When goals align: targeted trap-neuter-(vaccinate)-return project helps students, shelters, cats, and communities.

Community-engaged TNR programs effectively train veterinary students while significantly improving community cat welfare.

Cornell University's Maddie's Shelter Medicine Program implemented a collaborative trap-neuter-(vaccinate)-return (TNR) initiative in 2024, combining community service with veterinary student surgical training. This mixed-methods study evaluated impacts on 147 community cats, 48 participating students, shelter metrics, and neighborhood perceptions. Students gained approximately 3 additional surgical procedures on-site, with qualitative feedback indicating increased surgical confidence and perceived professional readiness. Shelter outcomes showed significant reductions in unweaned kittens and 3-fold decrease in euthanasia from the target community (OR 3.89; 95% CI 1.55-9.8). Community residents reported substantial improvements in cat welfare, reduced kitten births, decreased fighting and injuries, minimized property damage, and restored trust in animal services. The model successfully balanced educational objectives with community needs, demonstrating that large-scale, community-engaged TNR initiatives can simultaneously expand surgical training capacity and stabilize free-roaming cat populations. This collaborative approach offers a replicable framework for resource-limited communities seeking to address feline overpopulation while providing clinical training opportunities.

This summary was distilled by AI and may occasionally misinterpret data. Confirm critical details with the primary literature before clinical application.