The Gilmer Animal Shelter is extending a first-time program in which feral cats are being trapped locally, then fixed and released or rehomed.
The animal shelter has received more than 80 requests from property owners since Friends of the Gilmer Animal Shelter (FOGAS) started taking calls and emails for the trap and release program in April. FOGAS will continue fielding the cat capture requests, which will be forwarded to the animal shelter.
FOGAS is funding the first 40 surgeries being done by Dr. Craig Chester of Jasper’s Animal Medical Clinic, while the animal shelter will continue to fund additional spay-neuter procedures as long as available funding allows, noted Ernie Taylor, FOGAS volunteer. Almost 40 feral cats have already been spayed or neutered, he added.
After surgery, the animal shelter will return the cats to the properties where they were trapped. If there are property owners who don’t want that to be done, attempts will be made to rehome those cats.
Requests can be made by emailing or calling FOGAS volunteers Ernie Taylor: ectaylor37@gmail.com, 810-623-2214; or Sylvia Harris: harris.sylvia@comcast.net, 609-442-5557.
Calls should be made only between noon and 7 p.m. The animal shelter will call back to schedule trap placement. The program is only for residents of Gilmer County.