"Heat" Season is Coming...

With the recent wintry weather that has overwhelmed the D.C. Metro area, it’s hard to imagine that spring is on the horizon. While Washingtonians may welcome the sunshine and warmer temperatures, the unfortunate side effect of the sunny season is the plethora of births of unwanted kittens. Locally-based Alley Cat Rescue (ACR) is taking a stance this year by participating in Spay Day USA, a nationwide low-cost sterilization program organized by the Humane Society of the United States.

“Humans have a responsibility to feral cats,” states ACR Director of Communications and Public Relations Maggie Funkhouser. “These cats are in this situation of overpopulation because we put them there when we domesticated them. The sterilization of feral cats is a win/win situation; we aren’t killing animals, but we are sterilizing them so its stops the reproduction so it doesn’t make the situation any worse. It’s the humane approach.”

Although the discounted services of Spay Day are open to domestic animals, feral cats have accounted for the majority of patients in previous years. This is attributed to the fact that many local counties classify feral cats as wildlife, and as such do not offer typical discounted vetting services to ferals. “Feral cats don’t have a financial or emotional value to most people,” comments Funkhouser. “Livestock and domestic pets are at the top of the priority list, but because feral cats are seen as having no economic value, they are often overlooked in typical legislature or humane initiatives.”
 

While the “official” Spay Day declared by the Humane Society is February 23rd, ACR will be hosting their low cost spay/neuter clinic on Thursday, February 25th and Friday, February 26th. For the low cost of $30 per cat, individuals can bring in domesticated or feral cats for sterilization and vaccinations. There are no income or geographic requirements to participate; no one will be turned away from this valued program. Funkhouser states, “In previous years this was only a one-day event, but as demand grew we decided to expand to two days of heavily discounted services.”
 

ACR requests that appointments are made in advance so the correct amount of supplies and veterinarians are prepared. To sign up for an appointment, please contact them at 301-277-5595 or acr@saveacat.org.