(US) Neighborhood Cats E-Newsletter

There's a lot of exciting events, resources and developments in the feral cat field to report, so here goes: 1. National Feral Cat Summit 2007 to be held November 10 in Orlando, Florida The only national conference devoted exclusively to feral cats will take place on Saturday, Nov. 10 at the Orange County Convention Center . Speakers from successful feral cat programs from around the country will offer talks and workshops on a host of topics, including the latest research on TNR, how to form coalitions for feral cats, disaster preparation for colonies, working with wildlife groups, funding for TNR, building community-wide TNR programs, conducting large-scale spay/neuter clinics, advanced colony care and much more! Tickets are only $50 and low cost hotel rates are still available. For the full program and registration info, go to: http://www.neighborhoodcats.org/special/nfc_summit_2007.htm In addition, this year we'll be offering a special Continuing Education program for veterinarians and veterinary technicians, instructed by one of the leading feral cat academic veterinarians, Dr. Julie Levy, DVM, PhD, of the University of Florida. Classroom instruction will take place the afternoon of Nov. 10 and then live participation in a mass spay/neuter clinic for ferals is scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 11, at the University of Florida, Gainesville campus (free transportation is provided). See the program for full details. 2. Guide on "Implementing a Community Trap-Neuter-Return Program" now available Published by The Humane Society of the US and authored by Bryan Kortis, executive director of Neighborhood Cats, "Implementing a Community Trap-Neuter-Return Program" is the first comprehensive guide on how to run a community TNR program. Practical issues are addressed and workable solutions offered, including local laws, public outreach, building collaborations, liability, spay/neuter, trapping strategies, equipment and administration. It's a must-read for anyone interested in moving the practice of TNR from the backyard to the front page! Available for only $9.95 at this link: http://www.AnimalSheltering.org/tnrbook 3. Set up your own online Feral Cat Database In order to grow and gain more resources, it's essential for TNR programs to collect and track the results of their efforts. That's now much easier thanks to the Internet-based Feral Cat Database, a project developed by Neighborhood Cats, tested in New York City, and funded in part by PetSmart Charities and the ASPCA/Fresh Step Safe Steps Home Program. The database program allows individual caretakers to remotely enter their colony data, including numbers of cats, locations, contact info, and more. The administrator of the database is then able to sort, search and analyze the data, either online or offline. Each community or TNR program can set up their own online database and have exclusive access to the information collected! The database can be purchased for a one-time startup fee of $525 (to cover the programmers' time in customizing the site to your specifications) and then $10 a month for website hosting. We've set up a sample database online where you can enter test data and then check out the different tools. To access the sample site: User Side (where caretakers enter their info): http://www.feralcatdatabase.info Admin Side (where the administrator of the site works with the data): http://www.feralcatdatabase.info/admin (to log in, enter "Admin" for the email address, and Password for the "password". We recommend you click on and read the Instructions tab when first entering). Any questions, please contact us at email: headcat@neighborhoodcats.org 4. Intensive TNR Training Workshops Continue.... The two-day TNR training workshops taught by us and sponsored by Petco Foundation and The Humane Society of the United States, have so far this year received warm welcomes in Sarasota, Chicago, Indianapolis and Long Island, NY, averaging 90 attendees per workshop. The workshops cover all aspects of TNR, from colony care to policy issues, organizing community programs, building a grassroots TNR movement and persuading municipal officials. For a review of the Long Island workshop, go to: http://www.babylonbeacon.com/news/2007/0426/Columnists/ 5. New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services Supports Managed Colonies as Form of Feral Cat Control The Office of Animal Welfare, a division of the New Jersey Dept. of Health and Senior Services (NJDHSS) has endorsed the use of TNR and managed colonies in defined circumstances as part of the solution to controlling feral cat populations. In its policy statement on Free-roaming and Feral Cats (http://www.state.nj.us/health/animalwelfare/stray.shtml), NJDHSS supports a collaborative approach to TNR that takes municipal, health, property ownership and wildlife concerns into account: "Colonies must be established in cooperation with the local animal control and health agencies, wildlife organizations, humane groups and veterinarians. They should not be established in areas where at-risk wildlife populations could be threatened or where they may pose a nuisance or zoonotic disease risk to the public. The operation of the colony must comply with all local ordinances and receive landowner permission." In addition, NJDHSS indicates in its policy statement that it will interpret state law governing animal control officers in a manner that will permit managed colonies to be established. To our knowledge, this is the first time in this country's history that a State Department of Health has publicly endorsed TNR to a significant degree. 6. New York City Launches Feral Spay/Neuter Coupon Program Muffins Pet Connection (http://www.muffins.org) and the NYC Feral Cat Initiative, a program of the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals (http://www.animalalliancenyc.org ), have teamed up to create a spay/neuter coupon program specially for feral cats - MAMA (Muffins And Mayor's Alliance). Participating veterinarians will provide spay/neuter, eartipping and rabies vaccination for the cost of the coupon with no other services or charges required. Coupons are priced at $58 for a female, $45 for a male. For more details and a list of participating vets, go to: http://www.muffins.org/MAMA.htm 9. Website Updates - Cat Containment Systems Check out the new page on our website about cat containment systems - one way to avoid problems with the neighbors! (although admittedly often not practical): http://www.neighborhoodcats.org/info/catcontainment.htm Also, we've updated contact info and links (including how to get Reppers, a scent deterrent, from a Canadian company) on our Keeping Cats Out of Gardens and Yards page: http://www.neighborhoodcats.org/info/keepingout.htm Finally, our deepest thanks to all of you who are working to bring about a more compassionate world - for ferals and nonferals alike. We're making progress! Bryan Kortis Executive Director Neighborhood Cats 212-662-5761 www.neighborhoodcats.org