STAR (Siskiyou Trap, Alter and Release)

"Where love and compassion meet the wild side of life"

 Our mission is to humanely address cat overpopulation through high-intensity TNR and community education, promoting responsible cat ownership, improving the lives of cats, and minimizing their impact on the environment. 

A Legacy of Compassion, A Future of Hope                                         

Since 2006, STAR has championed humane feral cat management in South Siskiyou County. Our founder, Barbara Lovelace, a true pioneer in TNR, collaborated with local groups to make significant strides in reducing shelter intakes and improving countless cats' lives. Though STAR took a brief pause in 2019, the need for our services never faded. Recognizing the urgent call, we re-emerged in November 2023 with renewed energy and a wealth of experience. 

Building on a Strong Foundation

With over 30 years of experience in animal welfare, our new leadership has already made a significant impact.  As of  November 2024 we've TNR'd  over 288 cats, preventing an estimated  230 kitten births this year alone. Our high-intensity TNR approach has successfully halted reproduction in some of the largest colonies. 

How TNR Enriches Our Community                  What is a community cat?

• Reduces burden on shelters: Unlike sporadic trapping and removal, STAR employs research-backed high-intensity TNR. This proven approach is the most humane and effective way to stabilize and gradually reduce community cat populations. Our work significantly decreases shelter intakes, freeing up resources and giving more cats a chance at a better life.
• Promotes a healthy ecosystem: TNR helps maintain a balanced ecosystem by stabilizing cat populations and reducing the potential for disease transmission among cats and wildlife.
• Fosters compassion: By promoting humane solutions for feral cats, STAR encourages community involvement and cultivates empathy for all living beings.

WATCH TNR IN ACTION

What is TNR?

TNR stands for Trap-Neuter-Return. It is a method of humanely managing feral cat populations by trapping them, having them spayed or neutered and vaccinated by a veterinarian, and then returning them to their colonies

What is High-Intesity TNR?

High-intensity TNR involves rapidly sterilizing 70% or more of a free-roaming cat population within a short period. Research shows this approach leads to significant reductions in cat deaths and, over time, decreases the overall population size. However, the ability of TNR to reduce preventable deaths and population size largely disappears when implemented with less intensity. A lower-intensity effort—while helping individual cats—does not reach the thresholds necessary to achieve greater benefits.   Essentially, it's about maximizing sterilization efforts in a concentrated timeframe to achieve the best outcomes for cat welfare and population control.

 Mason Update                                               Casey's Christmas Miracle                                                                                                           

Your Donation Makes a Difference

Every dollar you donate helps us provide vital TNR services: 

• Sponsor a cat for $25, which covers spay/neuter surgery and vaccinations.  
• Sponsor a clinic for $250, and we'll take 10 cats from a colony to be spayed/neutered and vaccinated
• Donate any amount of your choice

Join STAR in building a more compassionate community for all.