Schemes
We have several neutering
schemes
1.The first is the voucher scheme – Vouchers to the value
of £20 towards a female op. and £15 towards a male
op are available. Vouchers are for people on low
income, benefits etc. and are issued on trust. We
can use these vouchers to help toward the payment for neutering
cats in our care.
Only 5 vouchers can
be issued to one person.
2.The second scheme is called a Colony
Grant and is usually in rural locations where there are more
than 5 cats. We establish the ongoing feeding arrangements, their
general health and how many are to come into care or need re-homing.
A form is completed by the person at the site and we arrange
with the local vets re prices and numbers. We ask the site contact
to do the trapping and transporting and supply them with the
necessary equipment. The cost is generally borne in the main
by HQ and we tend to pay the outstanding amount plus any treatment
for de-worming, de-fleaing, etc.
3.The third scheme is called the Private Individual Grant and
is supposed to be an arrangement between HQ and the owner. Again
it is used for 5+ cats and the owner has to come to an agreement
of payment towards the cost with HQ. Given that most owners
are incapable of paying or in fact refuse to pay, we tend to place
these colonies through as a colony grant and pay the excess. Naturally,
we do ask if the site/owner is willing to contribute to the costs.
4. Occasionally we have 'Special Offers' available for a set period
of time eg our 2004 scheme - Neuter
your cat for a fiver.
Colonies
In 2003 we helped 6 colonies, neutering 32 cats in total.
We are supplying food for a permanent colony near Premnay and
on an ad hoc basis for other colonies as they are identified.
We have 9 traps in total, 1 hospitalization cage which is good
for holding a semi feral overnight prior to a vet’s visit
and 3 crush cages which are used for easy transfer of cats from
traps. These items are spread throughout the area with volunteers
for convenience.
The Colony Officer’s job is currently vacant but it is
a job that brings a great deal of satisfaction. It can mean site
visits and cajoling reluctant cat owners to get their cats neutered.
You have to be patient and think of the cats and not the person’s
ideology or stubbornness. Not a job for a person with a short
fuse. If you are interested in helping semi feral or feral cats
in colonies please contact us
Since 1999 when records began, we have
trapped and neutered 272 feral cats in our area. |
