WASHINGTON, April 9, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Alley Cat Allies today announced the 2007 Midwest Cat Advocacy Seminar to be held at the Chicago Anti-Cruelty Society on April 13 and 14, 2007. The seminar is designed for cat advocates, rescuers, shelter employees and individuals who are dedicated to promoting the health and welfare of stray cats.
"Cats are the most populous pet in America and yet most people do not know that our nation kills more than 7 out of 10 cats-owned, stray, and feral-that enter animal shelters and facilities each year," said Becky Robinson, President and co-founder of Alley Cat Allies. "Cats are being killed each day and people need to understand why and be part of the solution to end this unjustified killing."
According to Robinson, the problem lies rooted in our nation's animal control laws, which originated in the early 19th century for dogs. But, today in the 21st century, there are more stray cats than dogs. The number one documented cause of death for all cats in the United States is intentional killing in animal pounds and shelters.
Because of this, Alley Cat Allies calls for a new animal control system nationwide -- a system that does not rely on killing. The Midwest Cat Advocacy Seminar will present strategies for local groups and individuals to advocate for essential reform of animal control systems and ordinances.
The seminar will also address the viable, nonlethal alternative that has already been identified and implemented in communities across the world. Since 1990, Alley Cat Allies has lead the nation in humane education about the nature and circumstances of stray and feral cats and in promoting Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), the only humane, effective method to reduce their population. With TNR, cats living outdoors are humanely trapped and taken to veterinarians to be evaluated, vaccinated, sterilized and eartipped for identification. Socialized cats and kittens are placed in foster homes for adoption. Feral cats -- second or third generation of lost or abandoned pet cats -- are returned to their outdoor homes, where they are fed and monitored by volunteers. No more kittens are born and the population is reduced.
Midwest Cat Advocacy Seminar Speakers:
* Becky Robinson, M.P.A., President and co-founder of Alley Cat
Allies.
* Dr. Gene Mueller, President, The Anti-Cruelty Society.
* Jan Raven, Esq., Board Chair and co-founder of AzCATs in
Phoenix, Arizona.
* Frank Hamilton, Ph.D., Co-founder of the Animal Coalition of
Tampa in Florida.
* Shirley Oderkirk & Kathy Rodriguez, Co-Directors of the Feral
Friends program for No More Homeless Pets Kansas City.
* Sandra Kooper, Executive Director, Spay and Stay in Lake County,
Illinois.
DATES: April 13-14, 2007
Friday, April 13, 2007
4 P.M. Registration
5 - 7 P.M. Reception - Meet and Greet the Experts and
Your Colleagues.
Saturday, April 14, 2007
8 A.M. Registration
9 A.M. - 4:30 P.M. Midwest Cat Advocacy Seminar.
LOCATION: The Anti-Cruelty Society
157 W. Grand Avenue
Chicago, IL 60610
COST: $25 per person. Pre-register via phone or email.
INFORMATION: Alley Cat Allies
www.alleycat.org
(240) 482-1980 ext. 331
About Alley Cat Allies
For 17 years, Alley Cat Allies (ACA) has led the national feral cat movement by advocating Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), the only effective and humane method to reduce feral cat populations. Based in Bethesda, MD, ACA has more than 100,000 supporters and is the national nonprofit clearinghouse for information on feral and stray cats. To learn about Alley Cat Allies, visit www.alleycat.org.
The Alley Cat Allies logo is available at http://www.primezone.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=1922