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Senior Voice of Citrus County - JUNE 2020 • 11
Community Cat GUARDIAN AD LITEM
Program is Back! RAISES AWARENESS OF
Citrus County Animal pandemic will be new to CHILDREN’S MENTAL
Services has reinstated the everyone so the intake process HEALTH
Community Cat Trap-Neuter- will be different, and we ask
Vaccinate Return (TNVR) for your patience. Many maltreated children supports to lessen the
program. County residents face greater trauma during impact of trauma and build
may bring community cats Cats can begin reproducing as the pandemic, since teachers, resilience,” said Laurie
to the shelter Tuesday, early as five months of age, neighbors, and coaches don’t Blades, the Program’s director
Wednesday, and Thursday so they should be sterilized see them as much and can’t of children’s behavioral
between 9 a.m. and noon for by that age, or younger. Cats report suspected abuse. Media health advocacy. “And by
free spay/neuter, vaccinations can give birth several times accounts show a drop in calls giving them the right kind
against rabies, microchipping, a year, and each litter adds to Florida’s abuse hotline, but of attention, we can promote
and ear-tipping. Cats must be to the millions of cats across worse injuries in the cases positive mental health and
in a humane trap (1 cat per the country competing for that do come in. overall development.”
trap) and weigh 4 lbs. or more homes. Close to two million According to Marcia Hilty, To learn more about
to be eligible for the program. cats are euthanized each year a licensed clinical social becoming a volunteer with
in shelters and animal control
Upon intake, residents will facilities nationwide. In worker who is the Director the Guardian ad Litem
be informed of when the addition to population control, of the Guardian ad Litem Program, register for our
cat(s) will be ready to be sterilization can also eliminate Program (GAL) in the 5th upcoming online information
picked up and returned to unpleasant behaviors of intact Judicial Circuit, the cases session on May 21, 2020.
the community. To keep the cats, such as fighting and that are coming in are There are two sessions
public and staff safe we are spraying. A special thanks to severe. “We’ve had a death, available – 11 a.m. or 7
asking that citizens maintain our volunteers, fosters, and several children with broken p.m. To register, contact
social distancing when community partners who bones, and many cases of Diana Gisonni – diana.
dropping off cats. You will be support Animal Services, the gross neglect due to parental gisonni@gal.fl.gov or call
asked to wait at the gate for shelter and this program each substance abuse.” 352-812-6971. You can also
a staff member to assist you. spring. “Guardians ad Litem advocate visit our website at www.
Navigating TNVR processes for the right services and guardianadlitem.org
during the COVID-19 For more information, call
352-746-8400.
