Hello Ark friends!
We wanted to talk with you a bit about our feral kitty program, the Ark Alley Cats! (AACP).
As most of you know, our AACP building is now on property…YAY! Part of the Ark’s mission is alleviating over population of unwanted pets through spay or neuter, so of course- one of the biggest pieces to the AACP is–you guessed it- spay and neuter!
With that being said, it’s important that if cats are living outside and are ACCUSTOMED to living outside, our goal is to return kitties to the property in which they were trapped AFTER they are altered. Most cats, if healthy and spayed/neutered, do no harm living on someone’s property. In fact, they can provide for vermin control, AND have less emotional stress due to fresh air and environmental stimuli and exercise.
We’d like to make it clear that the Ark, in most cases, will not be picking up people’s feral cats from their property and taking them to our building. What we WILL be doing is educating the public on:
1. It’s ok for some kitties to be outside!
2. Safe trapping procedures to land/home owners so the Ark can help and pay for spay/neuter and the return of kitties to the property AND provide the traps
3. The importance of spay neuter
4. Humane treatment of feral cats. (Just because sometimes you can’t pick them up for a snuggle, does not mean you can’t treat them with kindness).
…If the Ark went gung-ho and let all feral kitties come to the building, we would unfortunately not be making a dent in the over pop of unwanted kitties because we would fill up so fast! Remember: A shelter is a revolving door and a BRIDGE to a better life. Our feral building has a purpose: To provide safe space for holding prior to neutering, healing after neutering, and a home to roam to and from the building and property for those ferals that CANNOT go back to the property in which they were trapped.
If anyone has any questions about the AACP, please do not hesitate to call Shaina Fraser, Shelter Administrator. We look forward to working in our counties to reduce unwanted kitties via spay/neuter and answering any questions you might have.