutered its 500th stray cat in an effort to help reduce the number of homeless cats in Daytona Beach. This major milestone was made possible through the collaboration of the Animal Control Division, residents and the Halifax Humane Society (HHS).
Through TNR, citizens contact Animal Control to help trap feral cats in their neighborhood. Once the cats are humanely trapped, they are taken to a veterinarian at HHS to be spayed or neutered, vaccinated, ear-tipped (the universal sign that a community cat has been neutered and vaccinated), and then returned to their outdoor home instead of being euthanized.
“TNR has been proven to be successful because we stop the population and we stop the cats from continuing to multiply,” said Bob Belt, Animal Division. The program also saves money, costing only $45 instead of the $88 to turn a cat over to the custody of a shelter. If you have cats in your area that may need TNR services, call animal control at (386) 671-5455.
For more information on the TNR program, visit their website.