Stray cats can add character and charm to communities and neighborhoods. They can also bring some challenges - from unwanted noise to getting overrun with litters of kittens. Boone County Animal Shelter has adopted a "trap-neuter-return" (TNR) approach to help safely and humanely manage stray cat population. 

That Is TNR?
Through TNR, cats are captured in humane traps, spayed or neutered, and vaccinated. One tip of their ear is clipped during surgery to provide an easy-to-spot signal that the cat has been through the TNR program. Once cats recover from surgery, they are returned to their outdoor "home." They are no longer able to procreate, which ultimately helps control the cat population. It's important to keep in mind that before TNR was widely used in communities, cats were captured and euthanized rather than eventually being re-released. 

Additional benefits of TNR include:

• Fewer cats and kittens help prevent animal shelter overcrowding
• Spayed/neutered cats are less likely to develop diseases, including cancer. 
• Spayed/neutered cats are less likely to fight with owned, outdoor cats (and humans), which can cause injury and spread illnesses.
• There is less fighting, yowling and other unwanted behaviors (like spraying) among spayed/neutered cats.

Generously Supported by the Joanie Bernard Foundation
The TNR program at the Animal Shelter has been funded in part by Joanie Bernard Foundation. Their generous donation to our new Animal Shelter and their ongoing support allows our team to provide this community service. We wholeheartedly thank them for their contributions.

 Thank you to the Northern Kentucky Area Development District (NKADD) for their ongoing support through an annual grant.