Animal Posse Becoming a Neighborhood Cat Champion: Rebecca Bourgeois on TNR - Animal Posse

Episode 15

Becoming a Neighborhood Cat Champion: Rebecca Bourgeois on TNR

Published on: 9th May, 2025

Ready to step up and make a real difference for the cats in your neighborhood? This Episode of dives into an inspiring conversation with Rebecca Bourgeois of JP Helping Paws about her impactful TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) class. Discover practical strategies and compassionate techniques to humanely manage feral cat colonies and build a more harmonious community for both people and our feline friends. Tune in to learn how you can become a champion for your local cats!

#TNR

#TrapNeuterReturn

#FeralCats

#CommunityCats

#NeighborhoodCats

#AnimalAdvocacy

Transcript
Dixie:

Welcome to Animal Posse, the podcast dedicated to the

2

:

people and rescues making a

difference in the lives of animals.

3

:

Thank you Rebecca for joining me today.

4

:

Rebecca: You're welcome.

5

:

I'm so excited to be here with you.

6

:

Dixie: You do TNR

7

:

Rebecca: I do.

8

:

Dixie: And what group do you do that for?

9

:

Rebecca: I do it with the Jefferson SPCA.

10

:

Dixie: Can you tell us a little

bit about your background and

11

:

how you became involved in TNR?

12

:

Rebecca: Yes.

13

:

So I've always been an animal lover

since day one, since I was little.

14

:

My mom had probably 15, 20 cats in

and around our house growing up.

15

:

Huge animal family.

16

:

I started working with Jefferson Parish

Parks and Recreation in:

17

:

after 10 years at the same job, it's

like, what can I do to make coming

18

:

to work something that I love to do?

19

:

So how can I incorporate

animals into my job?

20

:

So I've always wanted to volunteer,

but volunteering with different

21

:

organizations is so stressful because

there's so many requirements and.

22

:

Applications you have to fill out and

you have to schedule appointments.

23

:

So I never really did that

'cause that freaked me out.

24

:

But I was like, okay, with my platform I

can do this, and then I'll open it up to

25

:

volunteers and people will come to me to

volunteer and I'll do all the scheduling.

26

:

So now I'm not alone going to volunteer,

and that makes it easier for me.

27

:

I found Rachel because my mother she has

community cats and she had reached out to

28

:

Rachel and Rachel did some TNR for her.

29

:

So my mom was like, you should

reach out to Rachel with the

30

:

Jefferson SPCA and maybe y'all can

volunteer there with your new group.

31

:

So the group is called JP Helping

Paws, and this is probably

32

:

our second or third ish year.

33

:

So I met Rachel doing all that.

34

:

And if Rachel, she's very.

35

:

Loud and outgoing and to

the point, and I love that.

36

:

So just volunteering there.

37

:

I started hearing about trapping

cats and something about it always

38

:

freaked me out a little bit.

39

:

Just the unknown of it, my fiance works

at Game On Social Hub and the owners,

40

:

there are big cat people, which we

love, but she had some cats in the

41

:

back that she wanted help trapping.

42

:

So Rachel was like, I'm gonna go, I'll

bring the van, come with me and learn.

43

:

I was like, okay.

44

:

So we got the big van,

loaded it up with traps.

45

:

Rachel's showing me how to do it,

setting 'em, and then you just hear

46

:

'em, clicking and setting off and

she's like, oh, go see what we got.

47

:

And I'm like okay.

48

:

And then it's like, oh

look, it's a little one.

49

:

And so it was just like the

thrill of like, what did we get?

50

:

That kind of like pulled me in.

51

:

Once I saw how easy it was, I was

like, okay like this takes no effort.

52

:

You literally set a metal box and they

walk into it and then you're done.

53

:

So I was like, I can do this.

54

:

I can totally do this.

55

:

So I still hadn't had like a neighborhood

to trap in or anything like that.

56

:

But where I work, I drive through

airline park neighborhood to get to

57

:

my job sometimes, and I saw a little

black kitten crossing the street.

58

:

So immediately, my first instinct

is let me try and grab him.

59

:

And I saw him run into their backyard.

60

:

So I tell Rachel and she's

like, come get a door hanger.

61

:

The door hanger says, we notice there's

community cats in the neighborhood.

