County approves contract for Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return Program

The Board of Supervisors approved a contract that will provide spaying/neutering of cats and dogs owned by residents within unincorporated areas of the county as well as the spaying/neutering and vaccination of community cats via a mobile service.

The contract will result in The PAW Mission partnering with other contractors providing services for the county’s new Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return program. The program works to reduce the incidence of healthy community cats being euthanized at county shelters.

Community cats are free-roaming cats who may be cared for by residents in the immediate area. They consist of feral cats, semi-socialized cats, and occasionally abandoned pets. In a community cat colony, one unspayed female cat can have approximately three litters of kittens each year. When these cats are spayed/neutered and vaccinated, it improves their health by reducing unwanted litters, fighting, and disease.

Once spayed or neutered and vaccinated, the community cat will be identifiable by an ear notch indicating that they can no longer reproduce and has been vaccinated. Community members will be able to make an appointment, at no cost, with The PAW Mission to have a healthy community cat spayed/neutered and vaccinated, then return it to its outdoor home.

For more information on these services, visit County Animal Care.