{"id":2595,"date":"2020-01-13T10:00:33","date_gmt":"2020-01-13T10:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fearfree.com\/2020\/01\/how-trap-neuter-vaccinate-release-works-in-one-florida-community\/"},"modified":"2024-09-04T20:02:23","modified_gmt":"2024-09-04T20:02:23","slug":"how-trap-neuter-vaccinate-release-works-in-one-florida-community","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fearfree.com\/2020\/01\/how-trap-neuter-vaccinate-release-works-in-one-florida-community\/","title":{"rendered":"How Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Release Works in One Florida Community"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Arden Moore
\n<\/strong>His official title is Community Outreach TNVR Coordinator, but most of the time, Paul Bates feels like a mediator, problem solver, and teacher. That suits him just fine.<\/p>\n

Bates leads the team at Peggy Adams Rescue League in West Palm Beach, Florida. The organization works closely with shelter volunteers, cat rescue groups, and cat-caring neighbors to ensure free-roaming cats in Palm Beach County are properly vaccinated, sterilized, and fed.<\/p>\n

It is estimated that more than 200,000 cats live on the streets in Palm Beach County. Once called feral cats, they are now identified as community cats.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese are cats who live outside, who do not belong to anybody, and who are not adoptable because they are not socialized with people,\u201d says Bates. \u201cThey certainly do not belong in animal shelters where they are often euthanized. Our job is to work with community cat advocates to make sure these community cats are neutered\/spayed, vaccinated, and returned to their outdoor homes.\u201d<\/p>\n

On the Case<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s a tall order, but Bates is up for the challenge. He is a Fear Free Pets Shelter Course graduate who works to educate people about the mindset of community cats and safe ways to trap, vaccinate, spay\/neuter, and return these cats back to their colonies without stressing them or getting injured.<\/p>\n

His shelter also helped get a county-wide law adopted that requires these cats to be sterilized, vaccinated, implanted with a microchip, have left ears clipped to identify these actions and then released to the same area where found.<\/p>\n

Bates makes daytime and night-time visits to community cat sites in neighborhoods, car dealership parking lots, and alleys behind restaurants. He gives talks to volunteers and shares tips and resources on two key Facebook pages: Project CatSnip and Community Cats of the Palm Beaches. Project CatSnip is a program of the Peggy Adams Rescue League that provides free TNVR through grant funding and conducts free humane trapping classes.<\/p>\n

Safety 101<\/h3>\n

Even though many of these cats appear friendly and may even allow a trusted person who feeds them to pet them, they are still capable of lashing out if they feel threatened.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you see a stray, friendly cat, do not attempt to pick up the cat and put him in a carrier because chances are that you will be bit or scratched,\u201d he cautions. \u201cScooping up a cat in your arms can make them go into panic mode. The nails come out, and the teeth are ready to bite. It is far safer to set up humane traps to get them in so we can give them vaccinations and spay\/neuter them and return them to their cat colony.\u201d<\/p>\n

To reduce fear or anxiety in the cat during transport, Bates recommends placing bed linens made of breathable fabric over the trap to help the cat settle down.<\/p>\n

\u201cA cat in an uncovered trap is apt to freak out and bounce off the sides of the cage,\u201d he says. \u201cCovered humane traps look like safe spots to a cat. Avoid using heavy blankets, thick towels or quilts because a cat inside could overheat due to the lack of air flow. And, he could also have to inhale the strong ammonia smell if he urinated or defecated during transport.\u201d<\/p>\n

To reduce fleas and ticks among these community cats, Bates recommends mixing food-grade diatomaceous earth powder with catnip and allowing the free-roaming cats to roll in it. This powder is safe for pets and people, but destroys exoskeletons in these parasites.<\/p>\n

Tips for Success<\/h3>\n

Other insights shared by Bates:<\/p>\n