Special to the Herald

SPRINGFIELD – Here’s a chance for you to be the cat’s meow.

The Effingham County Animal Shelter’s Barn Cat Program enjoyed another banner year in 2023.

Funded primarily through private donations, the initiative that started in 2018 pays for the sterilization of feral felines that are returned to pre-approved sites, resulting in a reduction of the county’s wild cat population and fewer instances of euthanasia for healthy animals.

“We actually did 516 (sterilizations last year),” Animal Shelter Director Lorna Shelton said. “The cats were returned to their original location.”

More than 2,000 cats have been spayed or neutered thanks to the program so far. In 2022, 755 cats were treated.

“We would have liked to have sterilized more cats in 2023 but we didn’t have the funds for it,” Shelton said. “I had to put a cap on it. We think a realistic goal is 500, and that’s what we are targeting for this year as well.

“We will do more if we can.”

Shelter said HOPE (Helping Out Pets in Effingham) is the program’s primary financial backer. Donations to the 501c3 organization can be sent to P.O. Box 2601, Rincon, GA 31326.