Trap-Neuter-Return Program
Bo's Project
What is Trap-Neuter-Return?
Trap-Neuter-Return or "TnR programs" are population control for community cats. Feral cats who have lived outside for too long and cannot be socialized to be pets are trapped in humane traps, evaluated by a vet, vaccinated, spayed/neutered, and returned to their community. Programs like this ensure that colonies of feral cats do not continue to grow by preventing them from reproducing. TnR programs also ensure that the community cats are vaccinated against illness and disease, so that the cats generally live much healthier, much better lives. The cats that pass through the program are ear tipped, which is a process where the vet will cut off the very tip of one ear . Ear tipping does not cause any issues for the animal, but it is a clear signal to the public that the cat is part of a managed colony, is vaccinated, and has been sterilized.
Trap-Neuter-Return or "TnR programs" are population control for community cats. Feral cats who have lived outside for too long and cannot be socialized to be pets are trapped in humane traps, evaluated by a vet, vaccinated, spayed/neutered, and returned to their community. Programs like this ensure that colonies of feral cats do not continue to grow by preventing them from reproducing. TnR programs also ensure that the community cats are vaccinated against illness and disease, so that the cats generally live much healthier, much better lives. The cats that pass through the program are ear tipped, which is a process where the vet will cut off the very tip of one ear . Ear tipping does not cause any issues for the animal, but it is a clear signal to the public that the cat is part of a managed colony, is vaccinated, and has been sterilized.
Does Laredo, Texas need TNR?
Yes. Here in south Texas we have an issue with companion pet overpopulation in both dogs and cats. Sadly, as high as the euthanasia rate is for dogs at our city shelter, the rate is even higher for cats. The last publicly available data we can find puts the cat euthanasia rate at 97% of intakes. Some of this is due to cats coming in sick or injured, but the majority of feline euthanasia are simply due to the overwhelming number of intakes of cats and kittens. In Laredo, our climate is so warm and stable that we can have 2 or even 3 kitten seasons a year. The other sad truth is that cat rescues across the country are overwhelmed, and it is very hard to find homes for cats or rescues to network them to. All of which points to the fact that our community needs new solutions. And one proven, effective, solution is TNR.
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Who was Bo?
Bo was the first kitten to join Lucky Penny Rescue Network. Bo was found abandoned under a tree in the hot sun in Laredo. After being repeatedly monitored throughout the day with no sign of Mama, Bo was scooped up and brought into our care. Sadly, Bo was very sick - he was heavily infested with fleas and he had an upper respiratory infection. Bo lived for three days in our care, but his medical problems were too much for his little body, and he passed away in our arms one evening, wrapped in his favorite blanket while being sung a lullaby. We had always aimed to start a TnR program, but our experiences with Bo solidified this goal for us. We could not save Bo, but maybe we could prevent a future Bo from suffering as he did.
Naming our TnR program after Bo, the little kitten who motivated us to start our TnR program, seemed fitting. We promised Bo we would do everything in our power to stop the suffering which brought him into our care in the first place - and thus Bo’s Project was born.
Who was Bo?
Bo was the first kitten to join Lucky Penny Rescue Network. Bo was found abandoned under a tree in the hot sun in Laredo. After being repeatedly monitored throughout the day with no sign of Mama, Bo was scooped up and brought into our care. Sadly, Bo was very sick - he was heavily infested with fleas and he had an upper respiratory infection. Bo lived for three days in our care, but his medical problems were too much for his little body, and he passed away in our arms one evening, wrapped in his favorite blanket while being sung a lullaby. We had always aimed to start a TnR program, but our experiences with Bo solidified this goal for us. We could not save Bo, but maybe we could prevent a future Bo from suffering as he did.
Naming our TnR program after Bo, the little kitten who motivated us to start our TnR program, seemed fitting. We promised Bo we would do everything in our power to stop the suffering which brought him into our care in the first place - and thus Bo’s Project was born.
Can I Apply For You to TnR Cats at My Location?
Yes! By clicking on the link below you will find an application for us to come and TnR in your area. Please complete the application and email it back to us. At first our program is going to be small, but we will grow and expand once we have a set protocol. That means we may not be able to get to your location right away, but we will get there just as soon as we can.
