Feral Fixers

The idea of an organization devoted to Trap/Neuter/Return was still very new. And it has evolved for us over time. We created a mission statement which we have actually followed as it turns out:

Our Mission statement:

Feral Fixers was founded to reduce both the number of cats detained and the feral cat population in DuPage County while improving the quality of life for both cats and humans through the high-volume use of low-cost or free spay-neuter services to sterilize feral, semi-feral, stray and domestic cats. By reducing the number of unwanted kittens, local governmental agencies charged with animal control will be able to redirect money and staff normally targeted towards euthanizing unwanted animals. Vaccinating feral cats for rabies contributes to the public health by building a “barrier” to the spread of rabies to both animals and humans.

When TNR first started, the only way to “sell” the program was to emphasize that we would be reducing disease in the cat population. No cat leaves our hands without being vaccinated for rabies. That alone is over 10,000 rabies vaccinations.

“Reducing the feral cat population while improving the quality of life for both cats and humans…” We have definitely done that. In 2007, cats were roaming the streets all night, every night. Police officers had to dodge them in the dark as they patrolled the streets. We get thanked all the time for what we have done to improve that situation! Initially, we were mavericks, breaking the law. We have followed a path of civil disobedience to be sure! Ten years later, the policy on feral cats has been reversed in almost every municipality in DuPage County. Citations are rare, the police departments would much rather have us handle EVERY cat situation that they would formerly have been contacted about. Animal control officers within police departments are pretty much a thing of the past and they have been able to reduce their budgets and direct those monies elsewhere.

“By reducing the number of unwanted kittens, local governmental agencies charged with animal control will be able to redirect money and staff…” Not only the local police departments but DuPage County Animal Control has a completely different outlook on feral cats from 10 years ago. No longer are they a vector of disease, but cats with varying levels of friendliness. We have made great strides in working together, as much as the current laws will allow and hope to do more. Again, their workload on cats has been greatly reduced, they are not always at capacity and for three years have not had to euthanize an adoptable cat and last year the number of ferals euthanized was down to 50 in contrast to the hundreds and hundreds that were euthanized yearly in the past.

“By reducing the number of unwanted kittens…” One of the greatest burdens on Feral Fixers has been the enormous number of kittens that we have taken from the outdoors. More than we ever could have imagined. In addition to all of the cats and kittens that have been adopted thru Feral Fixers, we have called upon our partners to help us with finding homes – West Suburban Humane Society, ADOPT Pet Shelter and Naperville Area Humane Society are the main shelters we have dealt with. Caretakers have adopted cats from their yards, worked with friends and family. We owe our partners and our adopters so much in helping us with this. If we can’t get there before the kittens are born, what else are we to do but find a solution for them? Little did Sue Lee know that a few years after our meeting she would be asked to join our Board and take on the Adoption Manager role! And isn’t it great that we have realized a portion of Ted’s goal – we are all working together these days!!!

“…the high-volume use of low-cost or free spay-neuter services to sterilize feral, semi-feral, stray and domestic cats.” We certainly have done high-volume! We could not have done so many neuters without PAWS Chicago and without the addition of ADOPT’s spay/neuter clinic more recently and the continued support of Glen Ellyn Animal Hospital. We have definite criteria on services and record-keeping and not all clinics and vets can produce what we need. We are hoping so very hard that things will improve in that direction!

We have wonderful people who transport to the clinics for us. So many of our volunteers do not just one function but several.

We cannot continue with the building resources we currently have – which is the homes, garages and basements of our volunteers. We need space to house our adoptable's, our cats that are in transition – recovering from injury, awaiting relocation, waiting for foster homes, pre and post TNR, the list goes on. We have started looking at properties. It would be wonderful to get all of our needs in one location – the price tag on that is around $500,000 if we purchase plus the monthly maintenance expenses. Monthly expenses could be around $2,000.

We could not do what we do without your support and we thank you so much! Cannot say often enough – Thank you!!!