PITTSFIELD, Ill. (WGEM) – The Pike County Animal Shelter recently received a grant from the Community Foundation for its TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return) program, which involves treating feral or stray cats.

The value is $1,500 and will be used to cover veterinary bills.

The TNR program was also in place last year when 400 cats came to the shelter. Shelter manager Teri Lucas said that was better than before. She said the TNR program is working.

“Now with the TNR program, we are seeing less and less overpopulation of cats and kittens,” Lucas said. “It’s not perfect yet, but I believe that continuing this program will move it in the right direction.”

The “return” portion of the program can mean two things: either returning the cat to its place of origin or giving it a new home through adoption.

“Many times we are able to rehabilitate these kittens and put them up for adoption. But sometimes we are unable to rehome the mothers or the neighborhood cats. Some of these cats we return directly to the neighborhood or area they came from,” said Deputy Warden Heather Hayden.

She thanked her for the scholarship. Hayden said it would be a great help.

“We are extremely grateful to the Community Foundation and our liaison committee who applied for the grant for helping us so much,” Hayden said.

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