Agency Details:

Marin Friends Of Ferals

Marin Friends of Ferals is a non-profit volunteer organization dedicated to providing humane care and management of feral and homeless cats in Marin.

Description:
Our primary purpose is:

• To help Marin County residents reduce the population of unaltered feral and homeless cats through Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR). TNR is a humane method of population control. Trapped cats are then brought to the local humane society or a veterinarian for spay/neuter, tests and vaccinations, ear-tipping for identification, and then returned to their colonies.
  
  
• Colony management through volunteer feeders and trappers. Marin Friends of Ferals (MFF) promotes the adoption of long-term caretaker based solutions regarding feral cats. We recruit volunteers to help with daily feedings of the various colonies throughout Marin. Caretakers deliver food supplied by MFF and leave food and clean water at each site. Cat houses or other types of shelter are built or purchased by MFF for protection from the elements. Caretakers also monitor their colonies for signs of illness so those animals may be re-trapped to receive veterinary care.
  
  
• Foster colony kittens and socialize adoptable cats for eventual adoption. MFF provides volunteer foster parents who bring the cats home and prepare them for a permanent home of their own. With human touch and care, these kittens are domesticated and put up for adoption. With kittens older than 12 weeks, where socialization is attempted but not successful, the animal is released back to its colony where it is cared for by caretakers for the remainder of its life.
  
  
• Raise public awareness of the plight of Marin's homeless and feral cats through education. MFF provides instruction to the public on TNR and how to manage a feral cat colony through personal demonstrations and a "Colony Care Guide" given to volunteers and interested parties. We loan traps, teach people trapping techniques, and for those who request help, we assist them with trapping.

We work with and educate property managers and Marin homeowners in communicating appropriate and humane solutions for feral cats living on their property.
We network with other feral cat caretakers. By exchanging ideas and tips about colony care and management, we help project a strong and unifying voice for feral cat caretakers and their colonies.

• Raise funds to offer public assistance with the cost of spay/neuter and assist with providing food for colony caretakers, medicines and medical attention for sick or injured colony cats, and for purchasing traps and supplies needed for TNR.



History:
Marin Friends of Ferals became a non-profit in January of 2009. Previous to that date, a small group of us united to begin trapping feral cats in 2005. As we discovered a need in our county for more help with these forgotten felines, we started recruiting volunteers for more help with feeding and trapping. We now have a small but growing number of volunteers who either help trap, foster cats or feed colonies. We work closely with the Marin Humane Society by offering TNR assistance to those who call the shelter needing help. Our website will soon be linked to theirs to help reach more residents in educating them on the humane care and management of feral cats.




Contact people:


Janet Williams, President, (phone), (email) Susan Johnston, Vice President, (phone), (email)


Main office number: (415) 246-9162

Address:


PO Box 6282 San Rafael, CA 94903


Web Site: http://www.marinferals.org

Last updated on January 17, 2010