How Shelters and Rescues Can Work Better Together For Cats

There are many ways on How Shelters and Rescues Can Work Better Together For Cats. Over the last 20 years, thousands of small cat rescue organizations have started all across the country. Many of these groups focus on foster, adoption, and trap, neuter and return.

In the early days, many groups only helped stray cats in their mission statements, meaning that they didn’t take owner surrenders. Many traditional (and in most cases larger) shelters did, though. Other rescues focused on certain geographic areas and some focused on a certain type of cat (Felv+, FIV+, breeds). Some rescues help a couple of hundred cats a year and others help thousands.

In addition to our traditional shelters, we now have the colorful mixed basket of rescues assisting community cats, too.

How Shelters and Rescues Can Work Better Together For Cats

How do our communities perceive these groups? Even now, communities can still think of the local shelter as the place to bring your cat if you want it euthanized. In most parts of the country, however, this isn’t correct.

Live release rates are rising at a tremendous rate around the country and shelters are there to help owner surrenders. Rescue organizations are perceived usually as a group of ‘crazy cat ladies’ (people) who are out trapping cats at night and feeding in the community. They tend to take in and foster quite a few cats, but may or may not be trusting of the local shelter organization. Sound familiar?

How to be Ambassadors in the Community

Rescue organizations, however, can be ambassadors in the community for the shelters! I often get the sense that large shelters hide behind their brick and mortar walls and aren’t really involved in the community. Maybe there was a sense of only dealing with what comes to the shelter door and not getting involved with situations in the community for fear it will bring more cats to their door?

Programs like Pets For Life and Target Zero are changing the attitude of these larger organizations. But all groups need a sustainable plan for community engagement. That needs to come from a partnership with rescues AND shelters.

I can’t stress enough how important regular communication is needed in these circumstances. We are all busy, but regularly communicating what is happening in your community is very important. If we don’t know what is going on we don’t know how to help each other!

Rescues need to develop a regular partnership with the shelters, as well. Many of them have spay/neuter clinics and this is the best place to begin the relationship. It’s important to get to know the staff at shelters too! I would recommend meeting face-to-face with organization leadership once a year. Here, you can share statistics, stories and annual priorities for the groups. I think we can all spare one hour, once a year, and this meeting could be game-changing!

How do the groups in your community get along? Share your stories on our Facebook page in the comments section.

Finally, I want to give a big thanks so much to everyone who joined in on the Grants 101 webinar last week. If you are interested in listening to the recording go to this link and sign up to listen in. Happy Grant writing!