62

:

We wanna trap them, do t and r.

63

:

Here's my name and number.

64

:

Contact me.

65

:

So I put them out on some doors and

then the next day I got a text message.

66

:

Hey we saw your door hanger and we

would love for you to come trap our cat.

67

:

And I was like, this is it.

68

:

Like this is it.

69

:

I've been trapping there

for over a year now.

70

:

At the same houses, the people who live

there are like my best friends now.

71

:

They're probably fifties

and up, but they're the

72

:

sweetest people ever, but they are

your typical feeders, not fixers.

73

:

So it's easy for me because it's

right around the corner from my job,

74

:

so I can drop traps in the morning.

75

:

They'll keep an eye on 'em.

76

:

I can pick 'em up after work

and go drop 'em off at the J.

77

:

It was just so exciting, once you

start setting those traps and grabbing

78

:

things and then you really feel

it like, I am making a difference.

79

:

Like I literally took maybe an hour out

of my day and I truly made a difference.

80

:

I can see that I made a difference.

81

:

Like these cats will

never get pregnant again.

82

:

They will never impregnate anyone.

83

:

I just put a dent even in, this

house, this block community, I

84

:

myself have put a dent in it.

85

:

So I, once I saw that, I

was like, this is so cool.

86

:

I love this.

87

:

It's so easy and like.

88

:

Being an animal lover does not save lives.

89

:

Unfortunately.

90

:

Just being an animal lover does nothing.

91

:

How many people do we all know?

92

:

Like I'm an animal lover.

93

:

It's like, but what do you do?

94

:

Like, what are you doing for that?

95

:

So it's like I just love the

fact that like, no, like I

96

:

actually am making a difference.

97

:

I am.

98

:

Dixie: Absolutely.

99

:

Yeah.

100

:

And you're right about all the animal

lovers, like especially on social media.

101

:

Rebecca: Oh my God.

102

:

Yeah.

103

:

Dixie: That is like my

biggest pet peeve ever.

104

:

When they're like, oh, I need

somebody to come help this kitten.

105

:

I love animals, but somebody else

106

:

come do the work.

107

:

Rebecca: That's one of my pet peeves

too, because once you and your community

108

:

know that you're a doer, anytime

there's a social media post, you get

109

:

tagged by everyone and it's like, wait.

110

:

You're just as capable as I am.

111

:

Like, are you scared?

112

:

You have a vehicle, you have free time.

113

:

Why are you tagging me

to come save the day?

114

:

Like.

115

:

I think it's amazing that y'all are,

and I love that y'all think of me like

116

:

that, but like you are capable too.

117

:

I love being the person that

people go to solve the problems

118

:

and I love being able to help.

119

:

But we all need to be helping.

120

:

Like the problem is big enough.

121

:

We all need to be helping Stop

tagging me, tag me to say, Hey

122

:

Rebecca, I did this myself.

123

:

Aren't you proud of me?

124

:

Yes.

125

:

Absolutely.

126

:

Dixie: Now you said your group,

JP Helping Paws is different.

127

:

So can you explain how it is

different from the other groups?

128

:

Rebecca: So we're a volunteer group.

129

:

I set everything up and I

basically just let people know.

130

:

We meet up once a month at a different

organization, wherever, and I'll

131

:

let them know like, Hey, this month

we're going to help A Tail in Need,

132

:

do their adoption day at PetSmart.

133

:

I need you to be here at

this time, this place.

134

:

This is how long it's gonna be lasting.

135

:

This is what you're gonna be doing.

136

:

You let me know if you're coming.

137

:

And then I'll reach out to that

rescue and I tell them, I've

138

:

got five volunteers coming.

139

:

Whatever the case may be.

140

:

But there is no legwork for

the people in the group.

141

:

They literally read the email

and tell me I'll be there or

142

:

I won't, and then that's it.

143

:

It's so low commitment.

144

:

It's no work on their part,

and that's what I love, like.

145

:

It's trouble for me 'cause I'm the

one planning all of it the whole year.

146

:

But I signed up for it and it's my job.

147

:

I do that now.

148

:

But it's just so easy for them.

149

:

There's just no commitment,

with everything going on.

150

:

Everyone is so busy.

