Learn about our shelter's policies and procedures regarding feral cats in Latah County. Feral Cat Information What is a Feral Cat? Feral cats have multiple definitions. There is the definition used in a 2003 article published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, that says a feral cat is “untamed and evasive; they either were born in the wild and lack socialization or were returned to the wild and became untrusting of humans.” Wolf, Peter J. "What Is a Feral Cat?" Petfinder. Petfinder, n.d. Web. 22 June 2017. What's the difference between a stray cat and a feral cat? It is not always easy to tell the difference between a stray cat and a feral cat. Both are pet cats. Stray cats are cats that were once owned and have strayed from home. Stray cats are homeless tame cats. Over time, without humane socialization, stray cats can become feral cats. Feral cats are pet cats that have never had human contact, and will not willingly interact with humans. Check out this PDF from Alley Cat Allies to learn more. What are feral cats classified as in the State of Idaho? Feral cats are not classified by Idaho Fish and Game as wildlife, they are feral pet animals. Is it legal to kill feral cats in the state of Idaho? According to Idaho Fish and Game: “The killing of feral cats is so much more than a simple legal question and answer. It may be legal when protecting your property, such as feral cats engaged in the taking of your livestock or even pets. Taking a feral cat in the wilds of Idaho would require a valid hunting license. However, there are other considerations to keep in mind: Are you in a city limit that prohibits the discharge of a firearm? Does the county have a no shooting safety ordinance for your neighborhood? Is the cat actually Feral, or has Muffy escaped their yard and the 8 year old owner out looking for their pet kitty?” Click here to learn more about Idaho Animal Laws; Title 25 Animals, Chapter 35 Animal Care. Who is responsible for the care of feral cats in the state of Idaho? In the eyes of the State of Idaho, the responsibility falls on the property owner unless the county or city they reside in has their own specific ordinances for feral cat care. Latah County does not have any animal control or regulations for cats. The city of Moscow does not have any specific animal code for cats or feral cats. The responsibility than falls on the property owner. According to Idaho Animal Code, control and responsibility of feral cats fall on the property owner. https://legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/Title25/T25CH35/ Does the Humane Society of the Palouse take in feral cats? The HSoP is unable to take in wild, free-roaming cats because the shelter does not contain facilities conducive to the care of untamed animals. Though HSoP wants to have the ability to take in feral cats, we have limitations. Feral cats require safety equipment that HSoP does not have, nor can HSoP afford at this point in time. In order to take in ferals, HSoP would also need to expand enough to take in additional animals that are not companion animals, which at this time is not financially possible. For 40 years HSoP has served Latah County and the City of Moscow’s needs for companion, tame animals. We do not have the labor, training, equipment or expertise to take care of wild animals. Though HSoP is unable to take in feral cats, we do offer a program that helps to limit infectious diseases and unwanted births among feral cats in Latah County. Our Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program works to safely trap feral cats so our vet partners can vaccinate and sterilize them before being released where they were found. This program is offered for all residents of Latah County and helps immensely with reducing the homeless cat population. HSoP will cover all costs associated with feral cats who benefit from our TNR program. For more information, visit our TNR page . How can you help feral cats? One way you can help feral cats in Latah County is to get them involved in the HSoP TNR program . This ensures that they are properly vaccinated against infectious diseases and spayed or neutered to prevent any future litters of homeless cats. Visit: http://animalhouseferals.com/ to learn more about how you can help local feral cats! HSoP Position on Feral Cats For 40 years, we have served local animals under our mission statement: “The Humane Society of the Palouse is a no-kill animal shelter located in Moscow ID, founded in 1978. Our mission is to ensure the humane treatment, welfare and safety of companion animals in Moscow and Latah County. We strive to prevent cruelty to animals, to ensure companion animals are adopted by responsible and caring owners, to promote spaying/neutering, to educate the public regarding responsible pet ownership, and to minimize euthanasia.” We are acutely aware of the feral population in Latah County, the city of Moscow and the UI Campus and are doing everything within our means and ability to help. We are locally operated with a small staff and dedicated volunteers. There are currently no regulations or ordinance for felines in Latah County. We recommend that this be the starting point for containing this issue. Without regulation, feral cats continuously have unwanted and uncared for litters. If there were enforceable animal code regarding responsible ownership of cats in Latah County, we would see a decrease in unwanted animals. We are actively taking measures to find a solution for ferals. We are looking into grants for funding a feral solution program, and re-organizing our own operation in order to help alleviate the feral burden without jeopardizing the animals in our shelter. In our mission statement, we state that we will find homes for companion animals. There are many reasons for this. To provide services for feral animals, we would need a new facility with up to date kennels for the safety of the staff and animals, we would need more funding for specialized training and gear. At this time, those needs cannot be met with current funding or facility. In the past, HSoP partnered with the FCS program. Where we engaged in doing a TNR providing preventative care as well as euthanization for those with HIV, or those with extremely poor health. Our FCS program was able to make ends meet by charging $50 per cat. The FCS clinics were a “win win” for cat owners, WSU vet med students, and HSoP. FCS has since dissolved. Humane Live Traps Tips and Tricks to Trapping Feral Cats Trap entrance This is where the feral cat will enter Weight lever Once the cat steps on this, the door will close trapping the cat inside. Place food here to entice the cat to walk into the trap and put weight on the lever. 1 2 3 Disguise the trap to look like a cozy den. This will help the fearful ferals feel more comfortable going into the trap. What tasty food to put in the trap? Canned cat food Tuna fish Sardines (no additives) Gerber baby food (ham or turkey) Other Trapping Information: You must own the property you are trapping on. If you rent, you must have the land owners verbal consent to set a trap. If you catch any kind of wildlife, call Palouse Wildlife and Rehabilitation for instructions on humanely releasing the animal. (208) 614-2273 Helping that stubborn feral get into the trap If a cat is reluctant to enter the trap, you may need to help them get more comfortable with it. Clip the trap door open, so it will not shut when weight is on the lever. Leave the door open for a few days, so the cat can come and go as it pleases. This will create a routine for the cat. After four-five days, remove the clip and prepare to catch the cat. Create a food trail leading into the trap. Place some food outside the trap door, and drop pieces every few inches to entice the cat to walk into the trap. Cover the traps like the photos above. Feral cats like to find covered hidey holes or dens to stay in. This makes them feel protected against predators. Try covering the traps with a blanket, or some leaves and twigs. Try different locations. If the cat is reluctant to enter the trap where you have it, try relocating the trap to other locations on your property. I've trapped the cat...now what? Great job! The toughest part is over. Now that the cat is in the trap, place a blanket or towel over the top. This will help them stay relaxed, and protect you from any claws or teeth if they panic! Take your cat to the vet to have it spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and ear-tipped. Once your feral has been taken care of at the vet office, it's time to release them back to their home. Releasing a feral cat back to the same location has a lot of great perks for the cat and the property owner! Feral cats do not like people, which means they won't bother you. They just need a nice place to sleep, and maybe a little cat chow! Feral cats will reduce your pesky rodent population! Fixed feral cats will not be inclined to allow intact cats to come onto the property. They will keep other feral cats from coming to your property. One feral cat is perfect...but nobody wants ten! You saved a homeless pets life!

