Community Cats/TNR
(AWC is raising money to cover S/N with Private party/vet/SNAP)
Option 1: FREE (donation?)
Feral Cat S/N options: (we are talking perhaps “wild crazy”, feral, scared, cannot be petted or picked up unowned cats here)
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You will have to trap them, you could ask a friend to help but either way, you or someone you know, enlist/beg has to do it. AWC can rent out a trap or traps to you for a deposit.
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When the cat is fixed you have to go pick it up (I think same day?) and return to place of origin and you cannot just put it with another cat colony or relocate it. (See TNR)
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FCC is strict about “Trap, Neuter, Return Protocol”. (TNR)
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FCC isn’t going to be stalking you to confirm you do this, but word does get out and soon options will dry up if you need help again if you don’t follow the rules of TNR
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Information
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Appointment based ONLY (in advance of trapping).
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You clearly will have to trap some time before driving the cat to them and making that appointment. That is all about YOU (and the cat)
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They give a variety of options for days of drop off.
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(The drop-offs are based on availability between 8 am and 10 am. Pick-up time (3 - 4:30 pm) is same day and based on which position you have in the morning.)
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They ask for a donation; the appointment is done online.
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They are located in El Cajon
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They do require you to use a special TRAP. (AWC has these)
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I am unsure what the protocol is, if you are unsuccessful in trapping the cat, you would have to ask them this. (Please let us all know then)
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Ears will be tipped
Option 2: FREE (donation is appreciated)
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Donations would be appreciated if you can.
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Ask AWC for a number and we can help connect you to a potential FREE S/N solution in COASTAL North County. (Based on availability and funding)
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No, we cannot make this number public, cos we need vet you a little first as we have been asked to do.
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Information (Similar to Feral Cat Collation setup with some differences)
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You Trap. Then Drive to appointment. (SAME)
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AWC can rent you a trap for a refundable deposit ($100) (if available)
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You MUST get to this S/N vet by 8- 8.30AM NO LATER. (Tuesdays and Thursdays ONLY)
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Ears will be tipped
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Other services may be provided
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If you were unsuccessful in trapping by the time it would take you to get them to the location, you have to call ASAP to CXL. They can’t have open spots just sitting there, I think we all understand that.
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Pick up same day. (SAME)
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When cat is fixed you must return to place of origin and you cannot just put it with another cat colony or relocate it. (See TNR)
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The private party is strict about “Trap, Neuter, Return Protocol”. (TNR)
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Neither Private Party or AWC will stalk you to confirm you do this, but word does get out and soon options will dry up if you need help again IF you don’t follow the rules of TNR
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Option 3: $20 a cat
Home - SNAP San Diego (snap-sandiego.org)
Mobile Bus Clinic that rotates location around SD County.
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Dates are random, but there is a calendar, one to two months out. Spots fill up fast.
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Do not know if there is a set time to drop of Ferals, I know for domestic pets it's early in the AM like 7 or 7.30am regardless.
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They are NOT in VC often but perhaps you can get scheduled in for Fallbrook, Tribal, Escondido. Worth an ask?
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They do not S/N the ferals until later in the day after all the personal pets I'm told and the feral are in the cages under the RV until they do them.
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TNR should be followed, not sure if SNAP has a policy on it. No one is checking up regardless, but still word can get out.
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Assuming Ears will be tipped but this would need to be confirmed
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These are the current viable options that AWC knows of. There may be more, If you know, please share, we can add to this list
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The key is:
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You have to trap the cat, AND get it to the appointment.
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AWC can rent you a trap for a deposit (if available)
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If you can’t trap the cat, you have to cxl the appointment (and maybe make a new one)
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There is NO custom, you trap cat and drop off somewhere close to be done that day for free and you bring back to place of origin.
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Failure to follow the “Trap, NEUTER, Return” protocol will unleash more hate toward you that you can imagine on FB, social media, if you get busted. Its won’t be pretty. The rescue community is a large vast underground and will band together to rip you a new one. (I have seen this happen)
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San Diego Animal Services (SDAS)
Option 4 - Community Cat program : (FREE)
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We recommend this for FRIENDLY community cats, not FERALS
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If you do not bring them to the appointment that’s a no no and not acceptable AT ALL.
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They do offer a drop off option in Carlsbad BUT the cat could (and usually will) languish in a kennel at the shelter for days, weeks until they get to it.
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Cats were kept as intake for 3 number of days and then they didn’t have availability to do them for 10 SDAS work days in total.
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In this time, the cats can and do get sick, (other cats viral OR stress), and may have to be PTS. (It’s hard to give a feral cat a pill or liquid antibiotics.)
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They do not have enough staff due to budget constraints to have a vet doing S/N on a daily basis, its only some days a week at Carlsbad and adoptable animals will/must be done FIRST!
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When the cat is fixed you STILL must go get it and return to place of origin and you cannot just put it with another cat colony or relocate it.
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SDAS isn’t going to be stalking you to confirm you do this but word will get out and soon options will dry up with SDAS if you don’t follow the “Trap, Fix, Return Protocol”
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TNR is a pretty big deal for them as well
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Ears will be tipped
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You will have to go back some other random day to pick up, which you will never know when that is, cos they don’t even know themselves due to staffing constraints/schedules.
Feral Cat Experts Advice
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Feral Cat experts in San Diego have advised AWC that SDAS is not suitable solution for FERAL cats, their mentality, and health.​
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No current TNR program (SDAS does not help you trap the cats and release them)