Dorchester paws is committed to ending unnecessary euthanasia of healthy community cats. The way we do this is by holding community cat clinics where they will be spayed or neutered, given their rabies and FVRCP vaccines, microchipped and ear tipped. TNR is the only effective and humane approach to address community cat populations. With TNR it stops the stress associated with pregnancy and mating behaviors, such as yowling or fighting.
What is a community cat?
Community cats are unowned cats who live outdoors in our community. They can also be known as feral, stray, or alley cats. They are generally not socialized, or friendly and aren’t able to live indoors, with people. They live full, healthy lives with their feline families in their outdoor homes.
What is Ear-Tipping and Why Is It Important?
Ear-tipping is a badge of honor and a means of marking a community cat who has been spayed or neutered. Ear-tipping is the humane, safe surgical removal of the top quarter-inch of the left ear. The procedure is performed by a licensed veterinarian, typically during the spay/neuter surgery. Ear-tipping prevents an already-spayed or neutered cat from the stress of re-trapping and an unnecessary surgery.
What is the vacuum effect?
Removing cats from an area creates what is called the vacuum effect. The Vacuum Effect has been documented worldwide in many species. The old outdated approach of catching and killing community cats in a given area, it is ultimately counterproductive, as the population of cats rebounds. Due to the Vacuum Effect, un-trapped cats continue to breed, and other cats move into the newly available territory.
How the Community Cat CLinic
Community cat clinics are first come first serve. Check in will begin at 8am. Please do not block the gate entrance.
We accept 2 cats per car until we reach 30 cats
They MUST arrive in a trap- if they are not in a trap they will not be accepted.
Cats must be from within Dorchester County.
The fee is $25 per cat- this will include vaccines, ear tip, microchip, spay/neuter
DORCHESTER PAWS NOR ANIMAL CONTROL TRAP OR PICK UP CATS
You will pick up the cat you brought in that same day between 4pm to 5pm.
The only information you will be receiving is the microchip.
Cats need to be released back to their exact location the following day.
We will provide you with an instruction sheet.
We cannot accept personal pets
These resources are utilized for cats that don’t have a home. If you need assistance with your personal pet, please see the Community Support page for more resources
Traps can be rented from the Pet Support Department here at Dorchester Paws for $15!
We are open from 12pm-5pm daily.
Upcoming Community cat clinics
Paws here for some