Learn about our foster program. Foster families are the bridge between an animal shelter and a pet's new home! Fosters allow us to care for even more animals in need, and offer so much love along the way. Foster Program Fostering allows us to help even more pets in need than we're able to accommodate at the shelter. Fostering is a temporary and extremely rewarding experience. You can help little babies grow, help sick and injured pets grow stronger, and share plenty of love along the way to help our pets prepare for their adoptive forever homes. Fostering is an amazing way to open your heart and home to a pet in need, without the lifelong commitment that follows adoption. If you're interested in fostering with HSoP, we would love to hear from you! Please take some time to complete our foster application down below, and we will contact you when the need for a foster arises. Prefer paper and pen? Feel free to print a physical application and bring it to the shelter at your convenience: Have questions about the foster program? Please email us at foster@humanesocietyofthepalouse.org . Download & Print Foster Application In order to be considered a foster home you must: Be 18 years of age Have a valid ID and proof of current address Understand that completing this application does not guarantee your foster status, and does not mean that Humane Society of the Palouse has approved your application. Which types of pets are you interested in fostering?* Dogs Cats Exotics *Bottle Babies (age 0-5 weeks old) Weaning kittens/puppies (age 5-8 weeks old) Kittens/puppies needing to be socialized Pregnant/nursing moms and babies Adult pets who need a break *Ill pets *Injured pets Senior pets Fospice *Cats with ringworm *Pets on medication trial * Identifies any group of fosters which will require extra care, medication, and more frequent check-ins with HSoP. Do you have a limit on the number of kittens/puppies in a litter that you would feel comfortable caring for?* Full Name(s)* Address* Mailing Address* Phone Number (Primary)* Phone Number (Work) Email* Housing (select all that apply)* Own Rent Live with parents Mobile home on owned land House, apartment, condo, or mobile home on leased land Landlord's Name Landlord's Phone Number How long have you lived at this address?* Do you have any roommates?* Are there children living at this address?* If yes, what are their ages? Are you planning to move in the near future?* Where will your foster(s) be held?* Do you have any unscreened windows, pet doors, or other means of unmonitored outdoor access?* Are you familiar with trimming pets' claws?* Would you like to learn? Are you willing to provide toys and enrichment to prevent boredom behaviors?* Do you own any animals now?* Are there any pets in the home that you don't own?* Please list all pets in your residence:* Include the species, sex, age, fixed status, vaccine status, and any present medical issues for each pet. Do you have experience with fostering that you would like to share with HSoP? Do you understand that fostering is only temporary, and that you must bring the foster(s) back to HSoP when they're ready for adoption?* Is there anything else you would like to tell us about yourself? By signing my name below, I acknowledge that I have read and understood this application and agree that all information which has been provided by myself is true. Signature* Drawing mode selected. Drawing requires a mouse or touchpad. For keyboard accessibility, select Type or Upload. How did you hear about HSoP? Submit

