By Kristine Haroldson
Reducing the number of roaming wild cats and — as a result — the amount of animals euthanized in animal shelters, is the mission of non-profit Lynnwood-based Feral Cat Spay/Neuter Project.
According to Executive Director Lauren Glickman, when the project started in 1997, 160 cats were spayed. ” In 2012 we did 8,000 cats,” she said.
The project also works to mentor and teach others how to run their own spay/neuter clinic. For example, the organization is assisting the Humane Society in Central Washington in setting up a clinic, since people from that area “currently drive hours to Lynnwood with the cats to get spayed,” Glickman said.
Last year, the Feral Cat Spay/Neuter Project sponsored their first clinic in Yakima, spaying 50 cats.
While the organization focuses on free-roaming cats, their services are also available to household cats, for a small donation.
“Our ultimate goal is to ensure that all cats have access to this life-saving surgery,” Glickman said.
You can find more information about donating or volunteering here.
This is a great program. If you go onto the free section of Craigslist you can also find a program that offers vouchers to the Feral Cat Spay/Neuter Project and have your cats done for FREE! I used the voucher to fix my kitty. Sure would like an organization closer than Arlington that would do the same for dogs (and an organization that would offer free vouchers for that as well).
By sterilizing feral cats, I guarantee the local rat/mouse populations will explode. As Lynnwood cannot contain it’s apartment and cul-de-sac development, it has all but forced out coyotes and owls from neighborhoods. I have watched about 3 complete generations of feral cats that occupy a green belt behind my house. I am glad they are around because I have noticed less rat damage to my house and trash cans and the poison I leave in the garage goes untouched. These cats are filling a niche that has been left vacant by over development. Feral cats offer virtually no threat to the public as they remain largely unseen, and bury their feces. Humans really have to go out of their way to catch these animals and then waste resources sterilizing them. If you don’t like feral cats, don’t leave pet food outside. As the prey animals decrease, so does the cat population. Simple predator/prey ratio. I hope your sense of smug is worth it.