One of the best kept, hiding in plain sight, secrets in Broward County is Animal Care’s RTF (Return-to-Field) program. This is a service that was started in 2015 when the Broward County Chapter 4 Animal Care Ordinance was amended to allow for Community Cat Management Programs. The county’s goal was to reduce the overpopulation of community cats with the assistance of residents. Unfortunately, the program has received almost no publicity which is why most people have never heard of it and therefore can’t take advantage of this program.
Any Broward County resident is eligible to use this service. If you are feeding any community cats that have not been sterilized, then you are contributing to the overpopulation crisis as cats that are being fed but not sterilized can and do have more litters and exponentially increase the overpopulation in a very short period of time. A female cat can come in heat in her 4th month of life and since the gestation period is approximately 61 days, she can have her first letter at 6 months of age. Kittens having kittens. Community colonies quickly mushroom to unmanageable numbers under these circumstances but it’s quite easy to control this situation by using the RTF program.
Residents must trap the cats in a humane trap and take them to Animal Control at 2400 SW 42nd Street in Fort Lauderdale. Two cats per person per day may be brought on Tuesdays through Sundays starting at 11 a.m. ‘til about 2 p.m.
Drive to the Pet Help entrance and remain in your car. Staff will come out to you. The animal care team will transfer your cat to their trap and have you fill out a form telling them where to bring the cat back to. The cat will be released at the address given so no indoor cats can use this program. Since no appointments are taken the cat may not have its surgery on the day brought in if there are too many cats to safely sterilize that day. The cat will not only be sterilized but will also receive 2 vaccinations, flea meds and an ear tip.
Many of our volunteers have used this program with great success. Please give a cat a better life and take advantage of this wonderful program.