Learn all about our barn buddy program for feral cats! Let these furry friends earn their keep by limiting the rodent population in your barn or warehouse. HSoP Barn Buddy Program Available Barn Cats: HSoP does not have any cats available for this program. If you would like to welcome a barn cat onto your property, please give us a call at (208) 883-1166 so we know to contact you when a barn cat does become available. Click here for available Barn Buddies These cats are not at HSoP, but looking for their new barn home. Please contact the current owner listed in the ad for more information. Barn cats help to earn their keep by: Controlling the rodent population Reducing your need to use mouse trap/poisons Saving you money on feed grain spoilage/ loss Requirements: We do not place cats that are best suited to be house pets and we don’t place kittens under age four months as barn cats, unless they are feral/semi-feral. A secure, dry barn or building for shelter with heat source is required. As a non-profit organization, we appreciate a donation to cover the cost of the spay or neuter surgery, vaccinations, de-worming and other needed preventative care. We ask for a $25.00 donation. The commitment and ability to keep the cats confined to a stall, small room, or crate for two to four weeks (depends on the cats and the barn) to acclimate them to their new environment before release. A constant supply of dry food and fresh water. The willingness to trap the cats to provide licensed veterinary care in the event of a severe injury or illness. Click here for an application HSoP does not take in Feral Cats. Click here for more information. How to care for your Barn Buddy Congratulations and thank you for participating in our Barn Buddy program. The following articles have great information on how to properly care for your new buddy. How to Raise a Barn Cat Right How to Keep Mice Out of Sheds and Barns How to Best Care for Barn Cats

Santa is coming to town early this year just for the four-legged friends! Bring your friendly pets to visit Santa on December 5th and December 6th to get your holiday photos taken. Santa loves meeting all of the pets, so don't hesitate to bring your pocket pets, feathered friends, and reptiles. For just $15 you will receive two digital photos of your pet(s) and Santa Paws. We hope to see you there! Thank you to Latah Credit Union for sponsoring the credit card fees during this event, which means all proceeds from the event benefit the Humane Society of the Palouse! Photography services donated by Safe Sax Photography

Engraved Pet ID Tags What is the first line of defense when a beloved pet goes missing? After finding a lost cat or dog, most people will immediately look to see if there is an ID tag on the pet's collar. Usually, these ID tags contain the pet's name and their owner's phone number. This makes it easy for the person who found the missing pet to contact the owner directly. Pet ID tags can help lost pets avoid spending the night in our facility by allowing them to be reunited in no time. At HSoP, we know that pet ID tags are extremely important. In January of 2022, we were gifted an IMARC pet tag engraving system to keep at our facility. This generous gift has given us the ability to offer customized pet ID tags as a service for pet owners throughout our region. Custom pet ID tags at HSoP cost $12.00 each and take about 3 minutes to make. This price includes the tag itself, the engraved text, and a key ring to connect the tag to your pet's collar. Our hope is that this service will encourage local pet owners to give their companions some easy-to-read identification. We want lost and escaped pets to come home ASAP, and these tags help immensely in that process! A photo of our IMARC pet tag engraving system Some of our available shapes and colors An example of our pet ID tags

We are always looking for more donations of auction items and desserts! Please send us an email at director@humanesocietyofthepalouse.org if you would like to help us raise essential funds for the pets of Latah County. Purchase Tickets Become a Sponsor Donate Gold Sponsor Silver Sponsors Bronze Sponsors Helping Paws Sponsors Auction Sponsors Best Western Bev Rhoades Book People Brundage Mountain Resort C&L Lockers CDA Resort Craft Art Bar & Studio Diana Poulton Early Bird Supply Essential Art Gallery Fiddlers Ridge Farm Fiegel Chiropractic & Wellness Clinic Flowers! by Roxanne Gabriella Ball Gourmet Gift Basket Happy Hog Meatery Hattabaugh Hotel HSoP Board of Directors Huckleberry Massage Therapy Jenn Pfiffner Realtor of Moscow Realty Johnsons Custom Detailing Karen Den Braven La Casa Lopez Mark Spencer Hotel Moscow Axe Throwing Moscow Chamber of Commerce Moscow Realty Moscow Tattoo Company Mr. and Mrs. Nate Sletteland No-Li Brewery North 40 NRS P1FCU Palouse Cult Film Revival Pie Safe Potting Shed Creations Print Stop Pups & Cups Rebecca Lewis of The Little Shop of Serendipity Refined Aesthetics Rivaura Rose Garland LMT Massage Therapy Rustic Splendour LLC Shelly Candler Spence Hardware Spokane Chiefs Spokane Indians Terracotta Tito’s Vodka Vandal Golf West Coast Entertainment Westward Whiskey WSU Center for Civic Engagement Zeldas Pet Grooming Dessert Dash Sponsors Ashley Walker BB's Corner Bev Rhoades Bill and Dale Sischo Blue Daisy Cakes Crazy Chicken Sweets Ellie Bogar Encompass Media Outdoor LLC Flour Power Bakery Idaho Farmhouse May B Cakes Shelley and Walt Pressley

