CAN YOU DO TNR IN YOUR COMMUNITY?

While many nationwide TNR programs are already in effect in other countries, such as the US, Australia, and Israel, the Philippines has yet to catch up. Various organizations, such as the Philippine Animal Welfare Society and CARA Welfare Philippines, are already laying the stepping stones to initiate this project in several localities by conducting seminars on animal control and welfare laws.

You can make this program a reality by approaching your barangay captains, homeowners association presidents, or other LGU officers. This requires coordination with licensed veterinarians or organizations who can help conduct the neutering. While some LGUS already have existing spay-and-neuter programs, one can go a step further by helping with the trapping of homeless cats, setting up holding spaces, finding volunteers and workers as caretakers, and finally, finding permanent homes for these felines.

Trapping cats requires training, but this goes hand-in-hand with the education of the community about the effects of overpopulation and the benefits of the TNR program. Again, it may be a slow and costly process, but in the end, it can address the problem of overpopulation and its consequences to felines.

You can finally get that cat-noise free sleep – and the good news is, it can start with you!