About ACR

Alley Cat Rescue is helping to solve the crisis and tragedy of unwanted and abandoned cats.

• We are saving lives with innovative hands-on programs.
• We have rescued thousands of cats and placed them in loving homes.
• We assist with all aspects of feral cat care, wildlife predation and rabies control.
• We also provide information on cat health, cat behavior, feline diseases, and special needs.

See ACR financial details on Charity Navigator

 

An Interview with ACR

Mission Statement

Alley Cat Rescue (ACR) works to protect cats on several levels: locally through rescue, rehabilitation and adoption of cats and nationally through a network of Cat Action Teams, called CAT. ACR is dedicated to the health, well-being and welfare of all cats: domestic, stray, abandoned and feral.

Nationally - ACR promotes compassion and humane care for cats through the following:

• Cat Action Teams assist groups and individuals to help domestic and feral cats
• We assist cat caretakers with cat behavioral problems
• ACR promotes a better understanding of feline diseases
• Provides hospice care for terminally ill and older cats
• ACR programs keep cats out of the shelter system, thus reducing euthanasia
• ACR promotes neuter-before-adoption
• Promotes early-age spay/neuter
• Promotes TNR programs for feral cats.

Locally - in Maryland and D.C., we actively rescue stray domestic cats and kittens from the streets and find them good homes.

• We take in unwanted cats and give them a second chance, when otherwise their owners might drop them off at an over-crowded shelter or abandon them.
• We sterilize all those we rescue prior to adoption to prevent "accidental" litters.
• We provide information to cat caretakers to prevent the abandonment of cats and to foster strong bonds between humans and cats.
• ACR runs an adoption program at a local PETsMART on their Luv-a-Pet room

 

Internationally – Whenever possible, ACR lends a helping hand to cats in other countries. Whether it be through our hands-on aid or financial assistance, we feel that helping others is the right thing to do.

• In 2007, ACR held a spay/neuter clinic in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. In two days, we sterilized 100 cats and dogs in a MASH-style clinic and inspired a group of rescuers to hold their own spay/neuter clinic once a month. Our veterinarians taught Mexican vets the proper sterili­zation procedures for cats and dogs, since they are more familiar working with farm animals, and ACR found forever homes for several of the cats and dogs.
• In 2008, ACR traveled to South Africa to research the plight of the African Wildcat (AWC). Like so many cat species, the AWC is facing extinction. Besides threats from human encroachment (land development & farmers killing them), hybridization is the main cause of the Wildcat's decline. Stray and feral domestic cats are inter-breeding with the AWC, diluting its genes and basically breeding it out of existence. While in Africa, ACR met with several animal protection organizations and a veterinary school to discuss establishing a mobile vet clinic to implement a TNR program for free-roaming domestic cats living in towns near game reserves where AWCs live.
• In 2008, ACR gathered 12,000 signatures prior to the Beijing Winter Olympics and sent the petitions to the Inter­national Olympic Committee to encourage them not to host The Games in countries that “clean their streets” of stray animals in preparation for the Olympics.
• We have financially assisted the International Aid for Korean Animals, who translated our feral cat handbook into Korean for their brand new education center, and two South African cat rescue organizations (Cat Assistance Team & TEARS) that help stray and feral cats.

ACR helps feral cats...

• We also attack cat overpopulation at the source by sterilizing feral cats, thus preventing the births of hundreds of homeless kittens.
• We rescue feral kittens, tame them and help them to become loving companions
• ACR provides information and guidelines on all aspects of feral cat care and control
• ACR has published a booklet on Feral Cats: Colony Management and Facts & Myths about Cats & Wildlife Predation

Reducing the Number of Abandoned & Relinquished Cats

• We help people with allergies to keep their cats
• We offer solutions to behavioral problems
• We provide information on zoonotic diseases (diseases that can be transmitted between cats and people).

Benefits of Spaying and Neutering

• Sterilized cats live longer healthier lives
• Sterilized cats do not roam as much or spray to mark their territory
• Sterilizing cats will ultimately save the community money by reducing the burden on local shelters
• A single unsterilized female cat can produce hundreds of kittens in her lifetime.

Why do so many cats need our help?

