March 7, 2015 Rescue Waggin Summit. TNR & Targeting. Bryan Kortis

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1 March 7, 2015 Rescue Waggin Summit TNR & Targeting Bryan Kortis

2 Rescue Waggin TNR Grants Eligible: RW source shelters Up to $10,000; 1 year Expenses include s/n s, rabies vax, traps, transport & marketing No targeting required Application deadline: April 15, 2015 (groups with current grants unfinished by 4/15, contact me when you re done) 2

3 Pearl River County SPCA (Picayune, MS) RW TNR grants awarded in 2012, 2013 & 2014 Goal for 2012 & 2013 combined = 260 surgeries; actual = 304 Successfully introduced TNR to their community and gained wide support Developed expertise in trapping colonies at close to 100% rate Trapped 50 cats (out of 55 60) at one colony! 3

4 Noah s Ark Foundation (Fairfield, IA) Annual Fairfield Fall Cat Fix & spring Beat the Heat campaigns since 2011 RW TNR grants awarded in 2012, 2013 & 2014 Goal for 2012 & 2013 combined = 325 surgeries; actual w/grant = 402; actual including own funds = close to 1,000! Shorter waiting list for cat intake Higher percentage of cat intake now comes from outside their county 4

5 Community TNR: Tactics and Tools Print version: search on Amazon for Kortis pdf file (free download): t/files/communitytnr.zip search on Google for PetSmart Charities Community TNR or go to the Free-roaming Cat Spay/Neuter Grants page at 5

6 What is targeting? Concentrating limited resources in a geographic area of high need or risk in order to maximize impact. (1) Concentrating (2) Limited resources (3) Geographic (4) High need/risk (5) Maximum impact 6

7 Geographic targeting: policing Operation Impact (NY City) assigning extra officers to high crime areas 7

8 Poverty alleviation Allocation of resources to low income communities social workers, outreach, food banks New York City (2011) 8

9 Public health AIDS & HIV cases in New York City medical workers, clinics, outreach 9

10 Wildlife conservation Elephant range in Myanamar land preservation, officers, education 10

11 Geographic vs. demographic targeting 11

12 Targeting: colony level TNR 12

13 Targeting: colony level TNR 2 of 10 cats neutered Low colony sterilization rate No impact on growth of colony 13

14 Targeting: colony level TNR 100% Sterilization Zero reproduction Colony size decline over time 14

15 Feralville 100 cats 20 s/n s 15

16 No targeting Low colony sterilization rates 16

17 Colony level targeting High sterilization rates in targeted colonies 17

18 Community level targeting High sterilization rates in targeted colonies + Negate the vacuum effect 18

19 Vacuum effect 1. Food for 10 cats (= carrying capacity) 19

20 2. All 10 cats removed 20

21 3. Problem? 21

22 4. Adam & Eve arrive, attracted by the food 22

23 5. Enough kittens survive until population at 10 23

24 TNR instead of removal 24

25 10 sterilized cats no reproduction 25

26 Later 5 cats remain with food for 10 26

27 TNR d colony surrounded by intact colonies 27

28 New intact cats arrive, attracted by excess food 28

29 Community level targeting: no vacuum effect 29

30 Identifying the Target Area Reality = uneven distribution among zip codes 30

31 Identifying the Target Area Where is the hot spot? Intake into local shelters broken down by location of origin Complaint calls/requests for assistance by location. Tribal knowledge (experience of local animal welfare groups, animal control, shelters) 31

32 Microsoft MapPoint Vineland, NJ 1,015 cat intakes in 2012 Thanks to Donna Beron! 32

33 Poverty & cat populations Boston, MA Patronek, G., Mapping and measuring disparities in welfare for cats across neighborhoods in a large US city (2010) American Journal of Veterinary Research 71(2):

34 How many cats are there? No magic formula As much art as science 34

35 Calculating # of free-roaming cats (1) Start = divide human population by 15 Based on research data counting number of free-roaming cats fed on a daily basis (2) Adjust according to local conditions The more rural, the more cats per capita (= lower divider) The more urban, the fewer cats per capita (= higher divider) (3) Adjust according to tribal knowledge Based on local experience and expertise, does the number seem to make sense? If not, what does? 35

36 Calculating # of spay/neuter surgeries For high impact, need to alter a substantial percentage of the cats. Aim for 50% or above of estimated population Proceed a colony at a time, as close to 100% as possible of each colony Be open to adjusting your figures as the project unfolds 36

37 Not enough surgeries for high impact 37

38 Adjust Target Area 38

Outreach finding cats & caretakers Least effective: Mass advertising (announcements, newspaper articles, social media posts) TNR More effective: Advertising within Target Area (billboards,

39 Outreach finding cats & caretakers Least effective: Mass advertising (announcements, newspaper articles, social media posts) TNR More effective: Advertising within Target Area (billboards, mailings, yard signs, door hangers) Most effective: Boots on the ground (door-to-door, community meetings, in person flyering, vaccine or wellness clinics, caretaker referrals) Food, shelter giveaways 39

40 Pets for Life: Community Outreach Toolkit How to connect animal welfare resources to pet owners in underserved communities Includes chapter on freeroaming cats & TNR Free pdf file download or purchase print copy: 40

41 Trapping NO: rely solely on residents and caretakers in target area YES: Identify staff, experienced volunteers and/or partner TNR groups to lead the trapping, with support from local residents and caretakers 41

42 Tracking impact Why measure? To know whether the goal of reducing the population is being achieved. To guide what to do if you start running out of cats (increase outreach OR expand the target area?) 42

43 Metrics Direct: Census of cats (before/after) Indirect: Intake (cat, kitten, stray) Complaint calls and/or requests for assistance Euthanasia Kitten postings on Craig s List 43

44 Data comparisons Compare: changes within Target Area (when available:) changes within Target Area to changes outside Target Area Intake - Outside TA Intake -TA

45 Case study: Humphreys County HS Partner organization with Waverly Animal Shelter 580 s/n s funded by Freeroaming Cat grants from PetSmart Charites May 2013 thru July 2014 Target Area: Humphreys County, TN (pop. 18,500) TNR introduced to replace euthanasia as standard policy for feral cats; ½ cats trapped by ACOs, rest by residents 45

46 Cat intake/euthanasia: Waverly Animal Shelter % -51% 2011/ / /2014 Intake Euthanasia 46

47 Other TNR Grants PetSmart Charities Free-roaming Cat Spay/Neuter up to $100,000 for up to 2 years ($200K max.) targeted TNR projects gov t agencies & 501c3 s NEW: Community Cats Grants combine Targeted TNR with Return to Field program up to $500,000 for up to 3 years open admission shelters More info: 47

48 Thanks! 48

Neighborhood Cats: Mass Trapping Program

Neighborhood Cats: Mass Trapping Program Compiled by ASPCA and PetSmart Charities and distributed to the field, September 2007. Visit the ASPCA National Outreach website for animal welfare professionals: