The Humane Society of Tampa Bay (HSTB) actively mentors other humane organizations in Florida and across the country in Trap/Neuter/Vaccinate/Return (TNVR) best practices. 

The Society has seen great success in their own TNVR efforts, sterilizing more than 66,000 free-roaming cats since the program's inception in 2008. In addition, with their close partnership with Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center (the county's municipal shelter), HSTB has helped reduce the area's cat euthanasia rate by 60%.

Representatives from Alley Cat Allies (ACA), including ACA President Becky Robinson, recently visited HSTB to observe the celebrated program in action. Vero Beach Humane Society and Daytona Animal Services are other animal welfare organizations which have recently visited the Society to observe and learn how effective the program is for the community. During the mentorship sessions they learned the following:

• How guests drop off their feral cats, how paperwork is processed, and how cats are tagged
• How each cat is prepped for surgery
• How each cat's temperature, pulse, and respiration (TPR) are monitored when recovering from surgery
• How the Society's program for Working Cats is structured and managed, including a tour of the Working Cat Adoption Barn
• How Society staff and volunteers provide one-on-one, post-surgical recovery instructions to each caretaker when they arrive to pick up their cats

If your organization is interested in mentoring with the Humane Society of Tampa Bay in this life-saving work, please contact HSTB CEO, Sherry Silk at 813.774.4309 or [email protected].