Trap Neuter and Return (TNR): A Successful Program in Northeastern MA and
The Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society The MRFRS is a nationally recognized, non-profit volunteer-driven organization committed to ensuring the health and welfare of feral and domestic cats and kittens by promoting pro-active, compassionate, no-kill programs. MRFRS was founded in 1992 in response to growth in the feral or homeless cat population along the Merrimack River in Newburyport. The MRFRS began a trap, neuter, and return (TNR) program for these cats in 1992 with feeding stations where the cats are fed twice a day. In 2009 the Zorro, last feral cat from the colony, passed away. In 2010 we assisted cats in need in over 100 towns in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. In our service area towns (Salisbury, Newburyport, Amesbury, Newbury, Byfield, West Newbury, Merrimac, and Rowley, MA) we operate in a "kitten-free" zone and therefore we assist other communities in need of assistance with placing kittens. We are an open admission, no kill facility for our service area towns for kittens and adult cats.
These are our programs:
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Two no kill adoption centers in Salisbury, MA and PetSmart in Danvers, MA; |
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A feral trap, vaccinate, neuter, and release program; |
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A spay/neuter program for ferals; |
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A low cost spay/neuter program operated by the Catmobile; |
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A foster home program for healthy and special needs cats and kittens; |
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A barn program for feral relocation; |
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Low cost vaccines, and veterinary care; |
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The Captain Courageous Fund which assists injured cats; |
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The Bridge Program to assist those that need emergency boarding for their cats. |
The Spay Mass Hotline to assist pet owners access to low cost spay/neuter services for cats and dogs in Massachusetts Since our inception we have placed 17,000 cats and kittens into homes, spayed or neutered over 10,000 feral cats and spayed or neutered over 10,000 owned cats. Thus totaling over 37,000 cats helped. Since we started our our Spaymass hotline we have handled 25,000 calls for assistance.
source: http://www.mrfrs.org/about.php
