History

Louise Holton founded Alley Cat Rescue (ACR) in 1997 as the nation’s first National Cat Protection Association. Holton co-founded Alley Cat Allies in 1990 and formed Alley Cat Rescue to include ALL cats: stray, abandoned, feral and wild.
 
Holton worked in South Africa in the mid-1970s with the Johannesburg SPCA on TNR programs, and brought to the U.S. her contacts in the United Kingdom to help set up TNR programs here. She worked with biologist and world-famous author Roger Tabor, veterinarian and TNR pioneer Jenny Remfry, The Universities Federation of Animal Welfare (U.K.), as well as the British Cat Action Trust.
 
Holton started ACR with a trap-neuter-return program for feral cats and adoption program for friendly cats. Programs now include a low-cost spay/neuter clinic, international programs to help the African Wildcat in South Africa, Cat Action Teams to help people throughout the United States who need help, and Feral Cat Spay Day. More about these programs can be found on the “Our Programs” page.
 
Awards and Honors

• In 1997, Louise won a Muse Medallion from the Cat Writers’ Association for her series of articles on feral cats published by The Animals' Voice Magazine.  
• In 1998, Louise was awarded the National Humane Achievement Award by the Humane Coalition of Massachusetts. 
• In 2002, ACR's newsletter, Alley Cat Mews, and handbook, Feral Cat Colony Management, each won a Certificate of Excellence and a Muse Medallion from the Cat Writers' Association. 
  • On November 20, 2004, Louise Holton was presented the President’s Award from the Cat Writers’ Association for her article, "Veterinary Care: Guidelines for Veterinarians Treating Feral Cats,"published by Alley Cat Rescue and for her life-long career dedicated to helping feral cats. The award was sponsored by the Cat Fancier's Association and presented to the best entry among all Muse Medallion winners in the regular contest categories. This article was judged by Fran Pennock Shaw, past CWA President. Her comments included: "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."

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 2011, the article "An Army of Ordinary People," published in ACR's newsletter Alley Cat Mews was awarded a Certificate of Excellence from the Cat Writers' Association. 
• In 2007, Alley Cat Rescue’s newsletter, Alley Cat Mews, won a Muse Medallion from the Cat Writers’ Association. 
• Alley Cat Rescue and Louise Holton have received Certificates of Excellence from the Cat Writers’ Association in 2007, 2006, 2004, 2002, 2000, 1999, and 1998.