Herding Cats: Weiser’s Spay and Neuter Program Tackles Overpopulation

Walk through the streets of downtown Weiser and you will likely see a stray cat or two. The city’s feral cat problem has long bothered residents. The animals not only fight and spread disease, but they also affect local pets and properties. The stray feline population has grown unchecked for years with the city and residents unable to curb the spread. In need of a solution, staff with the Weiser Police Department came up with the idea to launch a spay/neuter and vaccine program that would trap and release the cats. For help acquiring the supplies and funding to launch the program, they reached out to LOR. LOR’s funding will support the purchase of cat blankets, handling gloves, traps, and other equipment, while also securing the time of local veterinarians to neuter, spay, and vaccinate 100 cats. Using the community’s new infrastructure, Weiser will now be able to apply to the State of Idaho for funding to keep the program going every year.