TNR Program Highlights for National Feral Cat Day, October 16, 2021
By Carol Weemes, Animal Services
Posted on October 15, 2021, October 15, 2021

Arlington’s Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program salutes National Feral Cat Day on October 16 and all community TNR partners for their efforts, dedication, and successes since the program’s implementation in August 2013, approved through Resolution 13-208.

Animal Services, together with community partners are steadily working together to sterilize, vaccinate, and ear-tip all of Arlington’s feral cats through TNR Events. The goal is to reduce the feral cat population, associated nuisances, and make Arlington neighborhoods cleaner and safer for animals and humans.

“Since TNR began, not a single feral cat has been euthanized at Animal Services for Time and Space,” said Ray Rentschler, Animal Services field operations manager. “In the program’s first year, the live release rate went from 66.35% to 80.82% and in fiscal year 2021 the live release rate was 88.40% and is growing.

Crystal Steinborn, Arlington’s dedicated TNR coordinator/code compliance officer works to promote the program and encourage TNR event participation. She is always looking for more volunteers. Learn more about volunteering here. Approved volunteers in the TNR program go on ride-outs with Steinborn to learn the procedure and reasons for returning feral cats back to the location where they were trapped. 

She is also busy investigating complaints – working to solve issues reported by the community about feral cats. Visit the Cat Deterrents webpage for more information.

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