BENTONVILLE, Ark. — The Best Friends Pet Resource Center in Northwest Arkansas has achieved the spaying and neutering of 117 stray cats thanks to a grant from Fresh Step.
"We want to congratulate our wonderful team of doctors, veterinary technicians and assistants, volunteers and other staff members who pitched in to accomplish this marathon day of lifesaving work!," said Best Friends.
According to Best Friends, four local organizations got together to capture the stray cats to spay or neuter them. This was done in an effort to help manage the stray cat population using the TNVR program.
What is TNVR?
TNVR stands for Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate, and Return. This program is described by the Best Friends website as "a humane, non-lethal alternative to the trap-and-kill method of attempting to manage community cat populations."
Basically, stray cats are captured and taken to the vet for spaying or neutering and vaccinated against rabies. The vet will also "ear-tip" them, a process in which a tip of the cat's ears are clipped while they are under anesthesia. Best Friends said this is universal sign that a cat is sterilized.
Once the cat is recovered, they are returned to the location where they were found.
Other benefits
In addition to this effort, Best Friends explains that TNVR programs help "improve the lives of community cats," by helping diminish fighting among each other.
The website explains that "When male cats are neutered, they are no longer compelled to maintain a large territory or fight over mates." Meanwhile, female cats "are no longer forced to endure the physical and mental demands of giving birth and caring for their young."
For more information on TNVR, click here.
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