4 JANUARY 6, 2022 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
Nonprofi t works to safely control stray cat population in Ridgewood
BY JULIA MORO
EDITORIAL@QNS.COM
@QNS
Ridgewood Rescue, a new local
nonprofit organization, was
created in the fall of 2021 with
the hopes of fi nally dedicating a united
eff ort to combat the staggering stray
cat population in the area.
E Garcia has lived in Ridgewood for
about eight years and said she quickly
recognized an issue with the number
of stray cats in the neighborhood.
“In the time I’ve been here, it feels
like it just got worse and worse,”
Garcia said.
Before starting the nonprofit,
Garcia and her wife found kittens
in their backyard but couldn’t foster
them and find safe homes. Then,
Garcia found that other neighbors had
the same issue, but no unifi ed eff ort
could make a real impact.
“There are colonies everywhere, and
there just aren’t enough resources to
tackle the issue on the scale that it
needs to be approached at in order to
make a lasting diff erence,” Garcia said.
Finally, Garcia created the Ridgewood
Rescue alongside other concerned
community members.
Ridgewood Rescue primarily focuses
on TNR, which stands for trap,
neuter and return — a proven method
to reduce stray cat populations. This
practice includes trapping strays, getting
them spayed or neutered, as well
as vaccinated and ear clipped, and
then returning them to the area they
were in unless it is unsafe.
Currently, Ridgewood Rescue is
working to save a colony of about
11 stray cats in the neighborhood.
And through private donations, the
nonprofi t will get all cats fi xed and
returned.
The nonprofi t also works to socialize
and adopt cats in need of a home.
Garcia said she has been getting a lot
of reports of abandoned cats and has
made a concerted eff ort to educate the
public on options other than dumping
cats in the streets.
“We want people to know there are
better options,” Garcia said. “We help
people get their cats fi xed, educate
folks about safety and what to do with
cat behavioral issues — anything reason
why people are dumping cats we
want to stop that practice and make a
better life for all of the cats that live
here.”
Ridgewood Rescue does not have
a physical space to operate out of; instead,
it relies on about 30 volunteers
to foster the cats. In the future, Garcia
plans to grow Ridgewood Rescue into
a full-time job, continuing to fundraise
through campaigns and events.
Ridgewood Rescue is also working on
getting a 501(c)(3) status to become a
tax-exempt organization.
“I’m trying to connect with as
many people in the neighborhood
who care about the cats, and luckily
there have been quite a lot,” Garcia
said. “We lost our family business
this fall because of COVID, and it was
hard figuring out what I was going to
do with my life. It feels amazing not
only to be doing this kind of service
work but to be doing it in my own
community.”
(From l. to r.) Bowie (E’s rescue dog), E Garcia, Franze De La Calle,
Christine Young and Elzbieta Plonska. Photo courtesy of E Garcia
MEDIA ADVISORY
Middle
Village
Preparatory
Charter
School
th , 2022
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