2. Jed Rogers, DVM
Associate Veterinarian Consultant – shelters / veterinarians
Companion Animal Hospital – Firehouse Animal Health Center (Austin, TX)
– Denver Dumb Friends League
Medical Director – Hawaiian Humane Society
VCA Kaneohe Animal Hospital
Medical Director
VCA Southeast Area Animal Hospital (Denver)
Chief Medical Officer / Founder
Firehouse Animal Health Centers
3. Hawaiian Humane Society
Community Cat Project 2012
Community cats are at risk
• Conflicts with public health and wildlife
• The majority of the public either do not like cats or don’t care
Problem is not unique – it’s nationwide
• dog story is good - it will be about behavior and health
• cat story is the future - the answer is not adoption
No easy solution
• Increased spay / neuter
• Real cat colony management
• Collaboration / shared resources
5. Community Cats
Definition
• Owned – Partially Owned – Unowned/Stray
• Indoor – Outdoor – Free Roaming
• Socialized – Partially Socialized –
Unsocialized/Feral
Statistics
• About 6,000 sterilized per year & 315,000 est. population
Solutions: Increased spay / neuter & Comprehensive approach
to population control
6. Feeding Stray Cats
Do you feed stray cats
that do not belong to you?
Stray cat situation on Oahu remains unchanged;
1 in 5 reportedly feed strays.
Mean # of stray cats feed
5.95 cats 4.75 cats 4.83 cats
6
9. Options
• Status Quo (boo! hiss!)
• Shifting the Burden
• Trap / Remove
• Increased Spay / Neuter
• Stationary Clinic
• MASH Clinic
• Mobile Clinic
10. Austin Humane Society Model
• Fostering Collaboration
• Support existing Trap-Neuter-Release-Manage
resources
• Marketing / PR
• Community outreach
11. Dumb Friends League Mobile Model
• Meow Mobile (2005)
– Collaboration – DAVMS, AAF, DFL
– 3 Days / Week
– Community Cats
• Lulu Mobile (2007)
– Pure DFL Effort
– Owned Dogs & Cats Only
– 6 Days / Week
• Total Surgeries: 37,000
Community: Past President, Hawai’i Veterinary Medical Association Past President, Colorado Veterinary Medical Association Shelter Liaison, Denver Area Veterinary Medical Society DAVMS Representative, Metro Denver Shelter Alliance Board Chair, Colorado Humane Society Board Member, PetAid Colorado Shelter consulting: Hawaiian Humane Society: Animal Care Assessment / Reorganization (2011) Dumb Friends League: Veterinary Services Reorganization (2010) Direct Pet Connect Program Launch (2011) Mobile Spay / Neuter Evaluation (2011)
Statistics: Nationally, most community cats are not sterilized Estimates in some areas are as low as 2% Ward Research 2012 data: 10% of community cats are known to be sterilized Emerging Strategies: Using a geographic information system (GIS) to pinpoint problem areas Targeted, intensive spay / neuter in problem areas “ Feet on the street” in focused areas to have the biggest impact Taking a cat-by-cat approach
Some important notes about this graph: Dogs: There is a clear positive trend for dog admissions There is stability and consistency in the dog data points Are we close to an optimum number for our community? Cats: There is not a positive trend for cat admissions If anything, the overall slope of the line is going the wrong direction There is wide variability in the cat data points Have the collective efforts for cats made the impact that we want? Trends: Are there more recent microtrends for both dogs and cats in the last 15 years? How do we keep those trends going?
Status Quo: Not recommended – it is not working Can’t ignore 10,000 cats per year Shifting the Burden: Turning community cats away or creating barriers to decrease admissions Returning cats to communities after spay / neuter and medical services Not a realistic approach – not consistent with HHS mission and goals Trap / Remove: Relocation and euthanasia are sometimes necessary This is not a strategy – it is a part of the overall solution Increased Spay / Neuter: This is the opportunity It’s not just about the number, it is about the strategy Stationary Clinic: Pros: Highest potential volume; No need to transport equipment or supplies; Potential to be a self-sustaining for-profit or non-profit entity Cons: Cat transport is difficult, facility costs high Currently offered at HHS (2,000 surgeries / year) and Cat Friends Kalihi facility (3,000 surgeries / year) MASH Clinic: Pros: Less transport for community cats / caretakers; Least expensive option; Easily scaled up or down Cons: Transportation of equipment and supplies; Requires sourcing locations; Communications can be challenging Cat Friends model could be leveraged at multiple locations around Oahu Mobile Clinic: Pros: Less transport for community cats / caretakers; Most flexible for pinpointing specific areas; No transportation of equipment and supplies Cons: Potentially most expensive option; Requires sourcing locations; Communications can be challenging Poi Dogs & Popoki proposed mobile spay / neuter unit could be used for community cats
Support existing Trap-Neuter-Release-Manage network: Relationships – CatFriends, Joey’s Feline Friends, Cat Connection, others Support the development of a network of feral cat managers / trappers Foster communication between stakeholders Recruit existing managers to address areas that are not managed Provide resources to existing trappers / managers Marketing / PR Work with HHS team to develop branding Work with HHS team to develop messaging Highlight individuals and success stories Community outreach Use admissions and nuisance data to target specific areas Liaise with the veterinary community Liaise with businesses affected by community cats Liaise with City & County / federal agencies / advocacy groups “ Feet on the street” in targeted areas
Support existing Trap-Neuter-Release-Manage network: Relationships – CatFriends, Joey’s Feline Friends, Cat Connection, others Support the development of a network of feral cat managers / trappers Foster communication between stakeholders Recruit existing managers to address areas that are not managed Provide resources to existing trappers / managers Marketing / PR Work with HHS team to develop branding Work with HHS team to develop messaging Highlight individuals and success stories Community outreach Use admissions and nuisance data to target specific areas Liaise with the veterinary community Liaise with businesses affected by community cats Liaise with City & County / federal agencies / advocacy groups “ Feet on the street” in targeted areas
Support existing Trap-Neuter-Release-Manage network: Relationships – CatFriends, Joey’s Feline Friends, Cat Connection, others Support the development of a network of feral cat managers / trappers Foster communication between stakeholders Recruit existing managers to address areas that are not managed Provide resources to existing trappers / managers Marketing / PR Work with HHS team to develop branding Work with HHS team to develop messaging Highlight individuals and success stories Community outreach Use admissions and nuisance data to target specific areas Liaise with the veterinary community Liaise with businesses affected by community cats Liaise with City & County / federal agencies / advocacy groups “ Feet on the street” in targeted areas
