.Trap Neuter Return

HSBC funds provide TNR service, in partnership with All About Animals Rescue.

In 2014, HSBC started our Trap-Neuter-Return program, commonly referred to as TNR. TNR is the only method proven to be humane and effective for controlling the community cat population.

With TNR, cats are humanely trapped, examined by a veterinarian, spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and permanently identified by a harmless ear notch located on the left ear. Cats are then returned to their colony and human caregivers. HSBC does not remove or relocate feral/community cats. 

TNR has many advantages. TNR:

• Stabilizes the size of the colony by preventing new litters.
• Reduces nuisance behavior such as yowling and fighting associated with mating activity and the odor of unneutered males marking their territory.
• Allows cats to continue to provide natural rodent control.
• Reduces euthanasia rates by lessening the number of kittens and cats flowing into local shelters.

TNR is not just the best alternative to managing feral cat populations – it is the only one that works. Trying to “rescue” or relocate feral cats is unattainable given their numbers and the futility of trying to socialize most of them.

What You Should Know!

TNR is offered March through October.

Due to limited funding and limited appointments, we are not able to provide aid to everyone that applies.

Qualifications/ Priorities

• Kittens & areas/properties with large feral populations
• Areas with 5 or more cats

  We cannot consider you for the program if:

  • You are unwilling to trap the cats on your property.
  • You are unwilling to transport cats to and from HSBC.
  • There are less than 5 cats on your property.

  If you do not qualify for the program, you are welcome to contact All About Animals in Flint, MI and ask about their walk-in TNR services.  Call or text (810) 780-4978 or visit allaboutanimalsrescue.org.

  If you meet the above qualifications, and we contact you about an available spot, you will have the option to reserve a spot.*  Reservations are not required, those who do not reserve a spot will be first come first serve on the date of transport.

  Please Understand 

• We do not take TNR cats into our foster program. TNR cats are community cats that are trapped, spayed/neutered, given vaccines, and released back into the community where they were trapped.
• Cats are required to be in a live animal trap. These traps are available on loan through HSBC by request. All loaned traps require a form fill, as well as a credit card number or post dated check to be held in the event the trap(s) is not returned.
• Please keep an eye on spam folders for replies to TNR requests! 

Any questions or inquiries about the Humane Society of Bay County’s TNR program can be directed to catprogram@humanesocietybc.org