01/31/2025
📚 Our BACK TO BASICS SERIES: Rescues & TNR groups 💪
As we begin to wrap up our "back to basics" month, we thought we'd spend some time discussing rescues and TNR (trap/neuter/return) groups, specifically those like us and many that follow our page. Learning how these groups are organized helps the public understand how to work with them and how to support them. (This discussion does not apply to professionals in clinic/shelter settings.)
🤔 What is the anatomy of a typical rescue or TNR group?
➡ They're comprised of compassionate, ordinary citizens who see animals in need and are compelled to help.
➡ Most members do not have animal husbandry or veterinary experience. Some have learned from mentors or have attended workshops to learn about animal care, TNR techniques, and handling specific situations, such as medical emergencies or behavioral issues. Mostly, they've learned by doing.
➡ They come from a wide range of ages and backgrounds.
➡ Members are predominantly female.
➡ They're VOLUNTEERS and work in rescue/TNR in their spare time. They receive NO PAY for their efforts and are not compensated for expenses. They likely have an unrelated job and definitely have other commitments. Please be mindful of this the next time you ask for their help and do not expect them to drop everything to help you at a moment's notice.
➡ The group could be comprised of a handful of people or hundreds. Typically, they're very small.
➡ They work out of their homes and their cars. "Foster-based" means that the animals are kept in the volunteer's home; there is no shelter or kennel. When you hear that a group is "full" and can't take on more cats, it means there's no more room at anyone's house until a foster leaves or a cat gets adopted.
➡They receive NO PAY for their efforts and their funding for ALL EXPENSES comes out of their own pockets or from fundraising efforts. They may struggle to afford spay/neuter surgeries, vaccinations, or medical treatments for sick or injured animals.
➡Most are not supported by the government and many are too small to be considered for grants. Finding money and/or in-kind donations to care for the cats is an ongoing and sometimes frustrating endeavor. Help them when you can!
➡ The group may or may not have 501(c)(3) non-profit status.
➡ While they may work in cooperation with SPCAs and Humane organizations, they are not affiliated with them and are not supported by them financially. (Can't tell you how many times people thought we were the SPCA, despite having received our branded marketing materials and business cards!)
➡They frequently collaborate with other local rescue groups, veterinarians, and community organizations to maximize resources and support for animal welfare.
➡Volunteers in rescue/TNR groups manage all aspects of their organization, which involves much more than the public realizes! They tirelessly handle inquiries and requests, schedule trapping sessions, rescue cats, coordinate clinic appointments and transport, manage finances, fundraise continuously, maintain websites and social media, ensure nonprofit compliance, feed cats in foster homes and colonies, maintain cleanliness of cages and traps, launder bedding used for traps and cages, conduct intake procedures, keep meticulous records, socialize animals, screen adoption applications, organize meet and greets, monitor inventory, and much more. Your local rescue/TNR group would greatly appreciate any spare time you can offer!
Rescue and TNR groups work tirelessly to better animals' lives. Please support them! 🙌
Original content provided by Stray Cat Project.
🐱❤️
Working together to reduce the Feral & Abandoned Cat Population in surrounding communities.