Click here to download the TnR application form
Yes! By clicking on the link below you will find an application for us to come and TnR in your area. Please complete the application and email it back to us. At first our program is going to be small, but we will grow and expand once we have a set protocol. That means we may not be able to get to your location right away, but we will get there just as soon as we can.
Click here to download the TnR application form
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How Will This Be Funded?
TnR programs are expensive. Very expensive. So we need a grant to run this at full capacity. However, the grants are pretty big, and so in order to be eligible for a grant we need to prove that we have community support for TnR, and that we have 2 years of 501(c)(3) tax returns to show we are in good standing. As a new non-profit we only have 1 year of tax returns, BUT we know we have the community support already - we just need to prove it on paper. So, while we wait for that second year to roll around, we are going to run a Community Funded pilot TnR! And that is where you come in.
What Is A Pilot?
It’s a small version of a TnR program. It will give us a chance to practice our logistics and our trapping skills. It will also give us valuable data that will ultimately feed into our grant applications, such as an ability to prove an established relationship with a veterinary practice, medical records for cats who have been through the program, and community buy-in in terms of managing the colony after TnR and supporting the establishment of the program through community fundraising efforts.
How Will the Pilot Work?
Our aim is to do an initial program where we TnR three-to-five cats. This first run will allow us to get to grips with the process of TnR, while not having to handle logistics of a large scale program on our first attempt. Does TnR for such a small number of cats solve all the problems? No. But it will give us an opportunity to build a solid foundation in which to grow our TnR Program. Our hope is that with pilot data and two years of tax returns our application for grant funding will go to the very top of the priority list.
How Will This Be Funded?
TnR programs are expensive. Very expensive. So we need a grant to run this at full capacity. However, the grants are pretty big, and so in order to be eligible for a grant we need to prove that we have community support for TnR, and that we have 2 years of 501(c)(3) tax returns to show we are in good standing. As a new non-profit we only have 1 year of tax returns, BUT we know we have the community support already - we just need to prove it on paper. So, while we wait for that second year to roll around, we are going to run a Community Funded pilot TnR! And that is where you come in.
What Is A Pilot?
It’s a small version of a TnR program. It will give us a chance to practice our logistics and our trapping skills. It will also give us valuable data that will ultimately feed into our grant applications, such as an ability to prove an established relationship with a veterinary practice, medical records for cats who have been through the program, and community buy-in in terms of managing the colony after TnR and supporting the establishment of the program through community fundraising efforts.
How Will the Pilot Work?
Our aim is to do an initial program where we TnR three-to-five cats. This first run will allow us to get to grips with the process of TnR, while not having to handle logistics of a large scale program on our first attempt. Does TnR for such a small number of cats solve all the problems? No. But it will give us an opportunity to build a solid foundation in which to grow our TnR Program. Our hope is that with pilot data and two years of tax returns our application for grant funding will go to the very top of the priority list.
How Can We Support Bo’s Project?
For TnR we need traps, trap covers, funds for pre-surgery testing for infectious disease, fund for surgery and vaccines, and a slight contingency budget for the unexpected complications that dealing with animals who have not received regular vet care will inevitably bring.
Thus, we need to raise $1,500 for our pilot TnR.
You can donate directly to Bo’s Project via these methods:
To donate via Facebook, go to main page and click “Donate”.
To Donate via PayPal (please include a note that says “Bo’s Project”):
http://PayPal.me/LPRNLaredo
To Donate via VENMO (Please include a note which says “Bo’s Project”):
@LPRN-Laredo
Or, please send a check with “Bo’s Project” in the “for” line, to:
Bo’s Project, Lucky Penny Rescue Network, PO BOX 450463, Laredo, Texas, 78045.
We have a big target to meet - we appreciate every dollar.
Timeline and Thank You
Our goal is to raise funds this summer and fall so we can TnR our first cats this winter. Winter in Laredo is mild and so it’s the perfect time to start our TnR program.
TnR is the biggest project that we’ve taken on to date and we’re so excited to get started. We’d like to thank you all in advance, for supporting our TnR goals. Can’t donate but still want to help? Please share this link on your social media pages as often as you can - the more people who read this information and become engaged, the more successful our program will become.
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