Maryland-based cat advocacy group, Alley Cat Allies (http://www.alleycat.org/) wants you to know the pound and shelter system is the number one documented killer of cats in the U.S., unnecessarily killing seven out of every ten cats who enter the system. Alley Cat Allies is working to change that.
Alison Grasheim, Deputy Communications Director of Alley Cat Allies, states, “Our mission is to protect and improve the lives of all cats – to change the world for cats.” Starting Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013, they’re taking their message on the road, in this, their first Changing Communities For Cats Campaign (http://www.alleycat.org/ChangingCommunitiesForCats)
Changing Communities For Cats Campaign was launched in October, 2012 in conjunction with National Feral Cat Day as a way for Alley Cat Allies to bring its message directly to its constituents. Their main focus is about trap-neuter-return (TNR), educating people about feral and outdoor cats and working to change shelter policies. Grasheim says great strides have been made in improving the shelter system and in TNR practices, but further improvements and changes need to be made to, “transform this country’s attitudes about cats.”
The Changing Communities For Cats Campaign tour is a way to team build and focus on communities through work with grassroots groups, local advocates and members of the community to bring about change for all cats.
Community-wide conversations may take place to make positive changes in the lives of cats who live in our midst:
- Improve the shelter system by changing adoption hours.
- Educate people that TNR is the way of the future.
- Learn how to make our communities safe for all cats.
- Stop shelters from impounding feral cats.
- Present cats for adoption in cage-free settings.
Campaign stops will be in:
- Fort Lauderdale, FL, Feb. 2, 2013
- Dallas/Fort Worth, TX, April 20, 2013
- Chicago, IL, June 15, 2013
- California (San Diego or Los Angeles, TBD), August 10, 2013
Visit the Alley Cat Allies website, http://www.alleycat.org/ to become an Alley Cat Ally, subscribe to their newsletter and request an invitation to join them at one of their Campaign stops.
Written by Stephanie Newman
Stephanie is author of the blog, The Musings Of A Crazy Cat Lady, and a freelance writer whose work regularly appears on Examiner.com. Stephanie’s work has been featured on Catster and in print in Natural Awakenings Pet – east Michigan and the Oakland Press newspaper. She’s a professional member of the Cat Writers’ Association, Inc. and a member of Pet Professionals for Pet Adoption.
