SHELTERING HANDS, INC.

PO BOX 843

WILLISTON, FL 32696

352-817-0663

352-509-5228 – TNR Hotline

Registering as a Community Cats Colony Caregiver

Those individuals who wish to register as a Community Cats Colony Caregiver must meet the following requirements:

  1. Submit an Application for Registration of Community Cats Colony form to Sheltering Hands Community Cats Program.
  2. All applicants must attend a Sheltering Hands Community Cats Program Workshop before any renewal will be granted. Workshops will be held monthly at variable times and days. Check the website for scheduled times.
  3. All applications that will need to place adoptable cats and kittens must include a signed form from an “animal rescue group” indicating that the applicant has contacted the group(s) and arrangements have been made for the purpose of assistance with placement of those cats & kittens.
  4. All applications where the colony is not located on the caregiver's property must include a notarized PERMISSION OF PROPERTY OWNER FOR ESTABLISHEMENT OF A COLONY form signed by the owner of the property, or a duly authorized agent, where the colony is or will be located.
  5. Registrations must be renewed annually.

In addition to the above the following conditions will be a requirement of the program:

  1. You (the caregiver) must assume responsibility and make arrangements for the feeding and monitoring of the cat colony regularly including weekends, holidays and vacations.
  2. You must have all cats/kittens over the age of 12 weeks sterilized by the sponsoring organization (Sheltering Hands) or other pre approved veterinary establishment.
  3. You must ear crop the left ear and have a microchip implanted on all cats in the colony at the time of sterilization or upon booster vaccination if not done previously.
  4. You must vaccinate as required by state law, all cats against rabies
  5. You must maintain proof of sterilization, vaccination, microchip information and medical records for each cat for presentation to county animal control personnel or the sponsoring organization managers upon request.
  6. You must remove all sick or injured cats/kittens from the colony for immediate veterinary care or humane euthanasia to prevent unnecessary suffering.
  7. You must contact the sponsoring organization Manager if there are unresolved complaints or other issues relating to neighbors, county animal or law enforcement departments so that negotiations can be initiated to resolve the problems without relocation of the colony if possible. As caregiver you will be responsible for complying with any negotiated changes.

Failure to comply with these requirements may result in the removal of the registration of the colony and caregiver and therefore the removal of assistance for spay/neuter and vaccination programs. Only Colonies registered with the sponsoring organization will be qualified for the spay/neuter and vaccination programs.

This program is for stray, feral and homeless cats only. All cats entering the surgical facility must be contained in an approved humane trap. No carriers or home-made cages will be allowed. Loaner Traps will be available from Sheltering Hands for scheduled trapping times. A refundable $50.00 deposit will be held until the traps are returned.

If you have further questions please contact us by email - or by phone 352-509-5228