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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Announcement: Feral Cat
Program Pilot Project<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>President Jones has approved
a pilot feral cat program that will last two years. Students, faculty,
and staff are requested not to interfers with efforts to trap the cats, or eventual
efforts to maintain feeding stations. No feeding of cats should occur on
campus beyond the authorized stations. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>This pilot program will
entail the following activities:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>A census of cats on campus,
overseen by Dr. James Cain, which has begun this week (April 26). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>A census will result in
information on the number of cats (of all categories, ferals and domestic
strays and free-ranging animals) on campus. The purpose is to get a count
of cats and to track and study the movements/range of some of them. Cats
will be trapped and microchipped. Some will be fitted with radio collars.
Locations: main campus and agriculture buildings. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>The census will not involve
spaying/neutering, shots, or feeding.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>After the census is
completed, a Trap/Neuter/Release/Relocate program will be started on the main
campus. Dr. Robin Anne Reid will coordinate a group of volunteers for
this program which will maintain three feeding stations on the main campus
(locations to be determined by information drawn from the census) with (at
least) weekly trapping. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Dr. Gary Thompson and the
Commerce Veterinary Clinic will be donating services for spaying and neutering
plus a rabies shot. Cats will be microchipped (if they aren't already).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Cats trapped during this
stage will be evaluated: if they are too old/ill to survive, they will be
humanely euthanized. If they are young enough to domesticate, or are
already domesticated (i.e. strays rather than ferals), they can be adopted
after the rabies shot and spaying/neutering. If they are ferals, they
will be spayed/neutered, given the rabies shot, and released back on campus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Ongoing counts/census will
take place at regular period (1 year, 18 months, 2 years).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Regular reports will be
submitted to Dr. Lemanski and the Animal Care and Use Committee. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>The protocol for the census
and the TNR will be approved and overseen by the Animal Care and Use Committee.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Dr. Lemanski has approved
funding for the pilot program on the understanding that the program will be
part of a research process that will involve grants and publications. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Robin Anne Reid<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Professor of Literature and
Languages<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Texas A&M
University-Commerce<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Commerce, TX 75429<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>903.886.5268<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Fax: 903.886.5980<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
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