Alley Cat Allies’ National Cat Advocacy Seminar

 

Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) has been used in the United States for two decades. Millions of cats have been helped by private citizens. Yet, the largest documented cause of cat deaths in the United States is by our animal shelters and facilities where more than 7 out of 10 cats – owned, stray, and feral – are intentionally killed.

 

 

This seminar will cover topics from the best methods of feral cat care to learning how the law supports our goals to reforming animal control policy.

 

 

 

Becky Robinson, MPA
President, Alley Cat Allies
www.alleycat.org

Becky Robinson is founder and president of Alley Cat Allies, the only national organization dedicated to reducing feral cat populations through effective, nonlethal methods.

ACA was formed in 1991, a time when stray and feral cats had no advocates or resources in the animal protection community. Instead of assistance, compassionate people trying to help these animals were consistently advised not to waste their time on the “unadoptables”; that a speedy death was the kindest outcome for them. Rejecting this kill philosophy, Robinson introduced Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) to caregivers in the United States, developed materials to educate all sectors of a community, and laid the groundwork for reforming animal control policies nationwide. In the years since ACA’s founding, hundreds of local and regional programs have formed to improve the lives of feral cats, based on the principles of nonlethal management introduced by Alley Cat Allies .

Today, Robinson consults with municipal agencies, elected officials, and humane societies worldwide on how to implement effective municipal Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) policies and programs. Based in Bethesda, Maryland, Alley Cat Allies (ACA) currently has 150,000 supporters in the United States and abroad. Robinson holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Missouri, Kansas City.

Download Becky Robinson's presentation here.

 

Wendy Anderson
Legal Director, Alley Cat Allies
www.alleycat.org

Wendy Anderson is the Legal Director of Alley Cat Allies. Previously, she was the Managing Attorney of the Litigation Office of the Animal Legal Defense Fund. Before that she served as Senior Counsel and Ethics Officer of the American Red Cross, national headquarters. Ms. Anderson spent her early career in private practice at Howrey & Simon, where she litigated multi-million dollar insurance coverage lawsuits concerning toxic torts and Superfund cleanups. She received a Juris Doctorate from the National Law Center, George Washington University, in 1988, and a Bachelor of Arts from Northwestern University in 1985.

 

 

Dawn Kua, LLB (Hons)
Director of Operations, Cat Welfare Society, Singapore
www.catwelfare.org

Dawn Kua joined the Cat Welfare Society in 2002. As Director of Operations and the only full-time CWS employee, Kua directs a small core of dedicated volunteers and hundreds of caregivers across Singapore. Through their efforts, CWS has trapped, neutered, and returned 8,000 community cats. Kua also advocates for improved government policies toward and treatment of Singapore’s stray and feral cats.

A lifelong resident of Singapore, Kua’s concern about the island's community cats came from her mother and grandmother, who instilled love for all animals in her from early childhood. Before joining CWS, Kua worked in law and marketing. She holds an LLB (Hons) from the National University of Singapore Faculty of Law.

Download Dawn Kua's presentation here.

 

Christine Wilford, DVM
President, Feral Cat Spay/Neuter Project, Seattle
www.feralcatproject.org

Christine Wilford is a founding member and has served as President since Feral Cat Spay/Neuter Project’s inception in 1997. With her leadership and active involvement, the FCSNP has performed more than 35,000 spay/neuter surgeries, with some 6,000 thus far in 2007.

Dr. Wilford has chaired the Continuing Education Committee of the Seattle/King County Veterinary Medical Association since 1991, and served for three years as the veterinary member on the Seattle Animal Control Commission.

In 2004, the Washington State Veterinary Medical Association honored Dr. Wilford with its Distinguished Achievement Award for her work with the FCS/NP. She continues to campaign to end pet overpopulation by lecturing nationally on feline spay/neuter. She holds a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Texas A&M University and currently practices at Cats Exclusive Veterinary Center in Shoreline, WA.

Download Dr. Wilford's presentation here.