Polk County's 300,000 Homeless Cats Helped with Free Spaying / Neutering Campaign

/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- SPCA Florida announced today significant expansion of its Community Cat program to include free spaying, neutering, identification, and rabies vaccinations for un-owned cats brought to SPCA Florida's Animal Medical Center in a humane trap.  The expansion of the Community Cat program is made possible by a generous gift from the Reitzel Foundation.  Appointments for spaying or neutering Community Cats can be made by calling (863) 646-4647 seven days a week.

LAKELAND, Fla., May 17, 2013 "We encourage the public to become involved with the welfare and well-being of animals in the community," said SPCA Florida CEO Sean Hawkins. "Science tells us managing community cats through humane trap-neuter-return programs is solution-oriented to limiting cat populations. Given there are over 300,000 community cats in Polk County, the community's participation is essential in addressing overpopulation and creating a humane community," Hawkins said.

SPCA Florida will loan citizens humane live box traps free of charge, a refundable deposit is required, and will provide instructions on how to best trap and care for Community Cats.  After the cats are spayed or neutered, identified, and vaccinated, the animals are returned to their care-givers to be released back into a managed environment.

"While the Reitzel Foundation and other funding significantly subsides spaying or neutering of un-owned cats, the actual cost for sterilization is approximately $60," said Hawkins.  

Appointments for Community Cats are not required, but we request those animals be delivered in a humane live box trap between 7:00 am and 9:00 am Tuesday through Sunday for spay / neuter surgery.  All Community Cats receive a spay or neuter, ear notching while anesthetized, three year rabies vaccine, FVRCP vaccination, antibiotic injection and post-operative pain medication injection.

Talk Fusion, a video communications products company headquartered in Brandon, Florida, recently donated $75,000 to purchase two new Community Cat transport vans and further expand SPCA Florida's Community Cat facilities.

About SPCA Florida

Founded in 1979, SPCA Florida exists to eliminate animal suffering and to enhance the human-animal bond by engaging the entire community in the welfare and well-being of animals. We accomplish this through model programs that promote the adoption of healthy animals, prevent dog and cat overpopulation, and provide veterinary medical services for animals in the community. Find out more about SPCA Florida or support us by visiting www.spcaflorida.org.

SOURCE SPCA Florida