Environmental Service Dept. introduces feral cat trap, neuter and release program

The City of El Paso is launching a Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) program for feral cats thanks to a PetSmart Charities grant awarded to the Animal Services Division of the city’s Environmental Services Department.

The nearly $50,000 Free Roaming Cat Project grant will be used to start a pilot program to sterilize free-roaming cats in the 79907 zip code area. The grant will pay for spay and neuter surgeries and trapping devices.

Thanks to PetSmart Charities’ generosity we now have the resources we need to implement TNR, a humane program proven to work in other communities,” Environmental Services Department Interim Director Kurt Fenstermacher said.

TNR is an effective tool for controlling the growth of the feral cat population. Under the program, feral cats, also commonly known as stray cats, are trapped, neutered then returned to the same neighborhood where they were collected. Animal Services’ goal is to stabilize and ultimately reduce the feral cat population in a specific area and then grow the program citywide.

“Many years and many efforts have proven that the old ways just do not work. Bold, new, long-term and innovative methods need to be implemented to reduce our communities’ free-roaming cat population while keeping the health and safety of our citizens and community cats at heart,” Dr. Nina Cloud, Animal Services Veterinarian, said.

If you want to be involved in the program, visit http://www.elpasotexas.gov/environmental_services/animalservices and click on the volunteer link.

Source: City of El Paso Environmental Services Department