151

:

And to just see an email and

be like, yeah, that's cool.

152

:

I'll be there.

153

:

Or I'll catch you next month.

154

:

Like, that's it.

155

:

They just show up.

156

:

When we get to the different

organizations and everything, I am

157

:

the one advocating for our group

saying, Hey, we're JP Helping Paws.

158

:

What can, what do y'all need today?

159

:

Are we walking dogs?

160

:

Are we cleaning cat cages?

161

:

Do you need your bathrooms cleaned?

162

:

Are their laundry, do

you need anything folded?

163

:

What you need?

164

:

And I'll, I introduce all

the volunteers together.

165

:

Like I make sure that everyone feels

like safe and included and no one feels

166

:

shy or uncomfortable with anything.

167

:

'cause like I know how that

is and I don't like that.

168

:

I don't like awkwardness, so I try to

make sure that everyone feels included.

169

:

If someone doesn't want a

big dog, like I'll take it.

170

:

What do you want?

171

:

What would you feel comfortable doing?

172

:

If they need the bathrooms cleaned

and no one's interested, I'll clean

173

:

your bathrooms, we, and then I'm

like, okay, we got, 10 minutes left.

174

:

Do y'all need anything else?

175

:

We're gonna wrap up.

176

:

Like, it's really just easy.

177

:

It makes it so easy for these

people to volunteer with us.

178

:

And I encourage everyone while we're

there, take all the photos and videos.

179

:

You can send them to me and then I'll

post them and tag the organization so that

180

:

they can reshare it or just so that more

people can get eyes on their adoptables.

181

:

'cause that's the name of the game, I

feel like it's so important for us to.

182

:

Relieve the volunteers or the workers

of these organizations who literally

183

:

dedicate their lives to this.

184

:

If they can sit down for an hour

while we're cleaning their bathrooms

185

:

and sweeping their floors and walking

their dogs, that's all that matters.

186

:

It's just so important to just

help with that kind of stuff.

187

:

We've been told we got a

bunch of trash in the back.

188

:

If y'all could help

bring it to the dumpster.

189

:

It's been back there a while, and I'm

like, yeah, like we can throw trash away.

190

:

Absolutely.

191

:

Like, what do you need?

192

:

Come on, tell me, what do you need?

193

:

I love that.

194

:

I don't know.

195

:

To my knowledge, I don't know of any

other volunteer groups like that.

196

:

And to me it's very special.

197

:

I love our little group.

198

:

And I hope that it grows and flourishes.

199

:

Dixie: And how many

people are in your group?

200

:

Rebecca: So it varies.

201

:

The first year we did it, we

probably had about 50 people in it.

202

:

'cause it was new and people

didn't know what to expect of it.

203

:

Right now I probably have

around 20 out of those 20 I.

204

:

Definitely have about five diehards that

are there next to me every single time.

205

:

Some of our volunteers have children

and because of their children's

206

:

obligations, they might not be able

to come out as often as they'd like.

207

:

And then some of them ask for their kids

being able to volunteer, which is another

208

:

threshold challenge in volunteer work.

209

:

Because you need to be 18

and older for everywhere.

210

:

There's liability with

animals and all of that.

211

:

So there's not a lot of opportunity for

children, but there absolutely are at

212

:

least two rescues that I know of that do

allow children to come help and interact

213

:

with the animals, which is important

for them to learn at an early age.

214

:

They grow up to be, beautiful,

intelligent cat women like the rest of us.

215

:

It's important.

216

:

Dixie: It's very important.

217

:

I agree with that.

218

:

Definitely.

219

:

I did wanna have you on the show

today because you teach TNR classes.

220

:

So how long have you been

teaching TNR classes and what

221

:

inspired you to start that?

222

:

Rebecca: So we started in January.

223

:

It is Jefferson Parish is 200th year.

224

:

So Jefferson Parish has had a huge

push for bicentennial advertisement,

225

:

branding and all that jazz.

226

:

Of course, helping animals

is always first on my mind.

227

:

How can I wrap my job into

helping animals somehow some way.

228

:

So being someone who does TNRI

know the challenges of it,

229

:

and I know the need for it.

230

:

So if it's like, let me make

this a initiative and try to

231

:

teach 200 people to TNR, even if.

