2nd Annual National Feral Cat Summit Promises to be Historic Event! - Leading Animal Welfare Organizations and Individuals from around the U.S. to Gather in Philadelphia - Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals, Inc. - Working with the City of New York to promote dog and cat adoption and spay and neuter programs to make New York a no-kill city.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, August 16, 2005

2nd Annual National Feral Cat Summit Promises to be Historic Event!

Leading Animal Welfare Organizations and Individuals from around the U.S. to Gather in Philadelphia

New York, NY – August 16, 2005 – On October 15, 2005, in Philadelphia, PA., an all-day conference will address one of the critical issues facing animal welfare today — the extreme overpopulation of feral cats. Lectures, workshops and exhibits will focus on the use of Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) as a means of resolving the crisis. "The National Feral Cat Summit" is presented by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), In Defense of Animals (IDA), Neighborhood Cats, the Alliance for Philadelphia's Animals and the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals, with sponsors including PetSmart Charities and the PETCO Foundation.

Tickets for this important event are only $40 if purchased before Sept. 1, $50 afterwards. For the complete program and registration form, please go to: www.neighborhoodcats.org/special/nfc_summit_2005.htm

The program will include:

•	Esther Mechler, founder of SPAY USA, speaking on the vital role of TNR in solving companion animal overpopulation
•	Dr. Margaret R. Slater, DVM, PhD, relaying the latest in feral cat research
•	Bryan Kortis, Executive Director of Neighborhood Cats, giving practical tips on convincing municipalities to do TNR, and teaching a workshop on how to build a successful community-wide TNR program
•	Nancy Peterson, Issues Specialist for The HSUS, announcing HSUS' new relationship with Neighborhood Cats
•	Directors of leading TNR programs from around the country giving tips on the successes of, and challenges facing, their efforts
•	A workshop on building animal coalitions featuring the distinguished panel of Jane Hoffman, President of the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals, Ann Trinkle, President of the Alliance for Philadelphia's Animals, Tara Derby-Perrin, Executive Director of Philadelphia's Animal Care & Control, Sandy Monterose, National Shelter Outreach for the ASPCA, and Esther Mechler
•	Meredith Weiss and Emma Cobb of Neighborhood Cats on how to perform a mass trapping
•	Anitra Frazier, author of The New Natural Cat, teaching a workshop on feral cat colony care
•	Kit Jenkins, Grants Manager for PetSmart Charities, on finding grants for TNR programs
•	Valerie Sicignano of Neighborhood Cats on creating fundraising events

The Exhibit Hall will feature a wealth of information from participating organizations, the latest equipment and innovations in TNR, including the Incredible Drop Trap by Laura Burns, IndyFeral's Fabulous Feral Winter Shelter, and the newest from Tomahawk and from Animal Care Equipment and Services (ACES).

If you care about the cats or your community is facing its own feral cat problem, and you're looking for humane, effective ways to help — don't miss this event!

Contact:

Neighborhood Cats

Phone: (212) 662-5761

E-mail: summit@neighborhoodcats.org

Web Site: http://www.neighborhoodcats.org

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