BETHESDA, Md. – April 2, 2020 – Alley Cat Allies has provided more than $125,000 in its first round of emergency funding for animal welfare organizations that are experiencing major disruptions due to the outbreak of novel coronavirus (COVID-19). These emergency grants are being used for food and delivery, medical care, vaccinations and community outreach. Meanwhile, the Alley Cat Allies website, alleycat.org, is also serving as a critical hub for caregivers scrambling to find information and local resources for the community cats and companion cats in their care.
“This is an emergency on a scale that we have never before seen for the world’s animal shelters, rescue organizations and everyone who cares for cats,” said Becky Robinson, president and founder of Alley Cat Allies. “We must find a way to continue providing food and medical care for all cats even as so much of the rest of our world comes to a stop. Many organizations are dealing with sudden and severe shortages of food, staffing and money. We are doing everything we can to provide direct assistance and critical information to support those who are performing daily miracles so the cats in their care will survive.”
Alley Cat Allies has provided emergency grants to the following organizations through April 1, with more support to be announced as the crisis evolves.
- Fieldhaven Feline Center in Lincoln, Calif., for medical care, vaccinations, food and delivery and other expenses
- Jacksonville Humane Society in Jacksonville, Fla., for medical care, vaccinations, food and delivery and other expenses
- Animal Health Outreach Prevention Education (A HOPE) in Milton, Fla., for food and delivery and cat care, plus community outreach and support
- Feral Cat Consortium in Madisonville, La., for food and delivery and cat care, plus community outreach and support
- Humane Society of Louisiana in New Orleans, La., for medical care, vaccinations, food and delivery and other expenses
- CATNIP Foundation at Big Sky Ranch in Folsom, La., for medical supplies, food and delivery and cat care
- Friends for Life, in Houston, Texas, for medical care, vaccinations, food and delivery and other expenses.
- Nevada Humane Society in Reno, Nev., for food and delivery and cat care, plus community outreach and support
- PALNV in Las Vegas, Nev., for food and delivery and cat care, plus community outreach and support
- Colucci’s Animal Trappers and Savers (C.A.T.S., Inc.), in Las Vegas, Nev., for food and delivery and cat care, plus community outreach and support
- Chesapeake Humane Society in Chesapeake, Va., for medical care, vaccinations, food and delivery and other expenses
- Kitty City, Inc., in Memphis, Tenn., for medical care, vaccinations, food and delivery and other expenses.
In addition to financial assistance, Alley Cat Allies is serving as an information center for cat caregivers who are searching for help. It has posted to alleycat.org a state-by-state list of animal food banks to help those who may need assistance locating food for cats. Alley Cat Allies is also monitoring “Shelter in Place” and “Stay at Home” restrictions from various state and local governments in the U.S., and has advised that nothing in those orders prohibits the on-going care and feeding of community cats.
