The work of Paws Patrol is made possible by the following major contributors. . .

Mary & John Gay

Shauna Perry

Merry Williams

. . . and by these generous business partners. . .

PetCo

Duval Animal Hospital

Green Valley Canine

The Humane Society of Southern Arizona

The Art Department

Paws Patrol
promotes the
spay and neuter
of animals in need
as a nonprofit 501(c)3
organization in Green Valley, Arizona.

Our mission as a community oriented program is to:

• Reduce feral cat overpopulation through Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR).
• Educate the public on the importance of spay/neuter for companion animals.
• Rescue, foster, and re-home adoptable pets.

Paws Patrol began in early 2006 with a founding committee of seven qualified animal rescuers, each having at least several years of experience. All committee members have actively participated as volunteers, board members, and/or directors in other animal rescue groups including The Animal League of Green Valley (TALGV), Belle Animal Rescue Kennel (BARK), and The Humane Society.

A feral cat is a domestic cat that was lost or abandoned and has reverted to a wild state, or a cat that was born to a stray or feral mother and had little or no human contact. Adult feral cats are usually impossible to tame and are not suited to living with people. They live in family groups called colonies that form near a source of food and shelter. Feral cat colonies can be found behind shopping area, in alleys, on golf courses, and in rural areas. In Green Valley alone, estimates indicate there are at least 450 feral cats, not including those in Sahuarita and surrounding areas!

A stray cat is a domestic cat that strayed from home and became lost or was abandoned. Because a stray cat was once a companion animal, he or she can usually be resocialized and placed in an adoptive home.

It is estimated there are millions of feral cats in the United States. The average number of litters a fertile cat can produce is three per year. The average number of kittens in a litter is four to six. One fertile cat and her offspring can produce 420,000 kittens in seven years!

TNR—Trap, Neuter, Return—is the most humane method of managing feral cat overpopulation and improving the quality of life for feral felines. It has been practiced in Europe and the US for several decades, and research as well as anecdotal evidence indicates that it offers many advantages over the more traditional method of feral cat "control"—eradication.

Removing and killing (or eradicating) feral cats, or moving feral colonies, does not reduce feral cat populations. Instead, it provides space for more cats to move in and begin the breeding process again. Unspayed feral female cats spend most of their lives pregnant and hungry, and so will the female kittens that survive. Unneutered tomcats roam to find—and fight to win—mates and often suffer debilitating wounds in the process. And within their first year, half of all kittens born in feral colonies die.

Paws Patrol believes TNR is the solution which leads to colony stability in the short-term and gradual colony reduction.

• TNR is more humane than other methods of feral cat colony management.
• Entire colonies of stray and feral cats are humanely trapped, evaluated, vaccinated and sterilized by veterinarians.
• Disease and malnutrition are greatly reduced.
• The left ear is tipped, an internationally recognized sign that a cat is a member of a managed colony.
• There is a decrease in the cats' hormone-driven nuisance behaviors such as yowling, fighting, spraying, and roaming.
• The odor of cat urine improves about 50% after spaying and neutering.
• The number of cats euthanized at animal shelters reduces. The Humane Society estimates 8-12 million animals enter shelters each year, and of those, up to 50% of cats euthanized are feral or offspring of ferals.

Adult cats too wild to be adopted are returned to their colonies to be cared for and monitored by neighborhood caregivers. And as often as possible, we utilize local animal groups and individuals to seek homes for adoptable strays and kittens.

As we take responsibility for the human-originated feral cat overpopulation problem, we contribute to better human-animal relations in general and more compassionate and humane treatment of felines in particular.

Adoption fees help pay for the medical cost of the pet you adopt. Each cat and kitten we rescue and decide to foster, average about $200 in total medical expenses before we place them for adoption.

• Adoption fees for cats and kittens: $65 (Includes feline vaccinations, worming, rabies vaccination, FIV test, and spay or neuter.)
• Adoption fees for dogs and puppies: $85 (Includes canine vaccinations, worming, rabies vaccination, and spay or neuter.)

