The ACL also strives to help animals outside of the shelter. Our TNR (trap-neuter-release) Program is making a positive impact on feral cat colonies in Oak Park and many of the surrounding towns. Feral, or “community” cats are wild and not likely to transition to becoming house pets. The TRN Program  helps keep the feral population under better control, as well as protecting the health of the cats. Concerned individuals as well as volunteer groups of “colony caretakers” participate in the program by trapping the cats and bringing them to the shelter. For a $31 fee, the cats are then spayed or neutered, given Rabies and Distemper vaccines, receive a rabies tag and the left ear of each cat is tipped, to indicate they have been fixed. Testing for contagious diseases is also available, as well as tending to minor injuries.

Guidelines for the program:

Each cat must arrive in a trap (not a carrier) for safety reasons. Traps can be rented through the ACL, $10 for 10 days. There is also a $60 cash deposit required to rent a trap. The deposit will be refunded when the trap is returned.

Individuals or caretakers are responsible for picking up the cat(s) after surgery and keeping them safe overnight.

The cats are to be released back to their colony (or area they came from) the next morning.

TNR benefits the cats by reducing the number of feral cats in a safe and humane way and also protecting them from a variety of diseases.

For more information on our TNR program, please call 708-848-8155.