232

:

Five people end up actually doing it.

233

:

That's a success.

234

:

If one person ends up actually

doing it, that's a success.

235

:

Just people sitting and listening

to the class and hearing about it.

236

:

Is a success in my book because

now they know a little bit

237

:

more than when they walked in.

238

:

Not everyone's a cat person and

that's fine, but just knowing the

239

:

facts about community cats is huge.

240

:

Like you don't have to

like cats to do TNR.

241

:

You don't.

242

:

You have to.

243

:

Be compassionate and

wanna make a difference.

244

:

So I teach that in the class.

245

:

We started, January was our first class.

246

:

We do one every single

month for this year.

247

:

And I think I'm gonna

continue it after:

248

:

Maybe I'll do two a year or maybe

just a handful of them a year.

249

:

Right now we started, I wanted to

do a balance between the East Bank

250

:

and West Bank of Jefferson Parish.

251

:

'cause there's a need on

both sides of the river.

252

:

It doesn't matter where

you are, there's a need.

253

:

So we do back to back.

254

:

Each month we do one in the East

Bank for two months and then

255

:

the West Bank for two months.

256

:

So I've been bouncing back and forth.

257

:

We haven't reached my goal of

200 yet, but I'm not discouraged.

258

:

I'm still gonna keep trying

until December of:

259

:

But a lot of the people who

have been attending, they all

260

:

obviously have seen community

cats, which is why they signed up.

261

:

They wanna make a

difference, they wanna help.

262

:

And they have a lot of

good questions in class.

263

:

Like they're not just sitting

there like they are interested.

264

:

I don't know if some of them are going

to do TNR, but I feel confident that

265

:

if they wanted to, they would know how.

266

:

I had one woman who I think she lived

on the West Bank, but she attended

267

:

an East Bank class and her husband

is in the military, so she's gonna be

268

:

moving outta state, and she was like,

I'm really excited to find a rescue

269

:

where we move to and do TNR with them.

270

:

I was likes Amazing.

271

:

Dixie: That is awesome.

272

:

Rebecca: I know.

273

:

I was like, I love that for you.

274

:

She was like, I hope they

have a program like y'all do.

275

:

I was like, Ugh, me too.

276

:

But I told her, no matter where

you go, you're gonna find cats.

277

:

So it's a good skill to have.

278

:

Dixie: Definitely.

279

:

What topics do you cover in the TNR class?

280

:

Rebecca: I feel like I really

cover the beginning to end what to

281

:

do when you see a community cat.

282

:

How to rent the trap.

283

:

Once you have the trap,

how do you prep the trap?

284

:

What do you do with it?

285

:

What do you do with the cat

before and after surgery?

286

:

How do you make the appointments?

287

:

Where do you make the appointments?

288

:

All of the things After the cat is

released, what do you do with the trap?

289

:

There is so many steps to TNR.

290

:

As easy as it is, the prep

and the after is so much work.

291

:

It's rewarding and it's easy work.

292

:

Like loading and unloading the dishwasher,

like my God, who wants to do that?

293

:

But it has to be done and it's not hard.

294

:

It's just annoying.

295

:

So all of that's in there.

296

:

I go over all of the things.

297

:

If there's, babies, what to do

if you get two cats in one trap,

298

:

if it's pregnant you know how to

look for an ear tip, all of that.

299

:

I've only been trapping for a little

over a year, so I've learned a lot

300

:

in a short amount of time, and I

know I have so much more to learn.

301

:

But every trap trapper traps differently.

302

:

That's not a good thing or a bad thing.

303

:

We all have our own little nuances,

our own little things that we do.

304

:

A couple classes I'll have

another TNR Trapper come to the

305

:

class to share their experience.

306

:

If I don't have anyone

coming, no big deal.

307

:

I can do it myself.

308

:

I can answer almost all the questions

myself, but if someone wants to

309

:

come and help me with the class,

they're more than welcome to.

310

:

It's just, everyone's got their, some

trappers mix up all their food beforehand

311

:

and bring it prepared in a Tupperware.

312

:

I'm cracking cans in the street

with a spoon in a bag for my trash.

313

:

It's just, everyone's got their own

little things, and I don't think

314

:

anyone's are better and worse.

