“The Humane Society of the United States is proud to support the New York City Feral Cat Initiative with these scholarships to empower New Yorkers to make a tremendous difference in the welfare and lives of the many feral and stray cats in our communities,” says Patrick Kwan, New York state director for The HSUS. “Community collaboration and involvement, as well as spaying and neutering pet cats and keeping them indoors, will lead to solutions that will reduce feral cat numbers and the number of cats entering shelters.”
One hundred full scholarships are offered by The HSUS for the online course Trap-Neuter-Return: How to Manage a Feral Cat Colony from Humane Society University. Upon completion, participants will become certified feral cat caretakers with the NYCFCI and qualify for free and low-cost spay/neuter services, equipment, hands-on assistance, and additional advanced training for Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) projects.
“Becoming a certified feral cat caretaker is a first step to accessing a tremendous support system and valuable resources that provide caretakers with the tools they need to achieve the best results possible in their Trap-Neuter-Return projects,” says Jane Hoffman, president of the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals. “Our progress in reducing the proliferation of community cats in New York City hinges on our ability to involve more trained caretakers in our efforts.”
Scholarships are available while supplies last. Contact the NYCFCI at info@NYCFeralCat.org to apply. To learn more about feral cats and obtain training and resources to implement a humane trap-neuter-return (TNR) program in your community, visit humanesociety.org/feralcats or www.NYCFeralCat.org.
Feral Cat Facts
- National Feral Cat Day was launched in 2001 by Alley Cat Allies. The annual celebration includes hundreds of events nationwide to improve awareness and the welfare of feral and stray cats.
- The HSUS estimates there are some 50 million feral and stray cats nationwide.
- Feral cats are unsocialized cats who may be one or more generations removed from a home environment and may live in a group, or colony, of similar cats. These cats and their offspring are victims of abandonment, accidental loss, and failure by owners to sterilize their pets.
About The Humane Society of the United States
The Humane Society of the United States is the nation’s largest animal protection organization — backed by 11 million Americans, or one of every 28. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty — On the Web at humanesociety.org.
Follow The HSUS on Twitter. See our work for animals work on your Apple or Android device by searching for our “HumaneTV” app. www.humanesociety.org
About the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals®
The Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals, Inc., founded in 2002 and powered by Maddie’s Fund, The Pet Rescue Foundation, with support from the ASPCA, is a coalition of more than 150 animal rescue groups and shelters working with Animal Care & Control of New York City (AC&C) to end the killing of healthy and treatable cats and dogs at AC&C shelters. To achieve that goal, the Alliance, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, helps its Alliance Participating Organizations (APOs) work to their highest potential to increase pet adoptions and spay/neuter rates, with the goal of transforming New York City into a no-kill community by 2015. www.AnimalAllianceNYC.org
Media Contacts
Martin Montorfano, The HSUS
Phone: (301) 258-3152
E-mail: mmontorfano@humanesociety.org
Steve Gruber, Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals
Phone: (917) 359-6003
E-mail: steve@AnimalAllianceNYC.org