Animal DREAMS, BHS Receive Grant for Feline Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Program
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Thanks to the support of a $32,000 grant from PetSmart Charities, Animal DREAMS and Berkshire Humane Society will be hosting “Pittsfield Cat Fix,” a new low-cost spay/neuter initiative for cats in Pittsfield.
The goal for “Pittsfield Cat Fix” is to spay/neuter 500 cats in the next year.
Providing low-cost spaying/neutering for the cats in Berkshire County is a priority for both AD and BHS. Recently, the two organizations collaborated to complete another spay/neuter campaign for 125 indoor and free-roaming cats on the west side of Pittsfield, which was funded by a grant from the Merrimack River Feline Society Mentor Program. “Pittsfield Cat Fix” is the next step in their efforts to significantly reduce cat overpopulation in Pittsfield.
Of the 500 cats, the grant requires that the majority of them be owned free-roaming cats or stray/feral cats, with the remaining being owned indoor-only cats.
Pittsfield has been targeted for this program because of the large number of unspayed/unneutered cats in the city as well as the many calls that AD and BHS have received from Pittsfield residents inquiring about low-cost spaying/neutering programs.
Residents of Pittsfield who own indoor cats and who are interested in participating in “Pittsfield Cat Fix” should call AD at 413-997-2287 to complete the registration form and schedule a surgery appointment. The fee is $30 and includes a rabies shot. Registration is on a first come, first served basis.
AD will also work with caretakers of known cat colonies as well as other Pittsfield residents to identify stray/feral, or free roaming, cats who are in need of spaying/neutering. Once they are identified, AD volunteers will begin scheduling Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) projects throughout the city. AD will bring the cats to its feral cat facility at BHS where they will be cared for until they can be returned to their colonies.
Research has shown that TNR is the only effective way to manage feral cats. TNR involves humanely trapping the cats, taking them to a veterinarian to be spayed/neutered and vaccinated, and then returning them to their colony — their outdoor home. By ending the cats’ breeding cycles, TNR allows the cats to live out their natural lives while at the same time causing the colonies to slowing decline.
“This project is very important to the city of Pittsfield and to the Community Cats of Pittsfield,” said Stacey Carver, president of AD’s Board of Directors. “One female cat can have 10 or more kittens in one year and one male can impregnate multiple females, multiple times a year. By spay/neutering 500 cats in this year-long project, we’ll be taking a huge step in putting an end to the community cat overpopulation in our city. We’re grateful to PetSmart Charities for this grant.”
Earlier this year AD, an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization that advocates and cares for stray/feral Cats in Berkshire County, moved from its office on North Street in Pittsfield to BHS. In addition to providing space for its administrative and cat recovery operations, BHS can take any of AD’s adoptable kittens and cats into its shelter for rehoming.
Given that both organizations share the same goal of helping the cats of Berkshire County, John Perreault, executive director of BHS, explained that the ongoing collaboration with AD “makes good sense.”
“By working together, we not only use our collective experience and skills but also save money – which means spaying and neutering more cats in Pittsfield," he said. "Both boards of directors should be commended on coming together for the benefit of animals. Berkshire Humane Society looks forward to continuing our relationship with Animal DREAMS.”
AD and BHS encourage all cat owners to spay/neuter their kittens and cats. According to recent statistics, more than 3 million felines are surrendered to animal shelters nationwide, with almost half being euthanized for lack of space and other reasons. Spaying/neutering not only reduces that number but also helps keep cats healthier and prevent behavior problems.
In the past, AD and BHS have held several low-cost spaying/neutering initiatives for indoor and outdoor cats. However, “Pittsfield Cat Fix” is the most ambitious project of this type that AD and BHS have undertaken. For more information about “Pittsfield Cat Fix,” call AD at 413-997-2287 or visit its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BerkshireAnimalDreams.
Tags: BHS, cats,
