Helping Outdoor Community Cats

Help Feral Cats Thrive, Safely

Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) is the only humane solution to the feral/community cat population problem. It is the No. 1 way PAWS Chicago is going to reduce the kitten and cat population on the streets of Chicago and at Animal Care & Control (the city pound).

PAWS Chicago is a sponsoring organization under the Cook County TNR ordinance and helps caregivers care for outdoor feral/community cat colonies.

Volunteer Opportunities

Outdoor Cat Colony Caretaker

Overview

To be a legal Outdoor Cat Colony Caretaker specializing in Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), you must be registered with a sponsoring organization (like PAWS Chicago), who reports your colony statistics to Cook County annually.

Your responsibilities include:

  • Spaying/neutering, vaccinating and microchipping the cats in your colony
  • Providing food and shelter
  • Monitoring their health and well-being
  • Reporting the status of your colony to PAWS Chicago annually

Helpful Skills

  • Experience handling cats
  • Compassion for the feral/community cats in your neighborhood
  • Customer service skills for actively working with neighborhood residents as an advocate for your feral/community cats

Training

PAWS Chicago offers one-time seminars on TNR as well as ongoing support.

Location

Main Location
409 Pacific Coast Highway
Redondo Beach, CA 90277

Hours

Volunteers are needed 365 days a year.
Weekdays:

8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Weekends:

8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

TNR Trainer

Overview

As a TNR Trainer, you will train new volunteers about the PAWS Chicago TNR program in a workshop setting.

Topics include:

  • The facts and history of TNR
  • The benefits of TNR in a community
  • PAWS Chicago's role as a sponsoring organization
  • The Colony Caretaker's responsibilities
  • Other organizations supporting TNR efforts
  • Volunteer TNR opportunities

Helpful Skills

  • Compassion for feral/community cats
  • Good public speaking skills
  • Ability to speak Spanish

Training

  • New Volunteer Orientation
  • TNR Workshop

Location

Main Location
409 Pacific Coast Highway
Redondo Beach, CA 90277

Hours

Volunteers are needed 365 days a year.
Weekdays:

8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Weekends:

8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

TNR Colony Support Volunteer

Overview

As a TNR Colony Support Volunteer, you will provide operational support that ensures the TNR Program runs smoothly.

Duties include:

  • Answering phone calls and inquiries regarding the TNR Program
  • Entering Colony Caretaker information into the PAWS TNR Database
  • Helping with inventory management of the traps
  • Sending out annual requests to Colony Caretakers for updates on colony statistics
  • Cross-referencing feral/community cats who end up at Animal Care & Control with the PAWS Chicago database and helping return feral cats to their colonies

Helpful Skills

  • Compassion for community cats
  • PC and data entry skills
  • Customer service skills
  • Ability to speak Spanish

Training

  • New Volunteer Orientation
  • TNR Workshop

Location

Main Location
409 Pacific Coast Highway
Redondo Beach, CA 90277

Hours

Volunteers are needed 365 days a year.
Weekdays:

8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Weekends:

8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Trapping and Transportation Volunteer

Overview

As a Trapping and Transportation Volunteer, you will help trap and transport cats to and from caretakers who have agreed to participate in the TNR program. You will learn how to set the traps and deliver them to the assigned properties.

Helpful Skills

  • Valid driver's license (required)
  • Compassion for community cats
  • Ability to speak Spanish

Training

  • New Volunteer Orientation
  • TNR Workshop

Location

Main Location
409 Pacific Coast Highway
Redondo Beach, CA 90277

Hours

Volunteers are needed 365 days a year.
Weekdays:

8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Weekends:

8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

TNR Community Outreach Volunteer

Overview

As TNR Community Outreach Volunteer, you will build relationships with neighbors and other community organizations, uniting neighborhoods to help more cats.

You will help evaluate the TNR need in various communities to help prioritize where PAWS Chicago invests its TNR resources. Once working a neighborhood, you will be an active advocate for cats by helping to reach cat-loving residents and teach them about the importance and benefits of TNR, building relationships and placing door hangers around the neighborhood to spread awareness of the TNR program and how people can get involved.

Helpful Skills

  • Customer service skills
  • Enjoy working with the public
  • Compassion for community cats
  • Ability to speak Spanish

Training

  • New Volunteer Orientation
  • TNR Workshop

Location

Main Location
409 Pacific Coast Highway
Redondo Beach, CA 90277

Hours

Volunteers are needed 365 days a year.
Weekdays:

8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Weekends:

8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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