The following is a general outline of the type of agreement we have negotiated with individuals and corporations. Please feel free to delete or add any information. The Estimated Expense Sheet should include all negotiated expenses, which can include food, boarding, spay, neuter, vaccinations, medical treatment, trapping expenses, equipment and whatever else will be required to get the job done.

HOW IT WORKS —This is a general guide and agreement for the implementation of successful, humane population control of feral cats and kittens, with long-term managed care.

If indicated, a permit to trap is obtained from the Department of Animal Services and is posted throughout the designated area where trapping will occur. Posting may only be necessary in certain locations or where there are domestic owner-owned cats. It is important that appropriate educational documents be distributed to as many people as you can regarding trap, neuter and return. Not just those persons who will be participating, but anyone who shows an interest. Refer to For All Interested and Concerned Persons.

TRAPPING—Feral Cat Caretakers’ Coalition will oversee and assist persons who will be facilitating the trapping. Trapping is labor and time intensive, and depending upon the circumstances and number of cats, bringing an area under managed control can takes weeks to months or longer. It is necessary to involve and educate persons on the premises in the methods of humane trapping.

KITTENS—If there are kittens on the premises, we recommend they not be returned to the home site. Prior to trapping, persons at the home site will make arrangements for kittens to be adopted or put into foster homes. Under the best conditions, there is a 65% mortality rate among kittens born of feral mothers. It is essential that persons at the home site make every effort to participate in rescuing and fostering kittens. We will assist whenever possible. However, if older kittens are to remain, discussion regarding their welfare and long-term care will be required. Their needs are different from adult cats.

STRAY CATS—Homeless stray cats may also be on the premises. Every effort should be made to foster them and find suitable homes. If stray cats are present and trapped, discussion as to their welfare with persons signing this agreement will be necessary.

SURGERY AND MEDICAL CARE—After trappng has been accomplished, the cats are taken to a veterinarian for spay/neuter, immunization and a Rabies vaccination. They are also given a physical examination and treated for ear mites, worms and whatever else may be necessary to insure their good health. If there are health problems and the cats require medical care, you will be notified and billed for these additional costs. At surgery, either the right or left ear tip is nipped off about 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch for identification purposes as having been sterilized and vaccinated. Ear nipping is a well-known identification for Animal Control Agencies and veterinarians. It also helps the caretaker identify any newcomers. If the cat is not a candidate for surgery, under any circumstances, and euthanasia is the only option, we will notify you, in advance, of this decision.

AFTER SURGERY CARE—Following surgery, the cats will need to be confined and cared for until recovered sufficiently before return. Females who are not pregnant, require a minimum of 3-4 days confinement and those pregnant, having had more extensive surgery, should be confined from 5-7 days. Males usually require 2 days confinement. The length of after surgery care will be contingent upon how well the cats recuperate. Some may require additional confinement days.

Confinement and care means that the cats are confined in a safe, enclosed area, escape proof, and not allowed to roam freely or be released until recovered sufficiently from surgery. The recovery place must be warm and clean with nourishing food and water. If there is an adequate confinement area at the home site and a reliable experienced person available to provide food, water and care on a daily basis, consideration of returning the cats would be a viable option. If the cats can be returned to the home site, we will instruct and assist in preparing their confinement area. We will also make the determination if the area is adequate and safe for post-surgical care.

If this is not an option, the cats will be boarded at a veterinarian or boarding facility for the required days of recuperation.

Animal Birth Control is a Spay and Neuter clinic with two locations, one at 11314 West Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA. Their adult feral cat program includes a 3 in 1 FRCP vaccination, Rabies vaccination, long-term antibiotic injection, and treatment for worms and ear mites, if indicated.

ESTIMATED COSTS AND DISCUSSION—REFER TO ESTIMATED EXPENSES DOCUMENT— to be included as part of this signed agreement.

MANAGING LONG-TERM CARE—Long-term humane managed care requires responsible persons overseeing the feeding, trapping, health and care of cats that have been neutered and identifying those who have not. It will be the responsibility of designated persons on the noted property to be educated and participate in trapping of feral cats and rescuing the kittens, unless otherwise agreed to.

After the cats have been returned to the home site, following surgery, the caretakers will need to manage the area, keep it clean, look out for newcomers, injured or pregnant cats and those who do not have their ears nipped. A good quality of dry and canned food as well as fresh water will be provided in sheltered and protected areas and maintained by the caretaker in charge. We will instruct and oversee persons in charge as to essential long-term humane managed care. Refer to Managed Care Document.

SHELTER —If adequate shelter is not available at the home site, arrangements must be made to provide waterproof and safe shelter for the cats, before trapping begins. Shelter is essential and will encourage the cats to remain close to their shelter and feeding areas. It also makes it easier to identify the cats and implement humane trapping.

SUCCESS—Following surgery and boarding, the cats will be returned to their home site. Feral cats form close-knit colonies as most of them were born and grew up at the above noted location and have made decisions about their territory. When families remain intact, newcomers are not easily welcomed. In the past, when families were destroyed, other cats in close proximity to the territory move in. It then becomes an ongoing problem without humane population control.

Trapping and destroying cats and kittens has resulted in a nationwide explosion of births, with shelters euthanizing millions of cats every year. The importance of keeping the families together, by respecting their nature and habits, is a compassionate and essential decision under the terms of this agreement. After surgery, most of the males stop spraying, there is little fighting, females do not come in "heat" and the population reduces naturally. Many of the problems associated with males and females that have not been altered, ceases. A humane solution has been achieved. This does not happen overnight.

As part of this agreement, Feral Cat Caretakers’ Coalition will oversee and instruct designated caretakers in long-term humane managed care. We will assist in organizing and educating persons on the premises to achieve this and be available for consultation or other agreed to services.

The estimated number of cats at the home site is ___. Since trapping is ongoing, there will be additional expenses. As we proceed, you will be notified as to further costs. Feral Cat Caretakers’ Coalition agrees to work with concerned parties to implement a humane method of feral cat population control, sheltering and feeding.

Please sign and return one copy, indicating you have read this agreement and allow representatives of Feral Cat Caretakers’ Coalition to enter the named property at ________________________ to humanely trap-spay/neuter and return the cats located thereon. It is further understood that Feral Cat Caretakers’ Coalition is not responsible for any untoward events that may result from surgery or trapping of the cats and/or kittens.

Please refer to the expense sheet. An amount of $________ will be required upon signing this agreement. All expenses are tax deductible. Please sign and return one copy. We are a 501c3 nonprofit public charity.

Signature______________________________________Title_______________________

Print name__________________________ Phone#________Cell#________Date_______

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our 24 hour
automated answering service number if (310)820-4122. If you feel there is an emergency regarding any of the cats, please call your veterinarian. If you do not have one, we will provide you with a reference. Request this in advance.

_________________________________                                             Date_______________
Dona Cosgrove Baker
Founder and President
Tax ID95-4781600