INTERVIEW — ERIN ROBINSON —  the Community Cat Program Manager from the Humane Rescue Alliance

• HUMANE RESCUE ALLIANCE ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF BLUE COLLAR CATS PROGRAM. WASHINGTON, DC — The Humane Rescue Alliance (HRA) has launched the “Blue Collar Cats” Program, an initiative developed to find alternative opportunities for outdoor/feral cats, or “Community Cats,” to live – and work – in our community.  HRA is soliciting area companies that may have,  or potentially have,  rodents interfering with their business and matching them with a cat that will make that business their ‘home,’ patrolling the surroundings to keep rodents at bay.  “Prior to Blue Collar Cats, cats who have had little to no human interaction, and therefore were unsocialized and likely not the ideal adoption candidate, had few options,” said Lauren Lipsey, HRA Vice President of Community Programs “Now, through this program’s collaboration with local businesses and homeowners, we are able to save even more animals and support their right to a long and fruitful life.” The cats selected for this program have shown no characteristics typical of what our adopters expect in a companion animal and are not adoptable.  Since they’re not ideal pets but do a great job at deterring and controlling rodents, HRA will put them to work in local businesses to control the rodent population.   Added benefits for working with Blue Collar Cats:  Blue Collar Cats are a cleaner alternative to toxic pesticides; they are less expensive, and more effective in addressing the rodent problem.  But perhaps the best benefit:  these businesses are saving the life of a cat that may have no other option.   There are no upfront costs for businesses.  All cats have been spayed/neutered, microchipped, eartipped, and vaccinated against rabies and feline distemper. The business’s responsibility is to provide daily food and clean water, shelter, and basic care throughout the cat’s lifetime.