FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

HSUS ANNOUNCES DEVELOPMENT OF NEW RESOURCES FOR FERAL CAT MANAGEMENT

HSUS Collaborates with Neighborhood Cats, a NYC-based Feral Cat Organization

WASHINGTON (October 14, 2005)-The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) today announced that it is developing new programs designed to help communities across the country manage feral cat colonies.

The HSUS will collaborate with Neighborhood Cats, a New York City based organization dedicated to the humane management of feral cats.

By working with Neighborhood Cats (www.neighborhoodcats.org), The HSUS is developing more resources to help feral cat caretakers around the country. The HSUS's new resources will include:

-A new statement supporting Trap, Neuter, and Return (TNR) programs
-An online course through Humane Society University for feral cat caretakers
-An online course through Humane Society University for animal shelters and adoption groups
-A day-long workshop on feral cats at The HSUS's annual Animal Care Expo in Anaheim, Calif. in March 2006
-Increased support materials for handling obstacles to feral cat management

The HSUS launched its Safe Cat campaign in 2003 to provide people with real solutions for keeping their pet cats safe and happy by providing a stimulating indoor environment and supervised outdoor access with the use of a harness or a special cat enclosure.

However, feral cats who cannot be socialized may not thrive as indoor pets. They may be one or more generations removed from a home environment - victims of abandonment, lack of supervision, or accidental loss through no fault of their own - and may live in a group, or colony, of similar cats.

The goal of any feral cat management program should be to stabilize and eventually eliminate the existing colony through attrition. “Every community has different resources and each must consider many factors when deciding how to help feral cats,” said Nancy Peterson, companion animals issues specialist with The HSUS. “Animal shelters and welfare organizations can play a role in programs to manage feral cats, but it is ultimately the responsibility of the entire community to work together to care for and reduce the numbers of feral cats.”

The HSUS's renewed commitment through additional resources on TNR should encourage all members of the community - local citizens, veterinarians, animal shelters, policy makers, public health departments, and businesses - to work together towards a goal of non-lethal approaches to feral cat management. The group will soon be launching a feral cat resource center through its website at www.hsus.org/cats to help communities make TNR with ongoing management a reality.

The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization representing more than 9 million members and constituents. The non-profit organization is a mainstream voice for animals, with active programs in companion animals and equine protection, disaster preparedness and response, wildlife and habitat protection, animals in research and farm animal welfare. The HSUS protects all animals through education, investigation, litigation, legislation, advocacy, and field work. The group is based in Washington and has numerous field representatives across the country. On the web at www.hsus.org.

Media Contact: Karen L. Allanach (301) 548-7778, kallanach@hsus.org