Community Corner

Pet Helpers of Charleston Celebrates National Feral Cat Day Wednesday

Pet Helpers Press Release 

Pet Helpers is joining forces with hundreds of animal shelters across the country to raise awareness about the unnecessary killing of feral cats by celebrating National Feral Cat Day on Oct. 16.

National Feral Cat Day is an annual initiative designed to encourage reform in animal shelters and pounds and to promote Trap-Neuter-Release as an alternative method of dealing with a community’s feral cat population.

Trap-Neuter-Release is the practice of trapping feral cats, spaying or neutering them and then releasing them back where they were found. National agencies such as Alley Cat Allies and The Humane Society of the United States recommend this policy as it reduces intake and euthanasia rates as well as the number of feral kittens born in succeeding generations. Trap-Neuter-Release has been proven to be the most humane as well as the most effective approach to reducing a community’s feral cat population.

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“As a no-kill shelter, Pet Helpers strongly believes that every life is worth saving,” Executive Director Kevin Ryan said. “Charleston is a very forward-thinking community in terms of animal welfare and Trap-Neuter-Release is a common practice at Pet Helpers and other area shelters.”

Feral cats live outdoors and are not socialized to people. As a result, they are wary of humans and do not make good house pets. Feral and stray cats have existed alongside humans for more than 10,000 years and can survive in every landscape.

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Pet Helpers offers free spay/neuters, vaccinations and microchipping for feral cats trapped in Charleston County. Appointments are not needed, but feral cats must be brought to the clinic at 1447 Folly Road on James Island before 10 a.m. Monday – Friday. The clinic also rents cat traps for those interested.

For questions regarding trapping feral cats or bringing them in for spay/neuter surgery, call the Pet Helpers clinic at (843) 302-0556.

For more information on National Feral Cat Day, visit www.alleycat.org.


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