Cat group raises money in between trapping operations – The Morning Sun
A citizens’ group that formed to help address Mt. Pleasant’s surplus of community cats recently completed its first trap, neuter and return operation and is looking to raise money to conduct more.
The Central Cat Coalition is hosting a fundraiser at 5 pm on Tuesday at Art Reach, 111 E. Broadway, in downtown Mt. Pleasant.
“Spill the Tea – let’s talk about all these cats” is an informal tea party with an auction component, according to a Facebook page for the event. There’s a $ 20 donation to get in, with light snacks and tea provided during the three-hour event.
The silent auction will include items donated by local artists and boutique stores. Bids are already being accepted on the group’s Facebook page.
Money raised will go towards the group’s TNR operations, the first of which was recently completed on Lyons Street, said Desiree Bigard, the group’s chairman said.
During the rescue operation, the group trapped five male cats, all of which were neutered and released back to the property they use as a home.
The group is hoping to hold its second TNR operation towards the end of May and are hoping to get as close to the Bradley Trailer Park as possible, Bigard said.
Bradley Trailer Park is home to one of the city’s most substantial colonies of community cats. Other well-known colonies exist on the south side of Oak Tree Village, on nearby Pine Street and on Arnold Street north of Broadway and west of Mission.
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Mt. Pleasant’s community cat issue came to the forefront last summer when the city adopted an ordinance limiting the number of cats that an individual property owner could feed and shelter. The ordinance was specifically intended to allow the city to address cat colonies like the one on Arnold Street.
Activists and animal rescue operations challenged the idea that the ordinance would address the problem, saying that a community-driven TNR program was a critical part of the solution.
The Central Cat Coalition formed earlier this year, receiving its TNR certification in late March.