disaster-prone

RedRover Assisting in Community Cat Program

Wakulla County, Florida (August 15) – RedRover has been on the ground helping Operation Catnip, PAWS of Wakulla, Shepherd Spring Animal Hospital, and others in a humane Trap, Neuter, and Release (TNR) operation for more than 150 community cats.

The operation is working to assist community cats (and their caretakers) in areas where they will be most impacted by hurricanes and flooding. Over the last few days, teams have humanely trapped, spay/neutered, vaccinated, and treated the cats for parasites (fleas and worms), as well as other injuries/illnesses as needed. Today the cats are being returned to the site where they were trapped for humane release.

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

RedRover Director of Field Services Beth Gammie said, “We are happy we could be here to help stem the overpopulation of community cats in this natural disaster-prone area. This operation wouldn’t be possible without all of the amazing partners to help – including Shepard Spring who hosted the spay/neuter clinic, and Operation Catnip and PAWS of Wakulla who managed the clinic, provided medical supplies, and helped recruit local vet students and volunteers.”

With more than 4,600 trained volunteers in the United States and Canada, RedRover can deploy its volunteers quickly when communities become overburdened by a crisis involving a large number of animals. The volunteers provide a skilled and compassionate workforce which enables a jurisdiction to address local cases of animal cruelty and neglect.

In its 35-year history, RedRover has responded to more than 247 natural disasters and other crises around the country, including Hurricanes Katrina, Harvey, and Andrew, the recent Northern California wildfires, Superstorm Sandy, 9/11, the Northridge earthquake, and many more.

To donate to RedRover’s Emergency Response Fund, visit redrover.org/donateresponders.To learn how to become a RedRover Responders volunteer, visit:redrover.org/volunteer.

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 About RedRover

Since 1987, RedRover has focused on bringing animals out of crisis and strengthening the human-animal bond through emergency sheltering, disaster relief services, financial assistance, and humane education. RedRover is a founding member of the National Animal Rescue and Sheltering Coalition (NARSC), established after Hurricane Katrina’s devastating impact to more people and animals than any other storm in the history of the United States. RedRover has earned a coveted 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity evaluator. To learn how RedRover is creating a more compassionate world, visit RedRover.org.

Contact: Sheri Madsen

916.600.8157

smadsen@redrover.org