Volunteers seek to end stray cat problem

An animal protection group is looking for people to take a 10-day challenge to help end the stray cat problem in Gyeongsan, North Gyeongsang Province.

Volunteers have been catching cats roaming the Yeungnam University area of the city and taking them to be spayed or neutered by the Korean Animal Protection Society. It costs 50,000 won to neuter a male cat and 80,000 to spay a female under the Cat TNR (Trap Neuter Release) Program, which has been running since September.

Volunteers collect and keep them kenneled for ten days after surgery, before releasing them.

“I began to notice how the cat population in my area had grown since I moved here 2 years ago,” said Lorna Camacho, who started the work.

“I was ignorant about feral cats until I began to do research on them and learned how a pair of cats can produce up to 1 million offspring in a 10 year period. I also learned that they live a difficult life and decided

Once the surgery has been performed the volunteers collect and release them, but the cats must be kept kenneled for 10 days after the treatment.

The group has raised 454,000 won so far to sterilize seven cats, but is still seeking donations to help pay for procedures as well as supplies such as food or litter for cats during their recovery period.

Anyone willing to take on the 10-day challenge of caring for a cat post-surgery can email adoptbullies@gmail.com or go to animalrescuekorea.org for more information. Donations can be made to NongHyup account No. 761-01-229751 (Smith Nicole Rachelle).