Okanogan Regional Humane hosts Trap/Neuter/Return clinic

OMAK – The public is invited to observe Okanogan Regional Humane (ORH) that will be hosting two days of surgery n Oct. 13 and 31, to spay and neuter 50 community cats from ORH’s Trap/Neuter/Return (T/N/R) Program at the ORH clinic located at 398 Omak River Road in Omak. Interested parties are asked to make a reservation by calling 509-322-1333 so ORH staff can control the flow, safety and atmosphere of the clinic. The surgeries begin at 9 a.m. and will be completed around 2 p.m.

T/N/R is an international program that brings colonies of free roaming cats under control. Tame cats and kittens that can be tamed are removed and adopted. The unsocialized cats are sterilized, vaccinated, and treated for parasites before being returned to their colonies. There, caretakers monitor and feed them. Cats are very territorial and tend to run off new cats until their colony naturally dies out.

The event is of great importance to the animals ORH services because it will remove 50 cats off their very long waiting list. The cats altered at the ORH facility will be able to return to their homes and live healthy lives where they can focus on their specialty: rodent control.

The surgeries are made possible by a $4,000 grant from the ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). Subaru and the ASPCA have an ongoing commitment to help animals through their Subaru Loves Pets Collaboration.

ORH has five programs:

● Affordable spay/neuter for the cats and dogs of low-income families and individuals.

● Spay/neuter of Community Cats, free regardless of income.

● Mom’s Last Litter (kittens and puppies must be surrendered), free regardless of income.

● American Staffordshire Terrier-like-dogs, free regardless of income.

● Emergency care for cats and dogs with no other means of support.

ORH was invited by Cascade Subaru Dealer’s General Manager, Jordan Baldock, to be their 2022 Subaru Loves Pets Partner. Through the remainder of October, Subaru will be promoting ORH’s low income/free spay and neuter programs at their dealership located at 150 Easy St, Wenatchee.

If ORH could fully fund these programs, they could solve the overpopulation of cats and dogs in the areas they serve. In appreciation for this opportunity, ORH is presenting Cascade Subaru and ASPCA with a paver engraved with their logos which will be added to the “Catio” behind the ORH clinic. This also touches off ORH’s fundraiser to sell pavers to help fund their programs. Order forms for engraved pavers can be found at the clinic in Omak and at the Subaru Dealership in Wenatchee.