LANE COUNTY, OREGON – (October 21, 2024) – Tuesday, October 22 in partnership with Eugene Animal Services and volunteer community cat caregivers, Greenhill Humane Society’s veterinary team will be performing at least 30 surgeries in its high-quality, high-volume clinic. The event, which targets a specific colony in Eugene is being done to reduce feral cat overpopulation in the area.

Over 30 cats will be humanely trapped by Eugene Animal Services and local community cat caregiving volunteers and transported to Greenhill for spay/neuter surgeries, vaccinations, parasite treatment, and an ear tip.

“Targeted spay/neuter projects like these really help to reduce feral cat overpopulation. We are thankful to be working with Eugene Animal Services and community volunteers. Because of the size of this colony, it couldn’t be done without the support of many people,” says Greenhill’s Executive Director, Cary Lieberman.

Greenhill Humane Society works year-round to promote the importance of spaying and neutering companion animals and community cats. In addition to spaying or neutering every dog, cat, and rabbit prior to adoption, the shelter performs spay/neuter services on free-roaming community cats. Last year, Greenhill’s surgical team performed over 3,340 spay/neuter surgeries.

In addition to reducing unwanted or unplanned animal pregnancies, spaying or neutering an animal improves their overall behavior and health. Spaying prevents female cats from night-time pacing and loud vocalizations while in heat. Spaying female dogs prior to their first heat cycle prevents uterine infections, uterine cancer, and breast cancer. Neutering males prevents spraying, humping, aggression, and the urge to roam. It also prevents testicular cancer and prostate gland disease and infections. 

Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) is a method of humanely trapping, sterilizing, and returning free-roaming cats to live out the rest of their natural lives. This technique has been shown to be the most effective and humane solution for feral cat colony management.

Greenhill’s TNR program Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) Program (https://www.green-hill.org/spay-and-neuter-resources/) started in 2009 and since then has provided over 15,000 surgeries to outdoor, free-roaming cats in Lane County. The program includes low-cost spay/neuter surgery, vaccinations (FVRCP & Rabies), flea and other parasite treatment, an “ear tip” (the removal of 3/8 of an inch from the right ear which is the universally accepted symbol of a sterilized animal), long-lasting pain medication, education, and free humane trap rental. Financial assistance for caretakers may be available through grant funding or the donations of generous supporters.

Greenhill’s high-quality veterinary care, including the ability to perform spay/neuter surgeries, is supported by generous donors. Monetary donations allow Greenhill Humane Society to provide the Trap-Neuter-Return program to those who need financial assistance. Click here (https://green-hill.org/donate) to donate.

To learn more about Greenhill Humane Society and the Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program, visit www.green-hill.org.