Wickenburg Humane Society’s new trap, neuter and release (TNR) program for feral cats is only four months old and already highly successful, thanks to the help of board member Mei Mei Brown. So far, Brown has identified sixteen feral colonies throughout Wickenburg, Ariz., and trapped, neutered and returned more than 60 cats.
Brown and her husband, both Vermont natives, spend their winters in Wickenburg. In Vermont, Brown is both the vice president of the
Rutland County Humane Society and coordinator for the
Brandon Feral Cat Assistance Program, which enters its sixth season this month. “Our program has been a model for other communities,” Brown explains, “because of its high success and absolutely fabulous community support.” Brown’s husband, who sits on the town council, initially volunteered her for the TNR program in Vermont some years ago.
Brown’s passion for cats has followed her to Arizona. “Having been in Wickenburg just two winters, I’ve already found enough to keep me busy,” Brown says. Wickenburg Humane has received two grants for the TNR program, with Purina donating food and
Altered Tails in Phoenix assisting with neutering.
These days, Brown’s time is spent distributing food, verifying that they're dealing with ferals, and driving the cats to and from Altered Tails on a weekly basis. “At the moment, I’m a one person show,” Brown says. She’s reached out to the community for volunteers and has received a few offers from winter visitors, but could use more help.
Brown says her biggest challenge right now is skunks who wander into the traps. Last week she went to pick up some cats at a location in town and smelled skunk about three blocks before she arrived in the yard. “The skunk was a youngster and probably panicked when the trap closed behind him,” she laughs. “He let everyone know he was not pleased.”
Brown said this was the first time a skunk “let loose” in her years of experience with feral cats; all the other skunks had been adults and learned over time that it was a waste of time to spray. “They usually sit patiently and know the human will come along, open the door and let them waddle off to enjoy the rest of their day,” she says. “But this little one hadn’t learned that lesson yet, so he stunk up the neighborhood ... adjacent to a school, of course!”
From New England to the Wild West, Mei Mei Brown has been instrumental in implementing community TNR programs. Besides providing feral cats with a better quality of life, Brown says TNR programs reduce cat fighting, and disease and the cats get a square meal every day because of colony monitors who make sure the cats are fed daily.
How You Can Help
- Donate time or money: contact Brown at the Wickenburg Humane Society (928) 684-8801 or by e-mail at WickenburgFeralCats@gmail.com
- If you know where a feral colony exists, contact the Wickenburg Humane Society (928) 684-8801
- Learn more about how to keep cats safe and out of shelters across the country: Click here to join the Best Friends Focus on Felines campaign!
Photos courtesy of Mei Mei Brown