Alley Cat Rescue
Encyclopedia
Alley Cat Rescue is an organization founded by Louise Holton in Mount Rainier, Maryland
that helps to protect and save cat
s through rescue, rehabilitation and adoption
. The organization participates in Luv A Pet, which provides adoptions through PetSmart
stores, and offers a low-cost spay and neuter clinic to residents of Maryland
, Virginia
and the Washington D.C. area, as well as Trap-Neuter-Return for feral cats.
Louise Holton, a South African, worked in Africa on conservation issues in the 1970s, concentrating on endangered species such as the cheetah. She also worked with the Johannesburg
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
on cat overpopulation including pioneering work on nonlethal control of homeless and stray cats through the Trap-Neuter-Return
(TNR) program. The feral or stray cats are trapped, taken to be spayed or neutered
, vaccinated
against rabies and other diseases, ear-tipped, and then returned to their home territory where human caretakers feed and care for them in colonies
. Kittens and any cats deemed socialized, thus able to be adopted, are not returned to the colony but are offered for adoption by animal rescue group
s. The TNR model for reducing feral cat
populations is endorsed by the National Animal Control Association and the Humane Society of the United States
. Many animal shelters and rescue groups, large and small, in the United States provide some type of Trap-Neuter-Return Program. The movement to control the population of feral cats with this method began in Europe. When news of it reached South Africa in the 1970s, Louise Holton was already actively feeding colonies of cats in Johannesburg. "As soon as they started talking about TNR it just made sense to me.", she said. Holton trapped her colonies with the Johannesburg SCPA providing the spay and neuters.
She moved to the U.S. in 1986 to work in animal protection for Animals' Agenda in Connecticut
. Along with Becky Robinson, she co-founded Alley Cat Allies
in 1990, bringing to the U.S. her experience in working with homeless cats in South Africa and also involving her many British counterparts, biologists and veterinarians, who pioneered this work in Britain and in other parts of the world. Both women entered the world of stray and feral cats in the United States after Robinson spotted a large group of homeless cats searching for food in an upscale Washington, D.C.
neighborhood. As the two women began what would become the first feral cat clearinghouse in the United States, things did not always run smoothly. When they began trapping the strays, some local animal shelters asked them why they were spending time and money on "pests". By 1991, however, they were warmly received when they conducted their first feral cat workshop in New Jersey. Holton left Alley Cat Allies in 2001, going on to found Alley Cat Rescue.
Through Alley Cat Rescue, Holton was once again able to lend a hand in the country of her birth, with a program to help save the African Wildcat from extinction. Numbers of purebred wildcats are declining, due at least in part to their interbreeding with stray and feral domestic cats. Alley Cat Rescue's African Wildcat Program provides for Trap-Neuter-Return for the domestic cats in the areas surrounding South Africa's game reserves, leaving fewer chances for interbreeding. In 2007, the organization set its sites on Mexico
, traveling to Puerto Vallarta
, where they provided a free two day spay and neuter clinic for both dogs and cats, complete with volunteer veterinarians and veterinary technicians. It was also an educational experience for the local veterinarians as they learned how to perform these types of surgeries. The procedures were not taught to them in medical school.
Alley Cat Rescue launched a new annual program called "Free Feral Cat Spay Day" on April 27, 2010. Founder Louise Holton sent messages to veterinarians across the United States, asking each one to publicly offer at least two free feral cat spay or neuters. Over 150 vets in the US gave their skills and time in response. Louise's home country of South Africa also answered her call, with veterinarians from the South African Veterinary Association, University of Pretoria Faculty of Veterinary Science, and the Sun City Resort
offering the same services to local feral cats.
Mount Rainier, Maryland
Mount Rainier is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 8,498 at the 2000 census. Bordering Washington, DC, Mount Rainier got its start as a streetcar suburb. According to local tradition, surveyors from the Pacific Northwest named the town, giving the...
that helps to protect and save cat
Cat
The cat , also known as the domestic cat or housecat to distinguish it from other felids and felines, is a small, usually furry, domesticated, carnivorous mammal that is valued by humans for its companionship and for its ability to hunt vermin and household pests...
s through rescue, rehabilitation and adoption
Pet adoption
Pet adoption usually refers to the process of taking guardianship of and responsibility for a pet that a previous owner has abandoned or released to a shelter or rescue organization...
. The organization participates in Luv A Pet, which provides adoptions through PetSmart
PetSmart
PetSmart, Inc. is a retail chain doing business in the United States and Canada engaged in the sale of specialty pet supplies and services such as grooming and dog training, PetSmart PetsHotel dog and cat boarding facilities and Doggie Day Care.- History :...
stores, and offers a low-cost spay and neuter clinic to residents of Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
and the Washington D.C. area, as well as Trap-Neuter-Return for feral cats.
Louise Holton, a South African, worked in Africa on conservation issues in the 1970s, concentrating on endangered species such as the cheetah. She also worked with the Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is a non-profit animal welfare organization originally founded in England in 1824 to pass laws protecting carriage horses from abuse. SPCA groups are now found in many nations, where they campaign for animal welfare, assist in cruelty to animals...
on cat overpopulation including pioneering work on nonlethal control of homeless and stray cats through the Trap-Neuter-Return
Trap-Neuter-Return
Trap-Neuter-Return , also known as Trap-Test-Vaccinate-Alter-Release is a method of humanely trapping unaltered feral cats, spaying or neutering them, and releasing them back to the same location where they were collected...
(TNR) program. The feral or stray cats are trapped, taken to be spayed or neutered
Neutering
Neutering, from the Latin neuter , is the removal of an animal's reproductive organ, either all of it or a considerably large part. The process is often used in reference to males whereas spaying is often reserved for females. Colloquially, both terms are often referred to as fixing...
