In less than two years, Safe Harbor Animal Coalition has made huge strides towards creating a volunteer-run facility to spay and neuter the stray cat population. What began as simply a TNR (trap, neuter, release) organization has quickly morphed into something of a larger scale. Now, Safe Harbor is working with many local rescue organizations to vet feral and stray cats. Their goal for this year: spay and neuter 2,021 cats.

“We try to help control the feral population, especially with cats right now, through TNR programs,” said Officer Manager Kim Cole. “We capture the feral cats, bring them in, and get them spayed or neutered, vaccinated and dewormed, and then release them back to their feeding stations or colonies. This helps prevent overpopulation. We’re also working with the Baldwin County Humane Society and local rescue organizations such as Stray Love Foundation to help with any foster kitties that need to be spayed, neutered, or vaccinated before they go up for adoption to find their future homes.”

The Surgery Center at Safe Harbor has been equipped with a state-of-the-art surgery suite through donated funds from Foley, Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Baldwin County, and individuals. The facility, donated by a local company, houses a prepping room, the surgery center, a recovery room, an isolation room for animals with illnesses, three large rooms for adoptable cats to stay, as well as staff and utility rooms.

“We have to concentrate on TNR to reduce the feral and stray cat population,” said Steve Solomon, chairman. “This facility isn’t a veterinary clinic for the public to bring their pets, this is for animals without a home, and hopefully we can rescue some of the younger ones that can be domesticated and put up for adoption.”

To assist in the Surgery Center, Safe Harbor has partnered with Coastal Alabama Community College and Auburn University’s School of Veterinary Medicine. Soon, Auburn University vet students will be staying in paid for accommodations while they get hands-on experience at Safe Harbor, spaying, neutering, and vaccinating felines before the organization volunteers release them. These students need experience hours to graduate, hours they will receive while assisting in reducing the local feral cat population. Likewise, vet tech students from Coastal Alabama Community College will be receiving experience assisting with all operations and vaccinations.

“I love working here, it’s a great program to TNR and get these cats healthy, up-to-date on shots, and spayed or neutered to help with overpopulation,” said Coastal Alabama vet tech student Amanda Mendez. “The people at Safe Harbor are great, they’re wonderful. They have so much passion for what they’re doing, I’m just thankful to be here.”

The students will be monitored by licensed veterinarians and vet techs, who will assist them in all aspects of performing the operations.

“What’s so important is the tri-cities came together to help fund this project, that was crucial,” said licensed vet tech and organization volunteer Tom Conerly. “The cities got on board, the county has committed to the project, and the partnerships with Auburn and Coastal Alabama for their tech programs. That has all helped this program launch. Not to mention the community. The building was donated. The work to the building was donated. Supplies have been donated. If it weren’t for the commitment from the cities and county and the donations from the public, this would have never been possible. With this, we can help the community, the rescue organizations, and education for our future vets and vet techs.”

Organization volunteers estimate over 70,000 feral and stray cats to be in Baldwin County. Solomon says the problem was years in the making, and it will take years to control. With the new Surgery Center in operation, Safe Harbor and local rescue organizations are working towards that goal.

The organization needs to raise $120,000 to reach its goal of 2,021 cats in 2021. Volunteers are also needed for both Safe Harbor and local rescue group Stray Love Foundation, which has an adoption room within Safe Harbor’s facility. Future plans include opening a second facility that will spay, neuter, and vaccinate dogs and expanding to include an animal sanctuary.

To learn more, donate, volunteer, or foster, check out https://safeharboranimalcoalition.org.