8 KITTENS were trapped on a ranch in Tubac, AZ when they were about four weeks old. They were from two separate litters and their feral mothers successfully avoided being caught. Besides being very young, the kittens had two main health issues—a virus which threatened to make several of them lose all or part of their sight, and ringworm which made some of them look more like rodents than cute kittens. Finding a place to foster this playful group away from children and other pets was quite challenging. As of July 2006, their fur is growing in beautifully. Their eyes are improving and it appears that some of them will have limited vision but none will be blind. Their medical care alone will probably total about $1600, but each day, their charm and playfulness reminds their caregivers how glad they are to be given a second chance at life. Within a month, we expect them to be spayed and neutered and ready for permanent homes.

KATIE is truly a special rescue story. Three tiny black and white kittens, with umbilical cords still attached, were brought to The Animal League of Green Valley one morning, having been found by a dog and taken to his owner. One of the kittens was bleeding heavily and it seemed doubtful if it would live. In fact, unless the mother could be found, all the kittens would have to be bottle-fed around the clock and they still may not survive. A wonderful visitor offered to take them home and feed them. That evening, Paws Patrol trapped the mother—also black and white—who was thought to be feral, and the next morning, she and her kittens were reunited. The injured kitten was unable to nurse his mother due to a palate injury but was able to be hand-fed. Mom, now named Katie, proved to be a stray but definitely not feral. As of July 2006, Katie and kittens are doing well in foster care through The Animal League of Green Valley who will handle their adoptions. In addition, Paws Patrol received another kitten a week or so later, who was probably about one day older than Katie's kittens. Katie willingly accepted this beautiful yellow and white kitten as her own. She and her four beautiful kittens will be available for adoption soon and will never again be counted among the feral cats of the area.

TIGER was Paws Patrol's first feral cat trapped, neutered and returned to his colony. When trapped, Tiger left no doubt in anyone's mind that he was truly feral. Once neutered, he was returned to his colony, a vaccinated, 10-pound, three-year-old, healthy male cat.

Occasionally, when we trap feral and unsociable cats, we need to move them to a qualified home. These cats are healthy, sterilized and in desperate need of a new outdoor home, such as a barn, horse stable, warehouse or other suitable outdoor location. We do not adopt cats as barn cats that are suitable to be indoor pets. If you have a barn or safe outbuilding, there are cats that need you. Having a barn cat or cats will help keep down the rodent population. So the cats will help you, while you provide them a safe, long-term place to live. And because these cats are already spayed/neutered, you won't have to worry about endless litters of kittens appearing! For details on this important program and an application form, click here.

If you or your HOA want further information, or have a feral cat colony and would like our help, contact us by telephone or email.

The average cost of spaying/neutering a cat and providing rabies vaccines is $55. Based on the estimate of 450 ferals in Green Valley alone, TNR for all these cats would cost $24,750. In addition, there are costs for traps, crates, food and other incidentals. Your donations make a difference and are always appreciated. And there are other ways you can help.

• Volunteer as a caregiver to help with managing the individual colonies.
• Provide a foster home for kittens.
• Assist in trapping cats to go to the vet.
• Transport cats to and from the vet.
• Help with grant writing and fundraising.
• Build sheltered food stations.

Your donation will help us care for the animals! It's easy to send a contribution using PayPay, and you don't have to have a PayPal account. Just click on the "Make a Donation" button.

• Quality dry cat food
• Mid and large size cat carriers
• Cat beds
• Old blankets, sheets, towels and throw rugs
• Kitten formula (KMR)
• Litter boxes and scoops
• Cat litter

If you would like to receive our monthly email newsletter, please email your request to pawspatrol@cox.net.

Click here for a list of pets available through this organization.

Paws Patrol

P.O. Box 1642, Green Valley, AZ 85622

Phone: 520-207-4024

Email: pawspatrol@cox.net