cats

TNVR Operation Series Aims to Humanely Reduce Free-roaming Cat Overpopulation

Franklin County, Florida (February 19, 2024) – RedRover® was on the ground over the last few days helping Operation Catnip and SGI Cat Allies for a Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (TNVR) operation for 145 free-roaming community cats.

This is RedRover and Operation Catnip’s fourth Coastal Cats deployment because the need is so great: a growing population of free-roaming cats in areas vulnerable to hurricanes and storm surge. Cat overpopulation in these areas poses a serious risk of suffering in the event of hurricanes and flooding.

In addition to the TNVR operation, teams also treated the cats for parasites (fleas and worms), as well as other injuries/illnesses as needed. The cats are being returned to the specific location where they were trapped at the conclusion of the operation.

 RedRover sent a Team Leader, two staff and seven RedRover Responders volunteers who assisted in humanely trapping and transporting cats to and from the temporary shelter, where they also cared for the cats and ensured they had food, fresh water, and a clean space.

RedRover Director of Field Services Beth Gammie said, “We are proud we could partner again with Operation Catnip to help SGI Cat Allies humanely reduce the community cat population in this disaster-prone region through sterilization. These efforts wouldn’t be possible without our RedRover Responder volunteers, our partners and community volunteers, and the Apalachicola Bay Animal Clinic.”

With more than 4,700 trained volunteers in the United States and Canada, RedRover can deploy its volunteers quickly when communities become overburdened by a crisis involving large numbers of animals. Our volunteers provide a skilled and compassionate workforce which enable communities to address local cases of animal cruelty and neglect.

“Operation Catnip is delighted to be back in Franklin County providing a boost to SGI Cat Allies in their ongoing work to support the cats and caregivers in this vulnerable region,” said Operation Catnip Executive Director Audrey Garrison.

“SGI Cat Allies, Inc. is so grateful to RedRover and Operation Catnip for their continued support, mentoring, and expertise,” said their President Cathy Buell! “Our efforts to humanely reduce the free-roaming cat population in Franklin County these last nine years has just hit the 2,000-cat mark! Thank you also to Dr. Grayson Northrup, and her staff at Apalachicola Bay Animal Clinic, for hosting this event.

You can support efforts like these by donating to our Coastal Cats campaign: bit.ly/CoastalCats

To learn how to become a RedRover Responders volunteer, visit: redrover.org/volunteer.

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