Home » Campaigns » Focus on Felines » News » Chrysler does the right thing

News

Chrysler does the right thing

September 09, 2009, 11:59AM MT

By Sandy Miller

Plant OKs rescue organization to help cats on its property

Like other companies in the auto industry, Chrysler has been hit hard by the economic downturn.

But despite its financial problems, one Chrysler plant in Sterling Heights, Mich., decided to do the right thing for the 100 or so feral and stray cats living on its property.

The cat colony has called the plant home for 20 years. The plant is in the midst of shutting down operations and management was talking about just getting rid of the cats. Some concerned plant workers e-mailed Pam Laird, clinic director for All About Animals, a local nonprofit rescue group that provides low-cost spaying and neutering services and finds loving homes for homeless pets, asking if the group could help save the cats. Laird began calling Chrysler’s managers, asking them to allow All About Animals to come in and put a trap/neuter/return program in place.

Feral and shy cats account for a large percentage of the five million animals that are killed in U.S. shelters each year. But it’s been shown that trapping and killing feral cats does nothing to keep their numbers down. Once those cats are gone, other unaltered cats will simply take their place, bringing nuisances like spraying and late-night mating calls with them. And it doesn’t take long for their populations to grow.

What does work is trap/neuter/return, or TNR. The cats are humanely trapped and taken to a veterinary clinic where they’re spayed or neutered and vaccinated. While under the anesthesia, a small tip of one of their ears is taken off to identify that they’re part of a managed cat colony. Then they’re returned to the area from which they came where caregivers continue to feed and watch over them. Spaying and neutering takes care of all the nuisances associated with unaltered cats.

Laird knew she could use some help in negotiating the deal with Chrysler. “Someone recommended I contact Best Friends,” Laird says.

Best Friends answered Laird’s call for help, offering to speak with Chrysler management about the benefits of trap/neuter/return programs. Gregory Castle, Best Friends co-founder and interim chief executive officer, and Shelly Kotter, campaign specialist for Focus on Felines, one of four Best Friends campaigns aimed at reaching the goal of No More Homeless Pets, set up a meeting with Chrysler management.

But just hours before the meeting was to take place, Laird got a call from one of the plant’s managers.

“He said, ‘There’s been a change in management and we’ve decided to allow you to trap, neuter and return the kitties,'” Laird says.

Castle praised Chrysler’s decision.

“The management of this Chrysler plant have made an enlightened decision in allowing TNR to be practiced on their property,” Castle says. “Not only have they chosen the kindest and most humane way of handling the cats — rounding up and killing them would not have worked. It never does. We hope that this sets a precedent for other industrial sites which have long-established colonies of community cats.”

Kotter agreed.

“It’s awesome,” Kotter says. “This was really the only choice. Getting rid of the cats would only make space for more cats.”

All About Animals has set up feeding stations and insulated shelters for the cats on the plant property. Since it got the plant’s approval in late August, the organization has already humanely trapped 11 kittens and spayed and neutered them. These kittens will be available for adoption, as will any other cats the organization can socialize to help find them forever homes.

Thanks to All About Animals, and the decision of Chrysler’s management, the cats at this auto plant are getting a second chance at life.

“It’s not easy for the feral cats out there,” Laird says. “We just want to help as much as we can.”

Like most other rescue organizations, All About Animals operates on a shoestring budget and depends on donations to keep doing the good work it does. To find out how you can help, visit the organization’s Web site here.

Photos by Troy Snow

Comments

Posted September 10, 2009, 11:34AM by Thyrals

Way to go Chrysler, despite their own tough times they are doing right by these kitties. I applaud this decision.!!

Posted September 10, 2009, 1:50PM by ktsmom

Thank you Chrysler for doing the right thing! I'm very impressed with your decision. Best of luck to All About Animals-sounds like a great organization.

Posted September 10, 2009, 7:25PM by txflower64

Well done, Chrysler!

Posted September 11, 2009, 5:35AM by PegMac

Thanks Chrysler! I used to boycott your cars because of your former CEO, Bob Nardelli. I'm glad that he is out & the cats are in! My next car will now have a Chrysler logo in the future!

Posted September 11, 2009, 8:7AM by lindarae

Thank you for making the right and humane decision.

Posted September 11, 2009, 3:42PM by jmuhj

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Chrysler! ( I find it very strange that businesses are even allowed to do the unthinkable, as cruelty to cats is illegal and punishable by fines and/or jail time in all 50 states. )

Posted September 11, 2009, 4:24PM by bober63841

It's very heartwarming to see a huge company have a sense of decency. Thank you!!!

Posted September 11, 2009, 4:27PM by qzyr2j

This is so great!! I live in Germany now, but that plant is right near where I used to live and most of my family worked there. As for All About Animals, what can I say? My Lucci died at 17 yrs and then I saw my two kids there and the rest is history (brought them over with me).

