The Milton Project Joins National Call for End of Killing in Shelters

(Savannah, GA) - October 14, 2008

The Milton Project will honor National Feral Cat Day (NFCD), October 16, to bring attention to the need to end the killing of cats in animal control pounds and shelters, the highest documented cause of death for cats in the United States.

“Feral cats are the same species as companion cats, but they live outdoors in family groups and have never been socialized to people,” said Sherry Montgomery, The Milton Project spokes-person.  “Most animal shelters across the United State routinely kill feral cats because they can’t be adopted.  It is an endless, costly, and ineffective cycle.”

National Feral Cat Day was launched in 2001 by Alley Cat Allies, the national advocate for feral and stray cats.  Alley Cat Allies is the foremost authority on a program called Trap-Neuter-Return, a humane method of care that improves the lives of outdoor cats.

With Trap-Neuter-Return, outdoor cats are humanely trapped and brought to a veterinarian to be evaluated, spayed or neutered, and vaccinated.  Cats that have undergone the procedure are eartipped – a small portion of the left ear is painlessly removed for identification.

“We are calling for a revolutionary change in shelter practice and policy,” said Becky Robinson, president of Alley Cat Allies.  “We already know we have the support of hundreds of thousands of citizens and groups nationwide, including The Milton Project.  National Feral Cat Day is our collective call-to-action for this movement.”

“More cats are killed in our nation’s animal control pounds and shelters than die from any other documented cause,” said Robinson.  “Over 70% of all cats that enter pounds and shelters are killed there.  That number jumps to virtually 100 percent for feral cats.”

Robinson noted that a national survey conducted by Alley Cat Allies by Harris Interactive found that an overwhelming number – 81 percent – preferred to let an outdoor cat live out its life than have it caught and killed.

The Milton Project, Coastal Pet Rescue’s feral cat program, is dedicated to humanely and effectively reducing the local feral cat population through Trap-Neuter-Return. Coastal Pet Rescue is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

Coastal Pet Rescue is a 501(c)(3) non-profit animal rescue organization dedicated to saving the lives of homeless, abused and neglected dogs and cats in Savannah and surrounding areas. Founded in February 2003, Coastal Pet Rescue changes the lives of homeless pets in Chatham, Bryan and Effingham Counties through its foster home program and small capacity shelter, Camp Pawsawhile Retreat.

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