Ilona Bencze-Zimmer and Lori Baker - Trappers Extraordinaire The phone at PAWS rings off the hook with calls from concerned citizens. "There are three tiny kittens under my deck – I don't see the mom". "The landlord is threatening to kill the cats living near my apartment." Every situation is an emergency. The two people who head our TNR (trap/neuter/release) Program and are the go-to for these calls are Ilona Bencze-Zimmer and Lori Baker. They are the Shelter's number one proponents of Community Cats - feral cats who grow up without human contact or revert to a wild state after months or years of self-sufficiency after being lost or abandoned. The TNR strategy is simple but very effective: stop the colony from growing by preventing new litters. Colony kittens can often be placed into adoptive homes. Adults are usually too wild to socialize so they are returned to their home colonies after being spayed/neutered by a vet and the colony population reduces gradually through natural attrition. If nothing is done, population control comes in the form of starvation and disease. There is a great need for the PAWS' TNR Program which will spay/neuter approximately 300 cats this year. The problem is especially severe in low-income urban communities where families cannot afford to fix their pets and unfixed cats are set loose when families face hard times. Ilona and Lori not only trap and release feral cats, but also educate and fund raise on their behalf. They inspire generosity and philanthropy, advocating for those who cannot speak for themselves. PAWS and the animals are lucky to have them on our side. On Giving Tuesday, won't you help Ilona and Lori by giving to PAWS' TNR program? | |
