Community Corner

Animal Friends Prepares for Swissvale's Spay/Neuter Program

The organization is coming to the neighborhood to help people caring for cats.

Carol Whaley is helping residents gain control of a cat population that has recently grown into a for some neighbors.

“We’ve already taken six cats to the shelter to be adopted,” Whaley said Wednesday at a community meeting held at Swissvale borough.

A low-cost spay/neuter coordinator with Animal Friends, Whaley is organizing the Humane Swissvale Project, which officially runs from June to September.

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During that period of time, Animal Friends will provide free spaying and neutering services for those in the neighborhood who are caring for stray cats.

“We also work with colony managers to make sure the cats are less likely to wander and to make sure food is only out once a day,” Whaley said.

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The first trapping and spay/neuter clinic is taking place from June 13 to 15. Participants in the program are instructed to refrain from feeding the cats on June 12 and 13, because they’re more likely to enter a trap with food while hungry.

“Expert trapping volunteers will arrive at your colony location around 6 p.m., June 13,” the guide states.

Trapped cats will then be taken to Animal Friends for the surgery and then returned to the area June 15. Other trapping events will take place throughout the summer.

People who currently feed the cats are also now receiving specific instructions through the program as well—in order to trap them, the cats must start eating on a schedule of two feedings per day, with the food being left out for only half an hour at a time. 

While many attendees at the meeting Wednesday were people already caring for the strays, one couple came out of concern. They said a neighbor nearby left food out for the animals all day—along with dead rodents and the mess they leave behind, often encroaching on their own property.

“Food that is left out attracts pests and the anger of neighbors,” the guideline for the project states.

The cats will be trapped in humane box traps, spayed or neutered, vaccinated against rabies, treated for fleas and ear mites, ear-tipped and returned to their colonies.

Colony caretakers involved in the project must continue to feed, supply water and monitor the health of the cats in their areas.

For more information or to get involved, call 412-847-7094.

What do you think about this program? Will it help? Tell us in the comments!


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