Pets of the Week
Striving to help feral felines in York County
YORK COUNTY - In February, an estimated 50 feral cats were surgically sterilized in a spay/neuter clinic as part of a communitywide Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program.Trap-Neuter-Return, the humane, non-lethal method of population control for feral cats, is more effective than trap-and-kill and more reflective of a caring society, according to members of Friends of Feral Felines (FOFF).
For the fourth year, volunteers humanely trapped the cats and transported them to the South Portland Veterinary Clinic, which shut its doors for the day to work solely with feral cats. The cats were tested for feline leukemia feline immunodeficiency virus, neutered and given rabies immunizations and a pesticide treatment for fleas, ear mites and intestinal parasites.
Once the cats have recovered from surgery, they are returned to their home colonies, where volunteers will watch over them and assure they have adequate food, shelter and unfrozen water available.
This is the fourth year that Friends of Feral Felines has worked with the South Portland Veterinary clinic on this event to celebrate National Spay Day, an event started by the Doris Day Foundation and now continued by the Humane Society of the United States.
This year, the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland joined FOFF to help increase the number of cats that can be helped. Animal Control Officers of the towns where colonies are located have been assisting as well.
Colony sites range from New Gloucester in Cumberland County to the Berwicks in York County.
A feral cat either never lived with a human family or was a house cat that has strayed from home and, over time, has reverted to a wild state. When pet cats are forced to fend to themselves, huge numbers die from exposure or accidents. The survivors are often feral and, if they have not been sterilized, give birth to feral kittens, so the cycle continues.
To learn more, visit www.feralfelines.net.
