When my husband and I took the first feral cat we trapped to our veterinarian, I asked among other things "Are there others doing same as us in this town?" I needed to know so we could join forces.
Nobody at the clinic had heard of TNR, nor caring en masse. Only that they'd get people that had taken in strays and the vets do take free samples to ferals and strays at the elevators and fairgrounds.
That was on November 2004.
Since then we've TNR'ed 31 cats, found homes for 5, rescued and took in 7 friendly young adults, one middle aged cat and many kittens. We also returned to owner a roaming pet cat.
In the past two years we've seen tthree litters born; all but 3 kittens sickened and died, adults that dissapeared, accidents, neglected pets, an abused cat, at least one confirmed case of cruelty (cat was shot 10 ft from where I was feeding them) and have had to euthanize cats we couldn't possibly help. That is the sad reality of being a caregiver that we strive to come to terms with.
On the positive side, when we return a feral cat that has been altered and vaccinated, we have changed his life for the best and that makes it so rewarding in spite of the setbacks.
We pay for everything; spay and neutering, testing, vaccinations, medecines, food. And have built shelters for the cats as well as providing food ware, bedding, etc.
I want to state that overtime we've received food donations from private parties and get a discount at All Feline clinic in Lincoln. We take difficult cases and kittens to undergo early spay & neutering there.
Our work with ferals and strays is minimal compared to what rescues and caregivers do in other towns with more resources and expanded programs but I've found out that in a small rural community there's so much a person, or two, can achieve.
Earlier this year I was approached by Ronnie who with her husband do TNR and maintain strays and ferals around their place.
Later on I heard from a neighbor who have been TNR'ng, rescuing and adopting out dumpees for more years than we have.
So TNR and its appendages is happening and modestly growing in Fairbury, Nebraska.