, vaccinated
Feline vaccination
Feline vaccination is the administration of antigenic material in cats to produce immunity to a feline disease. Vaccines can prevent or ameliorate the effects of infection by a pathogen. Currently, there are geographically defined core vaccines and individually chosen non-core vaccine...
against rabies and other diseases, ear-tipped, and then returned to their home territory where human caretakers feed and care for them in colonies
Feral cat
A feral cat is a descendant of a domesticated cat that has returned to the wild. It is distinguished from a stray cat, which is a pet cat that has been lost or abandoned, while feral cats are born in the wild; the offspring of a stray cat can be considered feral if born in the wild.In many parts of...
. Kittens and any cats deemed socialized, thus able to be adopted, are not returned to the colony but are offered for adoption by animal rescue group
Rescue group
An animal rescue group or animal rescue organization is dedicated to pet adoption. These groups take unwanted, abandoned, abused, or stray pets and attempt to find suitable new homes for them...
s. The TNR model for reducing feral cat
Feral cat
A feral cat is a descendant of a domesticated cat that has returned to the wild. It is distinguished from a stray cat, which is a pet cat that has been lost or abandoned, while feral cats are born in the wild; the offspring of a stray cat can be considered feral if born in the wild.In many parts of...
populations is endorsed by the National Animal Control Association and the Humane Society of the United States
Humane Society of the United States
The Humane Society of the United States , based in Washington, D.C., is the largest animal advocacy organization in the world. In 2009, HSUS reported assets of over US$160 million....
. Many animal shelters and rescue groups, large and small, in the United States provide some type of Trap-Neuter-Return Program. The movement to control the population of feral cats with this method began in Europe. When news of it reached South Africa in the 1970s, Louise Holton was already actively feeding colonies of cats in Johannesburg. "As soon as they started talking about TNR it just made sense to me.", she said. Holton trapped her colonies with the Johannesburg SCPA providing the spay and neuters.
She moved to the U.S. in 1986 to work in animal protection for Animals' Agenda in Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. Along with Becky Robinson, she co-founded Alley Cat Allies
Alley Cat Allies
Alley Cat Allies is a nonprofit advocacy organization whose mission is to transform and develop communities to protect and improve the lives of cats. Alley Cat Allies works toward this goal by reforming public policies and institutions to serve the best interests of cats, expanding and promoting...
in 1990, bringing to the U.S. her experience in working with homeless cats in South Africa and also involving her many British counterparts, biologists and veterinarians, who pioneered this work in Britain and in other parts of the world. Both women entered the world of stray and feral cats in the United States after Robinson spotted a large group of homeless cats searching for food in an upscale Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
neighborhood. As the two women began what would become the first feral cat clearinghouse in the United States, things did not always run smoothly. When they began trapping the strays, some local animal shelters asked them why they were spending time and money on "pests". By 1991, however, they were warmly received when they conducted their first feral cat workshop in New Jersey. Holton left Alley Cat Allies in 2001, going on to found Alley Cat Rescue.
Through Alley Cat Rescue, Holton was once again able to lend a hand in the country of her birth, with a program to help save the African Wildcat from extinction. Numbers of purebred wildcats are declining, due at least in part to their interbreeding with stray and feral domestic cats. Alley Cat Rescue's African Wildcat Program provides for Trap-Neuter-Return for the domestic cats in the areas surrounding South Africa's game reserves, leaving fewer chances for interbreeding. In 2007, the organization set its sites on Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, traveling to Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta is a Mexican balneario resort city situated on the Pacific Ocean's Bahía de Banderas.The 2010 census reported Puerto Vallarta's population as 255,725 making it the sixth-largest city in the state of Jalisco...
, where they provided a free two day spay and neuter clinic for both dogs and cats, complete with volunteer veterinarians and veterinary technicians. It was also an educational experience for the local veterinarians as they learned how to perform these types of surgeries. The procedures were not taught to them in medical school.
Alley Cat Rescue launched a new annual program called "Free Feral Cat Spay Day" on April 27, 2010. Founder Louise Holton sent messages to veterinarians across the United States, asking each one to publicly offer at least two free feral cat spay or neuters. Over 150 vets in the US gave their skills and time in response. Louise's home country of South Africa also answered her call, with veterinarians from the South African Veterinary Association, University of Pretoria Faculty of Veterinary Science, and the Sun City Resort
Sun City, North West
Sun City is a luxury casino and resort, situated in the North West Province of South Africa. It is located about two hours' drive from Johannesburg, near the city of Rustenburg. The complex borders the Pilanesberg Game Reserve.- History :...
offering the same services to local feral cats.
Awards
Both Holton and the organization have won multiple awards:- Holton was presented with the Animal Kingdom Kindred Spirit Award and Animal Champion pin from the Doris Day Animal LeagueDoris Day Animal LeagueThe Doris Day Animal League is an animal advocacy group based in Washington D.C. It established the annual observance Spay Day USA in 1994, which the group uses to bring attention to the pet overpopulation problem in the United States. On September 1, 2006, the organization merged with the Humane...
. - In 1998, Holton was awarded the National Humane Achievement Award by the Humane Coalition of Massachusetts.
- Holton has received numerous awards from the Cat Writers Association, including a Muse Medallion for her series of articles on feral cats published by The Animals' Voice magazine. She was also the recipient of the Cat Writers' Association President's Award in 2004 for her article, Veterinary Care: Guidelines for Veterinarians Treating Feral Cats. Holton and her organization have received many certificates of excellence from CWA.