11/06/2025
For this week's South Dakota Gives we want to recognize our collaboration with Alley Cat Spay Neuter Mission of Huron, SD.
As (hopefully) you all know, our main focus is the care of neonate kittens, providing access to affordable alter assistance and to TNR/alter as many cats as possible to help control the unwanted cat population. Less kittens being born means less people needing assistance with found or abandoned kittens and less suffering of those said kittens. Kittens are cute and fun to raise but they grow into thousands of unwanted cats unfortunately.
Whenever we get a request about kittens, one of the first things we ask is "Where's the mom?". Getting that mom spayed is our top priority, after the health of those kittens.
Alley Cat Spay Neuter Mission is the organization who started the big push to get TNR legalized within the state of SD. After it was legalized at the state level, Sioux Falls was forced to update their antiquated policies regarding TNR.
They're still a work in progress, but just the fact that people won't be penalized trying to help their community cats is a big step.
So when Alley Cat reached out to us this past summer asking if we could take in some kittens of a TNR mom once weaned, as they're not set up to foster or adopt, we found a way to make space for them. We were happy to help them after their actions have helped support our mission greatly.
We are grateful for this collaboration between two rescues who ultimately share the same goals.
Hi cat friends! I have thoughts swirling around in my head that I need to get out! First Alley Cat Spay & Neuter Mission is not a rescue. We do not have a place to board animals and our volunteer base is limited. Our main focus is and has always been on TNR. I often say we have to start at the beginning of the problem if we are going to make progress in reducing the number of unwanted cats and kittens. I keep hearing shelters are full rescues are full but what I don't hear enough of is how TNR can help with the problem. Now that the law is changed and TNR is legal in SD, I hope that communities, shelters and rescues will start to promote the benefit of TNR and get involved in doing TNR. We can keep throwing resources at shelters and building more room but that is not the answer as there will never be enough space or enough homes for all the homeless cats. I cannot stress enough that spay and neuter is the answer. If you want to help, be part of the solution, consider donating to a TNR group. Alley Cat gets no funding from any sources and is operated on donations only. We have a fundraiser on Nov. 15th starting at 12 at Hursts Corner. If you want to donate auction items, we are in need of more for the silent auction. I hope the community will see the value we bring to helping reduce the number of homeless cats and kittens. Please help us in our mission to start at the beginning of the problem. Donations to Alley Cat can be made at Dakotaland Federal Credit Union or mailed to 1333 Wisconsin Avenue SW. If you would like to donate an auction item, please message me and I can pick up, or you can drop off at this address. We need the community's help in order for us to be able to continue to help the community. Thank you to those that have already donated, we appreciate the support.
Pictured is my beautiful Bashful living the life she deserves no longer a feral Alley Cat. If only there were enough homes for every single kitty to have the life they deserve.
