Support TNR Efforts and Find Missing Cats

[UPDATES TO COME!]

* * * * ORIGINAL POST * * * *

On Thursday, October 24, 2024, at 2:57 p.m., just after we loaded our three cats into one of our cars to start the drive and lead our wonderful movers to our new home in VA, we went to grab the final bag of items and lock our house up. When we turned around, the car with our three beloved cats in it was being driven away. It was recovered by 3:30 p.m. that same day. Since then, we have tirelessly searched for them. Thanks to the outpouring of support we received from our friends, family, and community, we were given a tip yesterday (10/26) because someone spotted the carrier in an alley and recognized it from a post on NextDoor. The same day, at dark, as we were about to leave, we spotted our Tiny, our first cat of the three, and successfully caught him. He is 100% okay.

But Scoot and Winky remain missing. We believe they have stayed put and are in the same area as Tiny and their carrier were: near the alley by the corner of Olive St NE and R St in Capitol Heights, MD, on the border of Deanwood. We even think we saw Winky hiding under a dumpster yesterday, but could not get her out.

We have been overwhelmed with support and are so moved seeing the good that can happen when beloved feline family members go missing. We are also amazed seeing how this community cares for its cat population, and would like to raise funds to trap, neuter, and release (TNR) the resident street cats here to help manage the population and ensure the cats living here are able to continue receiving support and care from neighbors. A Cat’s Life Rescue (ACLR) has said we can use them to get the cats fixed. It’s $65 per cat. There are even lower cost options on certain days of the week / by appointment at other rescues.

Selfishly, we also hope that this helps bring Winky and Scoot home, as we hope to support the community in a measurable way so that we continue to be welcomed into yards to search for our babies.

TNR services can range from $40 to $100. The process is simple: We set up traps with food, cats approach, are quickly taken care of at low cost vet clinics, and are released back to the community after their ears are cropped to indicate they have been neutered (or spayed). In the event one of the cats that is trapped and neutered (or spayed) turns out to be friendly or is young enough to be socialized and adopted out, rescues will often help find homes for them. (This is how we got Winky and explains why here ear is cropped!!)

Yesterday evening, before finding Tiny, we set out traps with our cats belongings and food in the hopes that our cats would be trapped overnight. Within minutes, there were community cats in the traps, which we promptly released. We realized then that the likelihood of Winky or Scoot being the cats brave enough to come out to the food in the traps as opposed to one of the 50+ other cats and kittens in this neighborhood was nearly zero. Still, we have been given the gift of willing volunteers and donated traps and supplies, so we would love to make use of this support to do good in this community and help the cats we do trap.

Please consider donating any amount in the hopes that we can find Winky and Scoot: We would most love if Winky or Scoot showed up in a trap, but the next best thing would be knowing the cats we do trap receive care.

Thankfully and humbly yours,

Paige, Ben, and everyone who has shared smiles and comfort and kindness with us since our babies were stolen

NEWS COVERAGE

https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/get-our-cats-back-stolen-bmw-recovered-owners-3-cats-still-missing/3751224/

SOCIAL MEDIA COVERAGE

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