On Saturday April 5th, the Town of Babylon will launch a free spay/neuter voucher distribution to assist in TNR (Trap/Neuter/Release) efforts of feral cats. The service is available exclusively to Town residents. This innovative program is possible thanks to a joint effort between the town and Assemblyman Bob Sweeney (who secured the state grant). Last Hope Animal Rescue, Inc. will also provide crucial support for this TNR initiative, assisting with the initial training and administrative tasks.
    

Briefly here is how the voucher system works:

Vouchers: On April 5th town residents can come to Town Hall Annex at Phelps Lane, North Babylon from 11 am to 1 pm and collect up to 5 vouchers for each address, valid from April 7th through  mid July (or sooner if demand uses all the funding). Each spay/neuter voucher is good for 1 cat. There will be between 400-500 vouchers released.  The Town staff/Last Hope volunteers will also instruct residents in the use of humane traps, follow up cat care, and the procedures for borrowing a trap. 

The Town expects the vouchers to be claimed quickly. After April 5th, residents can call the shelter at 643-9270 to see if any certificates remain.

Appointment: The resident will then be responsible to call Brentwood/Islip Animal Hospital (the only clinic where the voucher can be redeemed) to schedule a spay/neuter appointment for each voucher. Only feral cats in traps will be accepted. Since ferals are so hard to handle, often the sex of the cat remains undetermined until anesthetized.

Borrowing Traps: The shelter has a limited supply of new humane traps to lend to residents for a period up to 2 weeks. A cash deposit of $60 per trap is required. All money will be refunded when the trap is returned on time. The shelter/Last Hope will give advice but will not be trapping the cats for residents.

Veterinary Procedure: The resident brings the cat(s) in the trap to the hospital on the scheduled day.  Because there are various schools of thought about testing ferals for FeLV/FIV, caretakers will have a choice with asymptomatic cats. They can opt not to test and proceed with the surgery; or combo blood test first at no charge. However, any cat that tests positive for feline leukemia (FeLV) or feline immune deficiency disease (FIV) will not be sterilized, but instead will be humanely euthanized while still sedated. Spayed and neutered ferals will receive a rabies vaccine and be left ear notched for easy "castrated ID". (Any additional services requested like distemper shots or flea control will be at the resident's expense.) The resident will pick up the cat later the same day, and follow recovery and re-release procedures.

What's Needed:  A current NYS driver's license with a Town of Babylon address. Please note- 5 vouchers are available for each address, not each resident.