Meet the staff at our shelter! Learn about our animal care attendants, our shelter director, and our public relations manager. Meet the HSoP Staff Animal Care Attendants HSoP Animal Care Attendants (ACA) properly care for and humanely and safely handle all companion animals under HSoP care until they are reunited with their families or adopted into loving and responsible homes through adoption counseling. Megan Aurora Operations Manager The Operations Manager is responsible for the effective and efficient daily operation of the Humane Society of the Palouse, ensuring that all animals are properly cared for and humanely handled. The Operations Manager shall also be responsible for animal capacity, overseeing interactions of the staff and public, and the oversight of programs and services provided by HSoP. Kassidy Shelter Director The Shelter Director shall be responsible for the overall operations and the management of finances for the organization, while building and maintaining relationships within the community. Additionally, the Shelter Director will support the organization’s mission and long-term sustainability by focusing on fundraising, resource development, and policy implementation. Sierah To reach Sierah directly, please contact her through email at director@humanesocietyofthepalouse.org

The Merlin Fund was created to act as a financial safety net for the pets who need us most. When pets arrive in life-threatening condition and require emergency vet care, or when they arrive with an extensive health complication which requires prolonged care, the Merlin Fund ensures they have access to the life-saving veterinary care they need. HSoP Merlin Fund The Merlin Fund was created to act as a financial safety net for the pets who need us most. When pets arrive in life-threatening condition and require emergency vet care, or when they arrive with an extensive health complication which requires prolonged care, the Merlin Fund ensures they have access to the life-saving veterinary care they need. The Merlin Fund allows us to look past cost as a barrier for necessary care. When you donate to the Merlin Fund, your contribution has a direct positive impact for those pets who arrive in need of critical veterinary attention. Since its inception in April of 2016, the Merlin Fund has ensured lifesaving care for dozens of pets in need throughout Latah County. The fund has covered emergency amputations, lengthy rodenticide treatments, urgent mass removals, entropion reversals, complex surgeries, burn treatments, and so much more. The Merlin Fund is truly representative of our motto: "Helping those who cannot help themselves ". When pets arrive helpless and in dire need of assistance, the Merlin Fund ensures that we can do whatever it takes to give them a fighting chance. Please consider making a donation to the Merlin Fund today, and ensure endless tomorrows for the next pet who arrives at HSoP in need of immediate or lifesaving vet care. You can donate via debit or credit card through PayPal by clicking the button below, or you can donate on Venmo: @HumanePalouse. Please write "Merlin Fund" in the memo so we can allocate your donation properly. Donate Now on PayPal Merlin Fund Success Stories:

Support local pets in need while walking your dog! Download WoofTrax today and select HSoP as your preferred shelter. When you walk while using the app, they'll donate to support our cause! Raise Money for HSoP on WoofTrax! Did you know that you can generate funds for HSoP and the pets we serve, just by walking your dog? WoofTrax is an app that turns your daily walks into donations that help pets in need at your local shelter. Getting started is easy, and there is truly no cost to you! Here's are the steps: Download WoofTrax from the App Store or Google Play Store. Create an account and select Humane Society of the Palouse as your preferred charity. Open the app when you take your pups for a walk, and start raising funds for HSoP! WoofTrax will make a donation to HSoP based on the distance you walked. It really is that easy! If you own a dog, you may already go on several walks per day. WoofTrax is a great way to make your outings extra meaningful. When you walk while supporting HSoP, you're helping us provide second chance to every lost and homeless pet who comes our way. Download WoofTrax today! (P.S. You can walk without a dog and still raise funds for HSoP!) You may be wondering how WoofTrax donates money to our cause with our costing you a dime. Great question! The answer is quite simple, really. WoofTrax receives money from advertisements shown on the app, and this money is distributed to shelters based on the preference of walkers who see the ads. Visit the WoofTrax Website