WARRENSBURG, MO (OCT. 2, 2022) –  Warrensburg Cat Advocates (WCA) attended the annual Midwest Sheltering Conference Sept. 23-25 as a member of the Missouri Coalition of Animal Organizations. We could not have attended without our WCA supporters and fellow cat advocates. 180 people from 17 states, including IA, IL, KS, MO, and NE, attended the conference. 79 organizations were represented, including municipal animal controls, foster based rescues, nonprofit animal shelters, spay-neuter clinics, and more!

Presentations were given by Best Friends Animal Society and many other well-known animal rescues throughout the U.S. Highlights from the conference included topics like compassionate language to support people and pets, removing barriers to adoption, medical care for cats, leveraging intake for disease prevention and more from leading vets like Dr. Heather Kennedy for KCPP and Dr. Amy Burling from MU Shelter Medicine program and more. One of the most outstanding sessions for WCA was a presentation by BFAS lawyer, Richard Angelo who gave a presentation on Legal and Policy Frameworks for Community Cat Programs. Angelo included a recent resolution by the American Bar Association in his presentation:

AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION TORT TRIAL AND INSURANCE PRACTICE SECTION REPORT TO THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES RESOLUTION 1 RESOLVED, That the American Bar Association urges state, local, territorial, and tribal 2 legislative bodies and governmental agencies to interpret existing laws and policies, and adopt 3 laws and policies, to allow the implementation and administration of trap-neuter-vaccinate-return 4 programs for community cats within their jurisdictions so as to promote their effective, efficient, 5 and humane management. (bfas.org/abacats)

WCA appreciates the ongoing efforts like these that progress Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs which align with our own mission for the Johnson County community. WCA looks forward to attending again in 2023.

In 2022, WCA has helped nearly 600 community cats. Community cats or cat colonies are homeless cats sometimes referred to as feral cats, stray cats or outdoor living cats. As we approach the winter months, it is critical we join together to make winter shelters for community cats. WCA and Northside Feed have teamed together for this year’s WInter Cat Shelter Build. The build will be held at Northside Feed on North 13 Highway, Nov. 5, 2022, 10 am – 2 pm. Not only do these shelters provide a safe warm home in the winter months but it allows for monitoring of local community cat colonies and protection from predators while keeping the cats healthier. This will be our fourth year building and providing free cat shelters to our Johnson County Community, no participation necessary

We are looking for a local organization or more to build with us or on their own. Should you be in need of a winter cat shelter, or like to volunteer for this or other important tasks, please contact us via messaging at facebook.com/WarrensburgCatAdvocates, or Tammy Roberts, vice president at 660-238-2068.