315

:

It's all, we are all

learning from each other,

316

:

Dixie: The target audience,

would that be anybody?

317

:

Rebecca: Literally anybody,

I say 18 and up just because.

318

:

I'm not gonna say I've put

myself in dangerous situations.

319

:

I'm gonna say interesting situations,

so I wouldn't open it to children.

320

:

Now, if a parent wants to come with their

child and teach them, come on, it's free.

321

:

I would love for them to learn.

322

:

I just want them to be at least

18 to start trapping on their own.

323

:

I was in a very interesting

situation yesterday.

324

:

I ended up leaving

325

:

cat less

326

:

but I had the cats and traps.

327

:

But that might be a story for another day.

328

:

Dixie: Maybe we'll get to

329

:

that one afterwards.

330

:

Rebecca: Yeah.

331

:

Yeah.

332

:

Dixie: We'll go through the class first.

333

:

Yes.

334

:

And then you can tell us the story.

335

:

Rebecca: Yes.

336

:

Dixie: Does

337

:

the class include hands-on training?

338

:

Rebecca: So I tell everyone if they're

interested in doing what I call a ride

339

:

along, they're welcome to send me an email

and if I'm not trapping on that day,

340

:

we'll find you a trapper that you can

meet up with and you can see it hands on.

341

:

I do bring my trap bag with

me and all of the things that

342

:

come with it, I bring traps.

343

:

Regular traps.

344

:

I brought a fat cap trap and I

brought a kitten trap just to

345

:

show them this is what it is.

346

:

I show them how it works, how

it's triggered, how you set

347

:

it, how you clean it, how you

cover it, line it, all of that.

348

:

So I bring all of the things and

I show them I have a trap fork.

349

:

I show 'em how all of that's done.

350

:

But if they wanna go like in the

field and learn on the job experience,

351

:

they just need to send us an email.

352

:

Say, Hey, I'm interested in coming out.

353

:

I've had one person come

out with me and he learned.

354

:

It's so much to absorb your first time.

355

:

It's almost overwhelming,

but I promise you it's really

356

:

not that, it's not that hard.

357

:

Once you come out a couple times,

you're like, oh, okay, this, the

358

:

main thing is setting the trap

and get in the cat, and that's it,

359

:

Dixie: I find a lot of people

are actually scared of the traps.

360

:

Rebecca: Really

361

:

, Dixie: and they don't know

how to operate the trap.

362

:

Rebecca: Yeah.

363

:

Dixie: And once you show them how

easy it is to just set the trap

364

:

Rebecca: so easy.

365

:

Dixie: It's super easy.

366

:

And pretty much there's a couple

of different traps out there,

367

:

Rebecca: yeah

368

:

there are,

369

:

Dixie: people use the

like the brown traps.

370

:

I like the brown traps.

371

:

But then there's the typical,

humane trap that they have, right?

372

:

With the kind of slide up doors?

373

:

Yeah, with the hinge.

374

:

Rebecca: Yeah.

375

:

No, not

376

:

a fan.

377

:

Not a fan.

378

:

Dixie: Yeah.

379

:

I'm not either, but all of them,

they all operate on the same premise.

380

:

So if you learn on one

381

:

Rebecca: Yeah, you can figure it out.

382

:

Dixie: You can figure it out on all of

383

:

' em.

384

:

Rebecca: Absolutely.

385

:

That's how the kitten traps are with

the strange littlemouth pinching

386

:

front door the first time I saw

that I was like, what is this?

387

:

It's like, it's gotta open some way.

388

:

There's only a couple ways it

can do it, you figure it out.

389

:

But they're so easy

390

:

Dixie: Uhhuh.

391

:

Rebecca: I know.

392

:

I think Rachel keeps a nail file with

her so that like, if her trapped doors

393

:

close into sensitively or something,

she'll just grind that little piece.

394

:

Rough, rough it up a little bit.

395

:

So there's tips and trick you learn

along the way from everyone you know.

396

:

It's like a little hobby.

397

:

Dixie: What about misconceptions with TNR?

398

:

How do you address those?

399

:

Rebecca: So I really try when I am

going out to a house for the first time

400

:

let's say there are several cats there.

401

:

So I'm going to meet

the feeder essentially.

