1. Starting A Community Cat Program
Presented by Missy Kelly

2. If you are new to trap, neuter, return programs do your research.
Getting started
If you are new to trap, neuter, return programs do your research.

3. Talk to the professionals
Meet with your local animal control organizations about the number of annual stray cat complaints and calls they receive.
Speak to your local animal shelter and collect data regarding the number of intakes, adoptions, and euthanasia and prepare to keep track of those numbers.
Find out what resources are currently in place for cats if any.

4. Talk to your caretakers!

5. Know your local ordinances and state laws and be prepared to request changes to the current ordinances.
XYZ
Many ordinances do not allow for free-roaming cats. Those may need to be revised to support your caretakers and your program mission.

6. Deciding On a Program Type Is an existing organization interested in aligning themselves with a TRN Program or implementing a new program?
Shelter/Animal Control-TNR Partner
Veterinarian Clinic Partner
Individual TNR Program

7. Getting down to business
Apply to become a legal corporation
Recruit and appoint a board of directors and draft your by-laws.
Fill out and submit the necessary paperwork with the State to become a legal corporation.
Apply for your not-for-profit status
Fill out and submit the necessary paperwork to become a 501(c)3.
Allows you to apply for grant funding and collect tax-deductible donations.
Allows you to sign up for fundraising programs for supplies and money through other businesses.

8. Draft Protocols Trapping and transporting assistance
Financial assistance
Medical care
Foster care and adoption programs
Volunteer programs
Community outreach and involvement
How you plan to keep track of your program data
Decide what you can and cannot do and don’t be afraid to change protocols as your program evolves!

9. Partnerships
Contact veterinarian clinics and find out who is willing to
work with your organization to spay or neuter and provide
medical care for your cats.
Form partnerships with cat rescues in place that may be
willing to assist you with adoptable kittens or friendly adults.

10. Volunteer opportunities include:
Recruit volunteers
Hold volunteer orientations to help recruit volunteers and explain their roles clearly.
Recruit colony caretakers to help with future volunteer projects.
Support your volunteers and make sure they have the emotional and physical support they need.
Volunteer opportunities include:
Foster Homes
Trappers
Transporters
Answering phones, s, social media
Community Outreach
Fundraisers

11. Networking

12. Fundraising Get creative! Without a 501(c)3 With a 501(c)3
Turn in scrap metal
Garage and Bake Sales
Ask your community for support and donations
Get creative!
With a 501(c)3
Seek out and apply for grant funding
Kroger Community Rewards
Amazon Smile
Seek out corporate sponsors
Dine-in community fundraisers
Donation jars

13. Start collecting your tools

14. Educate, Support, and Advocate
Continuously educating not only yourself but the members in your community is critical.
Support your caretakers and their efforts.
Advocate for the cats and your program.
Be prepared for negative and positive feedback from the community.

15. Ready Set Trap

16. Re-evaluate Is this working?
Are colony sizes decreasing?
Are shelter statistics improving?

17. TNR Works

18. I said "Somebody should do something about that
I said "Somebody should do something about that." Then I realized I am somebody.” ― Lily Tomlin