The Ranch Rescue

06/03/2026

Absolutely horrifying that CATS just don’t matter. Our leaders say “we aren’t doing cats”, they look away, our local shelter chooses not to deal with homeless kitties, our business owners believe “removing” them is a solution, trap and euthanize is a thing, especially in this county…… EDUCATION IS THE KEY and understanding what a “no kill” facility actually is.

STOP KILLING CATS.
There is NO excuse, not in any state, not in any shelter, not in any system.

The cruelty toward cats in the United States is not a minor issue. It is a nationwide crisis caused by hostility toward cats, outdated animal control methods, misinformation about wildlife, feeding bans, and shelter systems that still kill healthy cats. The biggest problem is that the laws meant to protect cats are not being enforced.

Every state has animal cruelty laws, but cats are NOT consistently protected by them. Some states only protect “owned” cats. Others make exceptions for “pests” or “nuisance animals.” Some allow killing under wildlife or hunting laws. Across the country, animal control and shelters kill cats daily without facing any legal consequences. The laws exist, but enforcement does not.

This is not just a local issue. It is a national failure.

Across the United States:
- Healthy cats are killed in shelters as a method of “population control.”
- Community cats are killed based on complaints.
- Feeding bans starve cats and cause suffering.
- Wildlife agencies spread fear-based misinformation.
- TNR programs are blocked, underfunded, or made illegal.
- Caregivers face threats, fines, or even arrest.
- Cruelty laws are applied selectively or ignored entirely.

Cats are legally protected in theory. In practice, they are treated as expendable.

WHAT THE RESEARCH ACTUALLY SHOWS:

Feral cats in managed colonies are healthy and stable.
Alley Cat Allies, 2016
https://www.alleycat.org/.../Feral-cat-health-analysis...

Survival rates match those of indoor–outdoor owned cats.
Nutter et al., 2004
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/8175636_Reproductive_capacity_of_free-roaming_domestic_cats_and_kitten_survival_rate

TNR improves health, reduces roaming, lowers stress, and increases lifespan.
Nathan Winograd summary + primary sources
https://www.nathanwinograd.com/the-life-of-a-wild-cat/

This is not an idealized view. It is supported by peer-reviewed science.

TNR SAVES LIVES — EVERYWHERE IT’S IMPLEMENTED:

San José: killings down 83%
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6437086/

Baltimore: killings down 82%
https://faunalytics.org/three-years-six-shelters-72970.../

Jacksonville: both intake and killing dropped sharply
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5946139/

TNR works. Killing does not.

THE WILDLIFE ARGUMENT IS BASED ON FAULTY MODELS — NOT FIELD DATA:

The claim of “2.4 billion birds” is based on a model, not a real count. It makes worst-case assumptions and likely counts some birds twice. This claim has been questioned in peer-reviewed studies.

Fenimore et al., 2020
https://www.felineresearch.org/post/issue-brief-wildlife-impacts-of-outdoor-cats

Key facts:
- No bird species has become extinct due to cats during the era of TNR and modern colony management.
- The real threats come from humans — habitat loss, pollution, windows, and vehicles.
- Cats help control invasive species.
- Ecosystems in long-settled areas have already adjusted to community cats.

Removing cats destabilizes ecosystems. TNR brings back stability.

PEER-REVIEWED TNR RESEARCH LIBRARY:

Levy et al. 2003
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12523478/

Spehar & Wolf 2017
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29088106/

Spehar & Wolf 2018
https://www.wellbeingintlstudiesrepository.org/aw_comp_globalcats_managementtnr/1/

Spehar & Wolf 2019
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31597301/

Kreisler et al. 2019
https://www.wellbeingintlstudiesrepository.org/aw.../16/

AVMA TNR Resource
https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/243/4/javma.243.4.502.xml

HSUS Community Cats
https://www.humaneworld.org/en/resources/outdoor-cats-faq

ASPCA Community Cats
https://www.aspca.org/helping-shelters-people-pets/closer-look-community-cats

WHAT TNR ACTUALLY PROVIDES:
- Stability
- Safety
- Health
- Dignity
- Home

Every sterilization prevents suffering. Every protected colony saves a life. Every supporter counts.

THE NATIONAL MESSAGE:

STOP KILLING CATS.
STOP IGNORING CRUELTY LAWS.
STOP TREATING CAT LIVES AS OPTIONAL.

This is not only a regional issue. This is a United States issue.

We need:
- Nationwide enforcement of existing cruelty laws
- Federal recognition of TNR as humane management
- Protection for caregivers
- A ban on feeding bans
- A ban on catch-and-kill as the standard shelter practice
- A national shift toward evidence-based policy

Cats are not pests.
They are not endangering wildlife.
They are not disposable.

They are living beings, and it’s time the law finally meant something.

