Yadkinville TNR- Treat and Release

06/05/2025

https://www.yadkincountync.gov/388/Adoptable-Pets

If you are a veteran you can adopt an animal at no cost if you show proof of service. The Shelter is full of adoptable dogs and we are hoping to get some great adopters interested! You can visit the county website to view our animals at the link above. If anyone is interested in adoption please message us or call us at 336-849-7901 option 2 so we can schedule you an appointment. 😃

06/03/2025

It is always better for young kittens to remain with their mother rather than have people intervene. A mother cat will periodically leave her nest to hunt for food. If you see young kittens without their mother, it is likely she will return.

Pre-weaned kittens without a mother are very difficult to care for and have a high mortality rate. They require frequent feedings of kitten milk replacer formula day and night, and many simply “fail to thrive” without the care of their mother.

If you are experienced and choose to take on the commitment of raising, vetting and rehoming the kittens - we applaud you and encourage you. 💕 But, while good-intentioned, gathering them up to bring to an already full shelter or rescue is not the best plan this kitten season!

Wait until they can eat on their own and your shelter or rescue might be more willing to take them in (especially if you're willing to foster them!) and help you get the mom spayed.

06/03/2025

06/03/2025

Summer Rabies clinics! Please message us to pre-register.

04/17/2025

**PLEASE MAKE SURE TO FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLY**

Our amazing partners at DEGA Mobile Veterinary Care are offering another Free Mobile Vet Clinic.

Due to a change in their schedules, they had a last minute availability for our area. What amazing news.

See the flyer for application information!

04/16/2025

SAVE THE DATE! Friday, April 18th 10-4! Please bring a cat carrier with you 🙂

04/13/2025

May 10th Pet Vaccine Clinic registration is now OPEN!
Rabies - $10 | Cat Distemper - $10 | Dog Distemper - $10 | Microchip w/ registration - $25 | Nail trim - $10
Pre-registration required. Register at 👉 https://humanesolution.org/index.php/pet-vaccine-clinics/

04/07/2025

WE'RE FULL!
Update: We have filled our roster of dogs (10) and cats (20) for the SNAP Mobile Clinic on May 12 and have a substantial wait list. Our next SNAP Mobile Clinic will be in mid-July.

Thank you for the enthusiastic response!

SNAP Mobile Low-Cost Spay-Neuter Clinic, May 12, 2025
Wilkes County residents only, 18 years or older, with Medicaid and/or Food and Nutrution Services

Detailed information here (scroll down): https://www.humanesocietyofwilkes.org/spay-neuter/spay-neuter-assistance-program

04/06/2025

Some folks are uncomfortable with the RETURN part of T-N-R (trap neuter return). Here's an explanation of why we do what we do to help others understand.

There are an estimated 50-80 million homeless cats in the United States alone. Kitten season has begun and millions more will be born this spring. 🌷😔

It's heartbreaking. 💔 But, here is the fact:
👉 There are not enough homes for all of the cats and kittens. 👈

Well-intentioned followers will ask, "Why don't you find that cat a home?". Because there is no space available. 😞 There are THOUSANDS of adoptable cats at all of our local shelters who could potentially die without a home. But people want us to keep pulling any and every cat from outdoors to find it a home. Current population numbers make this an impossible task. But there is hope through spay and neuter‼️

We are grateful our shelter accepts ✅ young kittens. They also do wonderful work for ✅ sick and injured community cats. We are blessed they provide space for those who need it most ❤️‍🩹 and we utilize this resource to the fullest! They have the largest foster program in the area, but even they have limits. Space is not unlimited. Fosters are not unlimited. Funds are not unlimited.

If you are an individual who comes across a homeless cat (or even a whole litter) and you are willing and able to take them in (socialize them, if needed), we encourage you and applaud you! We WANT you to do that, as long as you are able to get those kitties fixed. But if you are that person who was fortunate enough to be able to do that and CHOSE to do that, please don't pass judgment on those who are not able to do the same.

To us, a healthy fixed cat who is returning to a caretaker outdoors is not a failure. We are in rural Virginia 🌳, so when we return, it's not exactly "to the streets". We return to *caretakers* with farms, yards with sheds or porches, houses with trees, etc. They have a home in their familiar outdoor space. They have a caretaker to monitor for sickness and injuries and we are always there should those caretakers need us. ❤️

The RETURN part of T-N-R is necessary for combating the overpopulation problem. Right now, they can't all have an indoor home, but if more people understood the importance of spay and neuter, it could definitely be a goal for the future. 🎉

01/31/2025

It is not that relocation of feral cats cannot be done, but it is not an easy or always successful task. Let's take a closer look at the obstacles:

TERRITORIAL BEHAVIOR:
Feral cats form strong bonds with their territory and may attempt to travel long distances to return to their original home, putting them at risk of injury or death during the journey. There is a chance they will run away from their new location even if suitable acclimation was carried out. If there was no acclimation process, you can almost guarantee it.

STRESSFUL EXPERIENCE:
You will have to keep the kitty confined long enough so he can learn that this is his new home and you are the new feeder. This process is highly stressful for cats, especially since they are not socialized to humans and may not understand what is happening. It is also stressful for the human trying to care for the cat.

VACUUM EFFECT:
If cats are removed from an area, it is said that new cats will quickly move in to fill the space, meaning relocation does not actually reduce the population.

POTENTIAL FOR HARM IN NEW ENVIRONMENT:
A relocated cat may not be familiar with the new area's predators, food sources, or shelter options, increasing their risk of injury or starvation.

ETHICAL CONCERNS:
Many animal welfare organizations consider relocating feral cats as inhumane due to the potential for significant stress and danger to the animals.

🔸 What can you do instead? 🔸

TRAP-NEUTER-RETURN (TNR):
This method involves trapping feral cats, sterilizing them, vaccinating them, ear-tipping for identification, and then returning them to their original location.

PROVIDE FOOD AND SHELTER:
If you are concerned about a feral cat population, consider providing food and shelter in a designated area to help manage their numbers and reduce conflicts.