Humane Society Silicon Valley Spearheads Homeless Cat Coalition to Lower Euthanasia Rate of Cats; Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Clinic for Feral Cats This Weekend

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 22, 2004--Humane Society Silicon Valley (HSSV) has spearheaded a Homeless Cat Coalition to develop and implement a cat management program that will help reduce the homeless cat population in Santa Clara County.

One of the Coalition's first events is co-sponsoring a spay/neuter clinic with Peninsula Fix Our Ferals, a coalition member. The clinic will be held on Sunday, Oct. 24 at Humane Society Silicon Valley. For a nominal donation, volunteer veterinarians organized by Peninsula Fix Our Ferals will perform the surgeries and provide basic medical care for 50 feral cats. This clinic is already full but interested parties can put their name on an interest list for the next free spay/neuter day.

“We are pleased that Humane Society Silicon Valley has taken the lead and organized a Homeless Cat Coalition to address the Bay Area's feral cat problem. By sterilizing feral cats, we can reduce their population through attrition.”

Sue Perkins, HSSV's Senior Vice President of Operations, says the coalition will encompass individuals, rescue groups, Bay Area shelters and feral cat caregiver organizations. Perkins says the coalition will take a three-pronged approach:

-- Increase the visibility of issues surrounding homeless cats in the community.

-- Provide resources to spay/neuter homeless cats.

-- Organize a comprehensive community-wide approach to trap, spay/neuter and manage feral cat colonies.

"For years, various organizations have tackled the homeless cat problem in their respective neighborhoods but this is the first time a coalition has come together to collectively address the homeless cat problem in Santa Clara County on a large scale," Perkins said.

"The homeless cat population is huge and many of these animals end up being euthanized at shelters each year. Any real solution requires a comprehensive plan and pooling of resources," Perkins explained.

Dr. Dana Gleason, executive director of Peninsula Fix our Ferals, agrees. "We are pleased that Humane Society Silicon Valley has taken the lead and organized a Homeless Cat Coalition to address the Bay Area's feral cat problem. By sterilizing feral cats, we can reduce their population through attrition."

Cats comprise approximately two-thirds of the animals brought to Humane Society Silicon Valley. Last year, nearly 13,000 stray cats were brought to the shelter and a large number had to be put down because they were either too young or extremely unsocial. The Coalition hopes to significantly lower the euthanasia rate of cats in the Bay Area through a variety of TNR (Trap-Neuter-Release) programs. If you are interested in participating in the coalition, contact Sue Perkins at [e-mail].

About Humane Society Silicon Valley

This year, Humane Society Silicon Valley (HSSV) celebrates 75 years of strengthening the human-animal bond. Established in 1929, HSSV has grown into one of the largest animal shelters on the West Coast, caring for nearly 29,000 animals in fiscal 2003-2004. Since its inception, HSSV has adopted over 500,000 animals into permanent, loving homes! The agency has an "open door" shelter policy and accepts animals 24 hours a day, seven days a week. HSSV's mission is to strengthen the human-animal bond. To fulfill this mission, HSSV has a comprehensive program of adoptions, animal care and services, education, and an affordable medical center for spaying, neutering, vaccinations and microchips. For more information please visit our website at www.hssv.org or call 408-727-3383.

About Peninsula Fix Our Ferals

Peninsula Fix Our Ferals offers free spay/neuter clinics for homeless cats in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. We are based on Fix Our Ferals of the East Bay, which has spayed and neutered almost 7000 cats since 1998! Individuals interested in volunteering or making a donation can contact Dr. Dana Gleason at [e-mail] or 650-324-9414.