PIMA COUNTY, ARIZONA – To kick off National Feral Cat Day, Pima Animal Care Center is holding a free spay and neuter event called Snip ‘N’ Tip for community cats Oct. 16-17 in PACC’s Multi-Purpose Room, 4000 North Silverbell Road.
Monica Dangler, Director of Animal Services, hopes the event is the first of many.
“Thanks to the approval of the Board of Supervisors, PACC is happy to ramp up the Community Cat Program here in Pima County,” Dangler said. “We are adding a vet and several vet techs to help us really increase our focus on care for community cats.” Community cats are cats that prefer to live outdoors. The event is part of PACC’s expanded Community Cat Trap-Neuter-Return Program (TNR).
TNR is the humane and effective way to reduce the number of cats living on the streets in Pima County. It improves the overall health of the cats and prevents future generations of kittens from being born outside.
The event is for outdoor community cats and kittens living in Pima County. Kittens should weigh at least 1.5 pounds and have a committed caretaker to monitor them after surgery. Anyone can participate by bringing in an outdoor cat in a secure cat carrier or trap. People who bring cats will be responsible for returning them back to their neighborhood.
By bringing in cats, people can support a participating 501c3 shelter, rescue, or TNR organization. These non-profit partners will receive $10 per cat and will be eligible for additional prizes. Incentives have been generously provided through donations. If a trapper needs a trap or carrier, they can contact PACC’s Community Cat Program by emailing communitycats@pima.gov. They can sign up for the event at app.waitwhile.com/book/snipntip.
All cats will receive:
- Brief exam by licensed veterinarian
- FVRCP (Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia) vaccines
- Rabies vaccines
- Parasite treatment as needed
- Minor medical care as needed
- Microchip implantation
- An eartip (humanely conducted under anesthesia)
- Female cats will also receive a green tattoo next to spay site (humanely conducted under anesthesia)
Dr. Jennifer Wilcox, the Director of Veterinary Services, has been timing the speed of her team to optimize safe, efficient surgery flow for a large number of cats.
“With the combined effort of our partners across Pima County, we’ve been able to spay and neuter thousands of cats just within the last year,” said Wilcox. “We want to sterilize 600 cats at the Snip ‘N’ Tip event to catch up on time lost due to COVID. We plan to ramp up our TNR efforts even more once our 5th vet is recruited!” Surgery drop-off hours are:
- Friday, Oct. 15, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
- Saturday, Oct. 16, 7 a.m. to noon
- Saturday, Oct. 16, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
- Sunday, Oct. 17, 7 a.m. to noon
When signing up through the link, trappers will be notified when the cats are ready for pick up.
This event was made possible by Friends of Pima Animal Care Center, Petco Love, Clara Lee Arnold, Melinda Correll and Bonnie Kay.