CPCW Advocates for Municipal TNVR Funding in White Plains

In December 2024, the Cat Protection Council of Westchester began working with White Plains resident Debbie Mills to educate the city’s officials about community cats and the benefits of Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (TNVR). CPCW initiated an email-writing campaign to advocate for municipal funding for a TNVR program, and many White Plains residents and volunteer trappers wrote to Mayor Tom Roach and the White Plains Common Council. CPCW President Paula Garber and a number of supporters spoke during the Citizens to Be Heard portion of two Common Council meetings. Video from the January meeting can be viewed here.

CPCW board members and several White Plains residents and volunteers recently met with Mayor Roach, his advisor, and the planning commissioner. At the meeting, we were given the wonderful news that the City of White Plains is moving forward with allocating funding for TNVR. The funding should be in place in the next couple of months. We extend our thanks to the mayor and Common Council for listening to the concerns of the residents they serve and taking action on addressing the issue of community cats in a humane way.

If you would like to work on getting municipal funding for TNVR in your area, please contact us.

Peekskill’s TNVR Stats: The Success of Targeted Trapping

The City of Peekskill has had a successful TNVR program for over a decade. Susan Haywood has led the program since its inception and has always practiced targeted trapping, which involves trapping and spaying/neutering all the cats in one colony before moving on to the next colony.

Targeted trapping is the only way to reduce community cat populations, and the numbers speak for themselves. Click below to view and download the cat statistics and costs for Peekskill’s TNVR program from 2013 through 2024.

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The Puppy Mill Bill Is Now in Effect

Despite two failed court cases that tried to stop it, the Puppy Mill Bill went into effect on December 15, 2024. Puppies, kittens, and rabbits can no longer be sold in commercial pet stores in New York State. These stores can, however, host adoption events and build new customer loyalty based on their humane practices.

Thanks to the New York State Animal Protection Federation, the ASPCA, and the Humane Society of the United States for getting this important legislation passed, and to Governor Hochul for her support of the bill.

Community Cat Care Tip

Winter Shelters Save Lives

Access to warm, dry shelter during the winter months is vital to keeping community cats healthy and safe.

The Cat Protection Council of Westchester sponsors shelters made by Cozy Community Cats (Sue Marucci). The shelters come filled with straw, and additional bags of straw are available. Pallets (to raise the shelters off the ground) and pavers (to weigh them down) are always free.

Shelters come in two sizes:

Large (31" x 15" x 15")

Small (34" x 13" x 11") 

Pickup is in the White Plains area.

Contact Sue at suemarucci@gmail.com to place your order, then email us at info@catprotectioncouncil.org with what you ordered (including any additional bags of straw). We will send payment to Sue for your shelters and straw.