Posted September 11, 2009, 4:30PM by GloriaJ

Thank you for steppimg up to make a differance in the lives of all the cats. You are to be commended Chrysler. More companies should follow your lead. Thank you also Best Friends for all that you do for animals everywhere.

Posted September 11, 2009, 5:8PM by tnrowell

This should be in headlines EVERY WHERE. I plan to spread the word. Chrysler has shown the compassion and wisdom that we need so desperately.

Posted September 11, 2009, 5:10PM by bryan45777

Shrewd and humane decision on Chrysler's part!

Posted September 11, 2009, 6:30PM by ROSmutts

It is so good to hear of a large corporation taking the time to do the right thing for these cats. I do hope that this story gets picked up by the mainstream media and we start hearing about it on local and national television news. That would be a great thing and would give others pause to think about possibly taking the same action in this sort of situation.

Posted September 11, 2009, 7:2PM by gregandbarb

Would really like the contact information for Chrysler so I can email them a thank you.

Posted September 11, 2009, 8:18PM by timruah

Wonderful news. Do you have an e-mail for someone at Chrysler to whom we can send a thank-you?

Posted September 12, 2009, 7:31AM by Meows2003

Although Chrysler is NOW doing the right thing, it is actually 20 years late in coming.

Posted September 12, 2009, 8:19AM by ourlolly

Thank you soo much, Chrysler. At last somebody big got also a big heart!!!

Posted September 12, 2009, 10:29AM by pattimking

I too would like the appropriate person(s) to contact at Chrysler. And any other corporations that might be in a simular situation. It just takes ONE (or a few in this case) to start something grand. Way to go All About Animals, and Ms Laird. But I would really like to thank the employees, I'm guessing soon to be unemployed Chrysler workers who thought about creatures also in need of help in very hard times. THANK YOU

Posted September 12, 2009, 2:28PM by lindalarnerd

Way to go Chrysler...glad we drive a Jeep as one of our cars!! So great to hear they are doing the right thing...

Posted September 12, 2009, 11:3PM by GatoGordo

Thanks so much to the management and employees at Chrysler, All About Animals, and Best Friends. It's uplifting to read about such good news.

Posted September 13, 2009, 7:44PM by kissyfur

I hope other big companies take this and do the same thing it truly is the only way to go. Good for Chrysler I am so happy to hear this I will certainly be sharing this new with all I meet !!!

Posted September 14, 2009, 6:16AM by crazysleepingcatlady

As a Michigander I am very proud that Chryster and their management have stepped up to help these kitties. Bravo Chryster! And many thanks to All About Animals and Pam Laird for making this all happen. It's an amazing accomplishment especially given the state of the economy and even more so in Michigan where we have been hurting badly for a long time...

Posted September 14, 2009, 9:58AM by purringpals

Too bad that this is not how the ferals were handled at another Chrysler plant. The plant in Newark, Delaware has for years and years always had an exterminator trap and kill all cats on their huge property. This did not solve the feral cat problem at their plant yet they continued to do this amid protests. Now that the plant has permanently closed and is up for auction in Octoberthey either have already exterminated again or will. Make your voices heard and maybe a worldwide effort will be able to do what our local voices could not. We have been fortunate to have trapped a few cats on the property perimeter and vetted and re-homed them. Every cat deserves a chance!

Posted September 14, 2009, 10:15PM by gatorcat

Ms. Laird and All About Animals are to be congratulated. Also, thanks to Chrysler for making the right decision. Now, perhaps someone in Newark, Delaware will step up and contact Best Friends to get a similar result. Alley Cat Allies is another resource for TNR.

Posted September 15, 2009, 9:7AM by crazysleepingcatlady

I agree wholeheartedly...let's get someone on board at the Chrysler plant in Newark to end the senseless killing of "community cats". They did not ask to be placed in this situation and it, therefore, is the responsibility of humans to resolve this humanely and ethically. What can we do from where we sit to help make this happen?

Posted September 15, 2009, 12:13PM by Pamita

This is Pam from All About Animals. We have just trapped and sterilized the 24th cat at the Chrysler Plant! Thank you SO much for the kind words!

Posted September 15, 2009, 5:10PM by shellyk

This is Shelly K I am smiling thank you Pam :) You rock!!!

Posted September 22, 2009, 3:31PM by peabody

A great humanitarian solution. thank you Chrysler management for showing the public what is possible.

Posted October 28, 2009, 6:43AM by dottie

Also from Michigan, it's heartwarming to hear about good things happening to animals. My most sincere appreciation to those who made it happen for the Chrysler community cats!

Focus on Felines Campaign Links:

Home

About

Pilot Projects

Support This Campaign

Become a Fan

Go Local

Find information relevant to you:

Go Mobile!

Take the Network with you!
Sign up to receive text alerts
from our new mobile network.

Message and data rates may apply.
Read our Privacy Policy.

Follow Best Friends

From Best Friends...

Best Friends text message alerts are available on most carriers. Msg&Data Rates May Apply. Reply HELP for help, Stop to cancel. For more information and full terms visit mGive.com/e