Spay Our Strays
Who They Are
Spay Our Strays (SOS) was founded in 2008 by Dr. Carrie Caccamise. SOS is an all-volunteer group that provides fundamental humane services for feral and barn cats in the greater Genesee County, NY area. This group of volunteers and veterinarians work to address the plight of feral (wild) cats in this area.
What They Do
Many people have strays that show up at their door. They feed them but do not get them spayed for a variety of reasons - many times because they can’t afford to neuter a cat that they didn’t ask for or expect to be caring for. SOS offers very affordable spay and neuter surgery by organizing monthly spay/neuter clinics. Because of the generous alliance between local veterinarians, volunteers, and members of the public dedicated to keeping a watchful eye on the feral cat population, SOS has been able to collectively neuter hundreds of animals since its origination.
Why They Do It
The typical response to feral cats in the past was to euthanize. But studies show that extermination does not solve the actual problem. New cats inevitably move into the area and continue to reproduce. Stopping the reproduction and thus the over-population is the only solution. Spaying and neutering feral cats stops the growth of the colony. With one female capable of having up to three litters a year, the population can get out of control very quickly.
T-N-V-R Strategy
Trap - Trap cats safely in humane traps
Neuter - Neuter cats that have been trapped
Vaccinate - Vaccinate against rabies and distemper
Return - Return cats to their original location with a caretaker to monitor the colony
Monthly Clinics
To help reduce the feral cat population, SOS holds monthly spay/neuter clinics and follows a successful Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (TNVR) strategy. The cost is $40.00 per cat, although discounts are available to those in need. The following clinical services will be provided by a group of qualified volunteers to each cat:
Spay/neuter surgery
Anesthesia & pain control
Dissolvable sutures
Rabies & distemper vaccinations
Flea treatment & deworming
Mandatory Ear tipping under anesthesia (a universal symbol - clipping the tip off the left ear identifying him/her as neutered)
Cats That Qualify
The following cats qualify for the monthly clinics: true feral, unsocialized cats living in or around barns, gas stations, restaurants, city neighborhoods, etc. Also accepted are stray unowned cats, living outside the home or in barns, that people feed.
Cats that do NOT qualify for monthly clinics are: cats that are pets, any cats living in people's homes, or any owned cat or socialized stray cat that will be adopted.
The Actual Process
If you have a cat in your area that qualifies for the Spay Our Strays program, email the SOS volunteer at spayourstrays@gmail.com to discuss upcoming clinics and procedure. Do not trap the cat, as the cat will be placed on a clinic waiting list at this point. Clinics are typically run once a month, processing approximately 23 cats at a time. As soon as a clinic date is determined, you will be notified and you should prepare to trap the cat. It is your responsibility to take the cat to the clinic and pick up after surgery. A payment of $40/cat to Spay our Strays is expected when you drop the cat off at the clinic. Prepare to pick the cat up from the clinic and plan on releasing the animal back into its familiar environment In cold weather, the animals should be kept in their traps in a heated area overnight following surgery.
Helpful Links
Alley Cats Allies - great resource on Community Cats: https://www.alleycat.org
Humane Trapping - Trapping Basics: http://feralcatfocus.org/humane-trapping-trapping-basics/
Operation Pets in Buffalo: https://operationpets.org
Habitat For Cats in Rochester: https://habitatforcats.com
Building an outdoor shelter: https://www.alleycat.org/resources/how-to-build-an-outdoor-shelter/
Do it yourself feral cat shelters: https://www.cleanitsupply.com/t/roughneck-homes.aspx?medium=erm