• Cats are prolific breeders
• Females have 3 litters per year with an average of 4 kittens per litter
• Thousands of cats are abandoned each year many to the streets

Through ACR's Cat Facts series, we provide information, advice, and publications to encourage and help people keep their cats, and to give cats a better life.

ACR believes that all so-called "pest", "nuisance", and "exotic" animals should be treated with kindness and compassion.

Please become ACR's partner and help put an end to the senseless killing of cats. Together we can also stop the overpopulation of feral cat colonies, as well as reduce their suffering.

 

Alley Cat Rescue Goals
Alley Cat Rescue provides a unique service to the humane community:

• Promotes the welfare of all cats: domestic, stray, feral and wild.
• Operates a model no-kill rescue and adoption program that can be emulated throughout the country.
• Practices neuter-before-adoption.
• Promotes the early-age spay/neuter of kittens at 6-8 weeks old.
• Assists groups and individuals to help rescue and place cats.
• Assists caretakers with cat behavioral problems so that cats remain in their homes instead of being relinquished.
• Helps to promote a better understanding of feline diseases such as feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus.
• Provides hospice care for terminally ill and older cats.
• Keeps cats out of the sheltering system, thus reducing euthanasia rates.
• Advocates the sterilization of feral colony cats Provides information to colony caretakers on all aspects of Trap-Neuter-Return, including rabies control and issues surrounding wildlife and predation.
• ACR provides information to others, and is actively involved in the rescuing and rehoming of domestic cats.
• We manage feral cat colonies and support and coordinate national projects to help save cats lives.

AWARDS AND HONORS

• ACR's newsletter, Alley Cat Mews, and booklet on Feral Cat Colony Management, each won a Certificate of Excellence and a Muse Medallion from the Cat Writer's Association in 2002.
• ACR's Louise Holton was presented with the Animal Kingdom Kindred Spirit Award and Animal Champion Pin from the Doris Day Animal Foundation.

When giving Louise the award, DDAF Executive Director, Holly Hazard, stated "people are often tempted to look the other way or give up in despair when they come across non-human beings in distress. Fortunately for the many cats you have assisted, your empathy and compassion compelled you to act where others would not have."

• In 1998, Louise was awarded the National Humane Achievement Award by the Humane Coalition of Massachusetts.
• In 1997, Louise won a Muse Medallion from CWA for her series of articles on feral cats published by The Animals' Voice Magazine. These articles can be seen on ACR's website.

The CWA PRESIDENT'S AWARD sponsored by the Cat Fancier's Association, is presented to the best entry among all Muse MedallionTMwinners in the regular contest categories.

The winner is Louise Holton "Veterinary Care: Guidelines for Veterinarians Treating Feral Cats," published by Alley Cat Rescue.
This award was judged by Fran Pennock Shaw, CWA President. Her comments about the winning entry include: "In addition to serving an excellent purpose by benefiting feral cats, this article fully meets its own goals of providing information and guidance to veterinarians and feral cat caregivers."

Alley Cat Rescue and Louise Holton have received Certificates of Excellence from the Cat Writer’s Association in 2006, 2004, 2002, 2000, 1999, and 1998.


PRIVACY POLICY

Personal information collected by Alley Cat Rescue, Inc. may include an individual's name, address, e-mail address, telephone number, and any additional information a member or supporter wishes to provide. All information is kept in a secure database protected by reasonable network security.

This information may be reviewed, updated, or deleted by contacting acr@saveacat.org or 301-277-5595. While Alley Cat Rescue does periodically exchange or rent membership lists to other organizations with similar goals, the traded data only includes names and addresses.

E-mail addresses and phone number are never exchanged. Furthermore, anyone may opt out of all address trades by contacting Alley Cat Rescue at:

Alley Cat Rescue, Inc.
P O Box 585
Mount Rainier MD 20712

Phone: 301-277-5595
Email: acr@saveacat.org

In the News

Read about ACR in the news and see what they are doing in the community.

Newsletters

If you would like to download previous newsletters or receive the ACR Newsletters by mail.

Call to Action

Find out what cat actions are needed around the world.

ACR International

Get updates on our African Wildcat Project and read about past international effort.

Cat & Feral Facts

If you would like to learn more about Cat Facts, Feral Cat Facts and Cat Predation.

Feline Health

If you would like to learn how to take better care of your cat or learn general feline health.