This is part one of a three-part series. Read “Protecting Cats in Riverside, California“ and “Helping Cats Thrive in San Diego, California.”
What can I say that you don’t already know about California? There’s great food, amazing weather, and passionate cat lovers! I’m really happy I recently had the chance to travel there. I was able to escape the summer heat of Washington, D.C., and participate in CatConLA, a Los Angeles-based cat extravaganza.
During CatConLA, thousands of people came together to show off their lovely cats, stock up on cat-themed gear, and learn how to become better cat advocates. My coworker Kate, our Outreach and Events Coordinator, and I represented Alley Cat Allies as one of the many advocacy groups in attendance. We used our space to talk about Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) and the benefits that it brings to cats, people, and communities.
Daniel, talking about community cats and TNR at CatConLA.
We also met with a lot of groups and supporters from all over the worldwe learned about their amazing work (you guys rule!)and we made many new friends. It was great to see veterinary students who are on board with TNR and are willing to support this humane and effective method of stabilizing community cat populations. We are thrilled that younger generations are learning about TNR at an early age and advocating for it!
For two days, we saw so many passionate people share their stories, pictures, and love for all cats. I personally don’t think there could have been a better way to end such a great event than with the Cat Video Festival. We were present for the premiere of the 2016 reel, which was amazing!
I then drove south to Orange County, where I met with the wonderful people at Orange County Animal Care (OCAC) to talk about their experience with TNR.
OCAC joined forces with Cats in Need to implement a TNR program called Feral F.R.E.E. (Feral Release Eliminates Euthanasia) in 2013. With what seemed like a hard and uphill battle at the start, now all staff, volunteers, and community members are very satisfied with TNRand the benefits of healthy cats in their neighborhood. In just three years, OCAC and Cats in Need have vaccinated, neutered, and released more than 6,000 cats and counting! The lower intake of cats resulting from Feral F.R.E.E. gives OCAC and Cats in Need more time to work on other programs like community outreach and adoption.
Giving a workshop in Orange County, CA on how to advocate for cats and engage the community and local government.
The next day, I gave a presentation at Crash Labs, where the staff is passionate about cats. They even allowed us to use their space after hours. A diverse crowd attended, from TNR veterans to cat lovers wanting to learn more about how to help cats. I provided information on how they can advocate for cats and engage the community and governments to achieve better outcomes for community cats.
While a large portion of Orange County does TNR, it is a sad truth that a cat’s luck can drastically change from one block to the next, because one city doesn’t support TNR while the adjoining one does. This meeting gave the people of Orange County the opportunity to come together, talk about their strategies, and network for mutual support, which can lead to excellent results!
Be sure to come back soon to read about the remainder of my trip to California!
Until next time,
Daniel López Breña
Daniel López Breña is an Outreach and National Cat Help Desk Specialist with Alley Cat Allies. Daniel recently returned from California, where he met with cat advocates in Los Angeles, Orange County, Riverside, and San Diego.