| On Wednesday, April 25, the Welfare of Animals Group [WAG] will be humanely trapping stray feral cats in the Arnoldsburg area to have them spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and ear tipped, the universal sign that a cat has been part of a Trap-Neuter-Return program [TNR].
We would appreciate if you would not put food out for them the night before, Tuesday, April 24.
Once the cats have recovered from anesthesia (at least 24 to 48 hours) we will return them to their exact location. They will be healthier, happier, and not reproducing and fighting.
Please keep your personal cats indoors or put a collar on them that day. If you have any questions, please call Gail at 304-354-6363.
The group has previously spayed and neutered 60 community cats (33 females and 27 males).
ORIGINAL STORY: Welfare of Animals Group (WAG) is asking for the support of the people of Calhoun county to address a long-observed problem with our animal community - feral or community cats.
In early spring we will begin a program known as TNR, (Trap, Neuter, Return), where cats are humanely trapped, taken to a veterinarian to be spayed or neutered, vaccinated, ear-tipped, (the universal sign that a cat has been part of a Trap-Neuter-Return program), and returned to their outdoor home. This is the only humane and effective approach to community cats.
Removing cats from an area (i.e. catching and killing) is futile. When cats are removed from an area, an influx of new, un-sterilized cats move in to take advantage of available resources - and reproduce. This well-documented natural phenomenon is known as the "vacuum effect." Trap-Neuter-Return stops the breeding cycle and eliminates mating behaviors, such as yowling, spraying, roaming, and fighting. Trap-Neuter-Return also benefits public health because community cats are vaccinated against rabies.
Before TNR is started in your neighborhood, pamphlets or cards will be delivered to your door to inform you of a date. This will give you time to make sure that any cats that are personal pets can be contained so that they are not trapped. There will also be notifications in the Chronicle and posters in your neighborhood.
If you are aware of a problem in your neighborhood you can notify us via our email address found on our web page at www.calhounwag.org
 or call Gail at 304-354-6363.
There is a widespread problem so please don't expect immediate action. We will get to your neighborhood as soon as possible.
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