On a quiet property in Bristol, VA, a kindhearted woman in her seventies is facing an overwhelming challenge. Dozens of stray cats—male and female—have taken shelter in the brush and fields near her home. With a new litter of five kittens recently born, the population is growing fast, and the situation is becoming critical.

This property has become a refuge for these cats, but without intervention, it won’t stay that way for long. The property owner is heartbroken—she cannot afford the costs of spay/neuter services and fears her only option is to call animal control, which will likely lead to euthanasia. That’s where the Animal Defense League of Washington County, Inc. (ADL) comes in.

The ADL, an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is working with us to address this crisis through a Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) effort. By humanely trapping these cats, having them spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and returning them to their environment, ADL is helping to prevent further population growth while giving these animals a humane alternative to shelter euthanasia.

The cost to spay or neuter each cat is:

$35 per male

$50 per female

We estimate between 20–25 cats on the property (not including the kittens, who will need surgery when they’re old enough). That puts our goal between $600 and $800, depending on the male/female breakdown. All funds raised will go directly to supporting this spay/neuter effort in connection with the ADL to cover the cost of spay/neuter surgeries and associated vaccinations.

About the Animal Defense League of Washington County, Inc. (ADL):

The ADL supports community members by offering access to TNR services and working in partnership with the Margaret B. Mitchell Spay/Neuter Clinic in Bristol, VA, which provides reduced-cost procedures. Their mission is to eliminate animal homelessness by preventing unplanned litters—a goal rooted in compassion and practicality.

In the United States, an estimated 5 million animals are euthanized each year because they are unwanted. Locally, the numbers are no less sobering: In 2023, approximately 48% of the cats that entered the CC Porter Animal Shelter in Washington County did not make it out alive. That’s more than 550 cats euthanized in one year alone.

Just two unaltered cats can produce over 13,000 offspring in nine years—a heartbreaking reality that ADL is working tirelessly to change.

By donating, you're not only helping the cats on this one property—you’re contributing to a larger, sustained effort to humanely manage community cat populations and save lives across the region. Any funds raised beyond our immediate goal will remain with the ADL to support TNR work at other sites in need.

Thank you for being part of this compassionate solution. Together, we can stop the cycle and give these cats the peaceful lives they deserve. ❤️