A solution to the feral cat colony problem may be impleme𒉰nted in North Berge🍌n.
The Towns💧hip of North Bergen is exploring a pilot Trap Neuter and Release (TNR) program to deal with the feral cat colonies in various parts of town🔴, according to a March 3 press release.
From North Bergen to Bayonne, Hudson County is home to a nu🍸mber of feral cat colonies.
The t🅘ownship is making progress in its attempts to remedy the situation and is looking to implement a responsible and sustainable TNR program in the near future. The program will be created in collaboratio🎀n with active community partners and volunteers.
Feeding ban temporarily lifted
In the ♈meantime, the township is temporarily lifting the feral cat feeding ban, so that cats will not go hungry before the program is implemented.
North Bergen had placed a ban on feeding feral cats that would cost anyone caught in the act approximatel⛎y $150.
The tow꧅nship, however, is asking that feeding be done in a responsible manner so as not to bother neighbors.
Until the pilot program takes effect, the towဣnship has issued guidelines regarding the lifted ban.
If you are providing food for a colony of cats on your property, remove the food scraps ཧand bowls after they finish eating, clean up 💙any mess or leftover food, and do not feed at night.
The township of North Bergen will provide TNR work🅠shops throughout the community to educate all resideꦜnts in the coming months.
ꦦWhile some people enjoy feeding and caring for the feral cat colonies, not all Hudson 🍬County residents are fans of the felines.
Felines under fire
from a North Bergen colony that wꦇas found struck with an arrow.
According to the fundraiser page, Kelly ♕Shannon went out to feed a few friendly neighborhood feral cats, just like she alway꧃s does before work every day.
Shannon was horrified when she found one of her favori♑te cats, a sweet, gentle male named Sparky, wounded by an arrow. The arrow was still protr൲uding from his body when Shannon found the cat.
The fundraiser reported that the arrow struck him in the left shoulder area, and the tip exi💙ted his🍨 left flank, leaving the shaft embedded in his body.
With the help of a Good Samar♕itan neighbor, Kelly was able to get him in a travel crate and immediately took the him to her veterinarian at the Animal Clinic of Bayonne.
After the assessment, it was🅠 determined that the arrow did not pierce any vital organs and that Sparky’s prognosis was fair, according to the fundraiser. Once the procedure to remove the arrow was finished, the cat was neutered and given the app🐟ropriate vaccines before being released.
Up to $2,560 was raised to pay for Sparky’s medical bi🥀lls.
North Bergen re🗹sidents like Shannon have been helping the feral cat colonies prior to the start of the pilot TNR program in town.
The Lucky Ca♈t (TLC) Rescue is a nonprofit, charitable organizat꧒ion that has been funding a TNR program in Hudson County since January of 2019.
Acco🌟rding to its mission statement, TLC is dedicated to working with the Hudson County community to reduce the number of homeless cats by trapping, neutering, and returning healthy, feral cats; adopting friendly cats; and through education and outreach programs focusing on animal health, safety, and pet ret🦄ention.
Other than TLC’s efforts, the North Bergen TNR program will be the first of its kind in th♛e local area.
The supportඣ of North Bergen r🐠esidents is instrumental in the success of this program, because it’s membership is volunteer-driven.
For more information, residents are encouraged to email the North Bergen Health Department at [email protected].
For updates on this and other stories, check www.iccwins98.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Dan Israel can be reached at [email protected].
