It’s at the heart of the work we do: getting animals back home. Over and over data confirms that both dogs and cats have a much higher chance of just that if reunification efforts are made in the neighborhoods where they are found, rather than after they’ve entered the shelter. And we know that the cycle of impounding and rehoming disproportionately impacts under-resourced and marginalized communities.
We’re getting clearer on what works and what doesn’t for people and animals, and it’s time to clarify our terminology too. When it comes to serving community cats who are thriving right where they’re at, the programming might be called TNR, SNR or RTF. It’s important our language matches our mission and our work, which is why we wholeheartedly support the shift to Return to Home, or RTH.
Return to Home may not be as easy as clicking your heels three times, but when we show up ready to learn from one another and our communities, we’ve got the collective brains, heart, and courage to make it happen. If you’re ready to explore all things possible with RTH, start with these recent must-sees:
The Top Ten: Questions and Controversy with Community Cat Programs
For community cats, the majority of whom are unowned, though not uncared for, home looks a little different: it might be curling up under a network of caregiver porches instead of at the foot of a bed. In this Million Cat Challenge webinar, Maddie’s Fund® Director of Feline Lifesaving Monica Frenden, HSUS Senior Analyst Danielle Bays and Stray Cat Alliance Executive Director Christi Metropole answer common questions you receive about returning cats and give tips on crafting messaging that aligns with our universally-held goal of managing feline populations.
What Happens to a Cat When You Put It Back?
In this special presentation for California Animal Shelter COVID Action Response (CASCAR), Brittany Sundell details how Idaho’s West Valley Humane Society RTH community cat program employs innovative, low-cost research (breakaway collars and student-piloted drones for the win!) to gather valuable data on Canyon County cats and not only ensure the best care and outcomes for local felines—with an RTH rate of 85.9%—but also strengthen bonds between the shelter and community.
Using Data to Get Dogs Home
In another recent CASCAR presentation, Tom Kremer breaks down the data behind his Frontiers article, “A New Web-Based Tool for RTO-Focused Animal Shelter Data Analysis,” leads viewers through a guided tour of the powerful and versatile tool, and explains how it enabled the team at Dallas Animal Services to document where dogs were coming from in the community and how far from home they were found in order to strengthen RTH efforts.