PLEASE NOTE: The HASS “community-based sheltering abandonment model" is harmful for pet cats because it treats vulnerable, human-socialized animals as if they are the same as unsocialized community cats. By encouraging shelters to “leave cats where they are found,” HASS has created a loophole that allows real abandonment to be passed off as policy. Socialized cats, who seek out people, who depend on human care, and who cannot survive outdoors alone; are being left outside, refused intake, or mislabeled as “community cats” ...even when they are clearly lost, dumped, or in danger. This is not progressive sheltering; it is a systematic abandonment of pets.

TNR, on the other hand, is not abandonment and never has been. Ethical TNR programs identify, protect, and sterilize unsocialized community cats living outdoors while ensuring that friendly, human-dependent cats are removed from colonies, brought to safety, and placed into homes or rescues. TNR is a targeted, evidence-based population management tool.

Abandonment is a crime. Confusing HASS with TNR, or mislabeling HASS as No Kill, costs lives. Shelters that refuse intake under the name of “HASS,” or by falsely calling themselves 'no kill' under HASS policies, are not providing humane care; they are simply turning away the very animals they are meant to protect.

06/02/2026

🌟 Huge shout out to the Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control Rescue Coordinators and team 🙏🏼

Thanks to their incredible support, we’ve been able to save 52 lives since January! 🐾 Those cats who were deemed “not adoptable” and marked for URGENT ❌ are now thriving in our Barn Cat Program. (A free Program)

We are forever grateful to be part of such an amazing partnership. Together, we’re making a difference—because every LIFE MATTERS! ❤️
Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control Shelter Cats of Palm Beach County

06/02/2026

🐾 Why Adopt from a Shelter or Rescue?

Sure, there are tons of FREE kittens online. But is free really better? Absolutely not!

If you’re in a position to spend $300-$1000 on spaying/neutering, testing, worming and vaccinations, then go ahead and adopt those free kittens. We’ll support you all the way! 🙌

But let’s be real—many families are struggling just to pay rent, buy groceries, and fill up their gas tanks.

That’s why adopting from your local shelter or rescue is the smart choice. For a small fee or donation you get a fully vetted and tested cat or kitten.

Every “free kitten” is a potential hoarding issue. While some people responsibly get them altered, many do not. Let’s be responsible and make choices that prioritize their welfare! The cats are counting on us! ❤️

06/01/2026

‼️‼️The Ranch Rescue is NOT closed or closing, although intake is currently ON HOLD. Capacity of care is a top priority as we have over 40 kitties in our care, not including fosters. We do not do this for Facebook likes or attention. Safety is also a top priority so that no kitty is harmed in our care and receives the proper medical treatments necessary.

We understand that Columbia County and surrounding counties are facing the same issues of RESCUES having NO SPACE, but please be do your “due diligence” and be sure you are handing these animals over to people who have proper set ups and can provide proper medical (spay/neuter) so that the crisis doesn’t continue and PLEASE request a visit to see where these kitties are being kept.

We are doing the best that we can, but again, capacity of care is our TOP priority.

05/31/2026

After 3 days and many hours of watching and waiting to see if a mom or any other kittens were around……..this little kitten never gave up hope as she continued to cry. We are over capacity, but couldn’t leave this baby alone in a heavily frequented parking lot. How many people heard her cries and just kept going? We heard you and we saw you ne we didn’t stop until you were safe. Welcome Glory…..better days ahead.

05/30/2026

Look at these beautiful faces…….💙❤️

Must have an approved application to schedule a play date.

👉Application: https://form.jotform.com/253087445318158?utm_id=97759_v0_s00_e231_tv3_tp1&fbclid=IwRlRTSASIJPhleHRuA2FlbQIxMABzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEe3MQTOtkTdtD_Cq90IRsVDkwJFZxuDBG_JNtXBEf7M-zAzwt5cKMTKFsIjb8_aem_GeydOpfjgl4PjVJnvfGW7g

Come experience the outgoing personalities of these little fur balls in person and to see which kitty falls in love with you. Michelle Eaken thank you for taking such great care of momma and babies! Fostering saves lives. 🐾🙏🏼

05/28/2026

🤬Urgent Animal Welfare Alert

I find this situation absolutely disgusting and unacceptable. Recently, 11 kittens (and two moms) were found suffering from severe upper respiratory infections and bulging eye infections, trapped in a zip lock bag outside in 100-degree heat—likely over 120 degrees inside their makeshift prison, wrapped in garbage bags.

One poor kitten had to be euthanized because she was too far gone. The woman responsible thinks the kittens’ eye conditions are just a result of them “waking up.” This is utterly heartbreaking.

All the kittens have been surrendered, and shockingly, she wants to know if she can have them back once they’re better. Absolutely not. Not even when hell freezes over.

This is a reminder that we must all be vigilant—see something, say something. Please send your prayers for these kittens; they need all the love and support they can get.

05/28/2026

No TNR 6/2 - 6/5

Thank you all for your help with our community! 🐾❤️