Anyone can act to positively transform the way their community cares for its animals. Learn how you can change attitudes and promote policies that protect the lives of cats in your own community.
Alley Cat Allies, the leader of the global movement to protect cats and kittens, has been at the forefront of the push to change outdated systems, beliefs, and policies that do cats harm. Since our founding in 1990, Alley Cat Allies has fueled a powerful revolution in how people think about and respect cats, powered by compassionate people like you who are determined to protect your cat community members.
Cats Are Community™, and creating laws and policies and spreading humane education that saves cats’ lives is a community effort. We work with individuals, officials, and the community as a whole to set the foundation for long-lasting change that protects cats. YOU can join us!
The Need for Community Change
Many people don’t know that many cats and kittens, especially community cats or unweaned, neonatal kittens, don’t have a chance at life in many shelters. In far too many shelters, where humane policies are not in place, cats are killed. This is especially the case for community cats, who are generally not socialized to people or adoptable.
The current shelter and animal control system was built on beliefs and information that are now antiquated. Communities need to work toward embracing new programs and policies that save cats’ lives. You can help make it happen.
5 Ways to Create Change in Your Community
1. Educate your community about cats through informative humane education materials and workshops.
2. Mobilize community members to unite in grassroots initiatives to save cats, including Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR).
3. Coordinate and connect local cat advocates.
4. Provide local shelters training and information they need to adopt lifesaving programs and change their systems.
5. Work with local officials to adopt policies or pass laws that protect cats and their caregivers.
5 Resources to Help YOUR Community Protect Cats
You have the power to change your community! In fact, you are the strongest advocate for cats where you live. Alley Cat Allies is here to help provide the information and resources you need to get started.
1. Advocacy Toolkit: This toolkit will arm you with the basics of citizen lobbying and prepare you to advocate for humane policies for cats.
2. Quick Guide to Advocating for Cats: A little overwhelmed? This quick guide offers easy ways you can become an advocate for cats.
3. Community Relations Resource Center: Educating others is a big part of being an advocate. Learn how to talk to your community about cats, including ways to troubleshoot conflicts that might arise.
4. Transform Your Local Shelter to Save More Cats: Learn how you can help your local shelter adopt lifesaving programs and policies.
5. Organize Your Community for Strategic Change for Cats: This is way beyond creating petitions on the internet! Learn how to campaign and organize to effect change to improve cats’ lives.
Community Change in Action
Every day more communities embrace humane, effective, and lifesaving policies for cats. Alley Cat Allies programs and campaigns are making that critical change happen every day.
