When you and I are talking about spay/neutering our pets, we are looking at our neighbor, our schoolteacher, the Post Man, our friends. Sonora Cat Rescue (SCR) is more than that. Their world includes the homeless, the evicted, and the abandoned. This group reaches out to enable feline population control in areas most of us ignore or plain don’t see. Often called the feral population, the strays behind the grocery store, in the homeless camp, and at low-income apartments, are hot spots for pets that have been abandoned and must fend for themselves, Reaching into these colonies, collecting the adoptable and spay/neutering those who have lost sensitivity with civilization is the reality of SCR.

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) “advocates community-based Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs with on-going responsible management as the most viable, long-term approach available at this time to reduce feral cat population.” SCR works on this issue all year long. As a grass-roots organization, they reach many of the “ordinary” people. With education and outreach, an adoption resource, and dedicated volunteers, SCR spreads the word to take responsibility and spay/neuter your pet. Every cat that is sterilized can reduce the future population of the innocent victims of birth. 

With support from local veterinarians, the goal to manage the feral population while eliminating the colony through attrition instead of euthanasia is a doable prospect. The HSUS “strongly recommends that each community work toward the goal of non-lethal management”. TNR and SNAP (Spay Neuter Assistance Program) are community efforts to this effect.

SCR members Bonnie Perreira, Lynda Light and Mary Bell are often called the “Cat Ladies”, and are known for manning adoption venues in the county. They are there to help place the kittens from cats that have been allowed to repopulate. As Mary explained, ”I would love to be out of a job.” But as more kittens are born, placing them in Forever Homes will be the goal of all rescue and humane groups. The ladies stay inspired to continue to nurse, socialize and volunteer in this program, by sharing the joy of families enriched by adding a pet into their life.

Spay or neuter your pets as soon as they are old enough for the operation, at around four months. Local adoption agencies will not release an animal prior to the actual operation or they receive a fee, refundable after proof of sterilization and a signed promise from the adopting adult. Financial assistance may be available through the SNAP program recently reinstated under the Humane Society office.

February is spay/neuter month. Get it done.