870 Kootenai Cutoff Rd. Ponderay, ID 83852 208-265-7297
Email: [email protected]
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Need help with your pet?
Call our helpline 208-265-7297 ext. 107
or email [email protected]
TRAP-NEUTER-RETURN
(TNR) PROGRAM
Trap-Neuter-Return, or TNR, is a method of managing community cat colonies humanely and effectively. Community cats are trapped in humane live traps, using food as bait. They are then spayed or neutered to prevent unwanted litters and eliminate the excess of cats entering shelters.
At each clinic, cats are sterilized, vaccinated for rabies, and then returned to their colonies where they can no longer reproduce. We can continue to track these colonies because a cat that has gone through the program will have its ear “tipped”. That way if a cat is ever re-caught for TNR, it will be re-released and will in-turn save precious resources. Better Together Animal Alliance offers TNR services to Bonner, Boundary and Kootenai Counties.
Space is limited and an appointment is required to participate in our TNR program. Please call the Animal Care Center at 208-265-7297 ext. 100 for scheduling.
There is a limit of two cats per caregiver, each clinic. Cats must be in a live trap. Please, no carriers or cardboard boxes.
$30 per cat.
Cats are spayed or neutered and vaccinated against FVRCP and rabies. Each cat will have its left ear tipped which is a universal indicator that it has been altered.
TRAPS
Better Together Animal Alliances’ inventory of humane, live traps is available to the community to trap and transport cats for the purpose of spaying and neutering community cats. We do not loan our traps for the purpose of trapping wildlife.
A photo ID and a deposit is required to borrow a trap. Accepted deposits are a valid credit or debit card or check, in an amount of $100 per trap. No funds are held or withdrawn electronically, and no payment is processed at the time of loan, but fees may apply if the trap is returned late or damaged. Full replacement fees will be charged if a trap is not returned or returned damaged beyond repair.
Due to limited space, Better Together Animal Alliance limits the number of community cats able to come in under the TNR program to two cats per caregiver.
Each cat must have its own individual trap. If, during trapping, two cats are trapped in the same trap, please do not try and separate them in the field, as you may risk releasing one of the cats. Instead, bring the trap with two cats in it to the clinic, along with a second empty trap. We will be happy to separate the cats once they have been anesthetized and can be safely handled.
We know that trapping can be an art, and that the cats do not always cooperate! If you do not catch all the cats you were hoping for, feel free to reschedule by contacting us at (208) 265-7297 ext. 100. We will be happy to set you up with another clinic date so that you can try again. If you have additional traps that you are no longer using, we would appreciate it if you could return them so that other caregivers may have the chance to use them.
We will provide a clean trap cover with each trap. This may be in the form of a sheet, blanket, or towel. Cover any trap that has a cat inside, as this helps keep them calm.
All traps that have held an animal (cat or otherwise) inside of them must be cleaned before returned to BTAA. To clean the trap, remove any debris inside such as animal waste or newspaper. You can rinse it with a hose or submerge it in a tub of clean water. Using a regular dish soap, scrub the four walls of the trap and the trip plate inside. Allow it to air-dry. Launder the cover if possible, but if you can’t, just let us know at trap return and we will put the cover in our laundry.
All cats brought in for TNR must be transported in a humane, live trap. Cats brought in in cat carriers or kennels will not be accepted. If you have questions or need assistance with this requirement, please call us at (208) 265-7297 ext. 100.
Need help with your pet?
Call our helpline 208-265-7297 ext. 107
or email [email protected]
