Animal Protective League (APL) is launching a new program to transfer feral cats from area animal control facilities to suitable outdoor homes. Feral cats are unsocialized, unfriendly to people, and not accustomed to living indoors. Thousands of feral cats are euthanized in Illinois animal shelters every year because they are not adoptable as house pets. APL’sBarn Cat Program will place these cats in appropriate locations like barns, stables, and warehouses, where the cats will be safe, well fed, and can provide a service to their adopters by providing free, effective, and non-toxic rodent control.
All cats will be healthy, spayed or neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, treated for fleas and intestinal parasites, and have been examined by an APL veterinarian.Cats must be confined after relocation for 2-4 weeks to ensure a successful transition to their new home. APL can provide the materials needed for this initial transition period, including confinement kennels, food bowls, litter and litter pans, and bedding.
The coordinator of the program is Sarah Moore, the manager of APL’s spay/neuter clinic. She says, “Cats will no longer be euthanized simply because they’re feral. Now they can be transferred to safe outdoor homes better suited to the lifestyle they’re used to. As an added bonus, they can provide a service to their new caretakers by hunting mice and other rodents. Every cat placed will be a life saved.”
Those wishing to adopt barn cats must provide daily food, water, and shelter, and accept at least two cats. There is no adoption fee. Applications for adoption may be submitted online at APL’s website, or can be requested by phone, email, or on APL’s Facebook page.
The Animal Protective League of Springfield and Sangamon County is a non-profit organization committed to caring for sick, injured, abused and abandoned dogs and cats and finding the best possible permanent homes for them. In addition to regular pet adoptions, the organization coordinates cruelty investigations and humane education programs and operates a low cost spay/neuter clinic adjacent to its Springfield shelter. The APL Spay/Neuter Clinic uses state of the art instruments and equipment, qualified staffing, and quality pain medications for all surgeries performed. Since its opening in 2006, the spay/neuter clinic has performed over 135,000 surgeries and the number of euthanasias at Sangamon County Animal Control has dropped by 72%. For more information on APL, please visit our website at www.apl-shelter.org
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Sincerely,
Debbie Bonner
Assistant to Special Events Dir.
614-353-8458 (cell)
www.apl-shelter.org