402

:

I try my hardest to make

them feel so comfortable.

403

:

They cannot tell me no.

404

:

Because I know that it's scary to

have someone you don't know come

405

:

onto your property and say, I wanna

take your babies and fix them.

406

:

I dealt with this yesterday, just the

word trapper in itself sounds aggressive.

407

:

It doesn't sound helpful,

it doesn't sound good.

408

:

So I do think there's

a huge stigma with it.

409

:

I think people think of the shelter from

years ago, and it's like, absolutely not.

410

:

I want nothing to do with y'all.

411

:

And it's like, no, we're here to help.

412

:

Like we are all crazy cat women.

413

:

We are here to help.

414

:

So there's a huge stigma

and how do we break that?

415

:

Is it not referring to

ourselves as trappers?

416

:

Is there another way that we

could address it to where it

417

:

isn't as scary and aggressive?

418

:

That's something I'm navigating through

because my situation yesterday, all of

419

:

that came up and I was like, you're right.

420

:

Like.

421

:

I do understand that there is a huge

stigma, but we are just here to help.

422

:

Truly, it has nothing to do with you where

you live, what you don't care about you.

423

:

I just wanna help the cats.

424

:

Dixie: What advice would you

give somebody who is fearful

425

:

of feral cats during trapping?

426

:

, Rebecca: it's interesting because

I know a couple people who really

427

:

aren't cat people who do trap and.

428

:

If you're around cats long enough,

they're gonna turn you, but once

429

:

they're covered, you're fine.

430

:

They calm down.

431

:

That's it.

432

:

You're never handling the cat.

433

:

You never have to pick the cat up.

434

:

The cats pretty much run from you.

435

:

When you go to trap, you set your trap,

you walk away, you come back, they're

436

:

in it, you cover it, and that's it.

437

:

They don't get out of the traps.

438

:

They're good in there.

439

:

Once you cover 'em, they're quiet.

440

:

There.

441

:

I don't think there's anything

to be scared of, honestly.

442

:

Now I've learned my lesson from

kitten snatching, as I call it.

443

:

I don't suggest anyone snatch kittens

by their hand from the garden, but

444

:

listen, we all have to learn on our own

sometimes, and that's what's happened.

445

:

And I, lessons we're learned but

if you don't have a tendency to

446

:

grab cats, barehanded, you're fine.

447

:

Dixie: Yeah.

448

:

Rebecca: Yeah.

449

:

Dixie: What are the biggest challenges

people face when starting TNR and how do

450

:

you help them overcome those challenges?

451

:

Rebecca: I think a huge challenge

is talking to the feeders, honestly.

452

:

Like that can be a scary part, even still.

453

:

'cause you don't know who's

front door you're knocking on.

454

:

You don't know if it's, an

80-year-old grandma who really wants

455

:

the help and loves these kitties.

456

:

It's someone who's just ignorant to

the whole idea of fixing animals and

457

:

who's gonna be aggressive with you.

458

:

So that right there can be scary.

459

:

And I go over that in the class.

460

:

I say, if you feel uncomfortable

in a neighborhood, have someone

461

:

go with you or don't go.

462

:

I don't want anyone to be putting

themselves in an unsafe situation to help

463

:

cats get a group of us to go with you.

464

:

And I always tell people, if you

ever feel unsafe, call the police.

465

:

Just call the police.

466

:

I don't know why people are

so afraid to call the police.

467

:

I'm like, girl, I'll call the police

at least once a month on somebody.

468

:

Call the police.

469

:

That's what they're there for.

470

:

You know the people who threaten you,

I'll call the police if you take my

471

:

cats, first of all, they're not your cats.

472

:

They might be on your property,

but they're community cats.

473

:

They're not collared, they're

not chipped, they're not tipped.

474

:

So they're fair game.

475

:

You can call the police first if

you're trapping on the sidewalk.

476

:

They can't come after you.

477

:

But again, if you feel

uncomfortable, I wouldn't want

478

:

to put anyone in that situation.

479

:

I would just say leave, communicate with

whatever rescue you're communicating

480

:

with and let 'em know, like, I truly

don't feel safe trapping at that house.

481

:

Maybe there's another trapper who does,

or maybe we can go out as a group.

482

:

A lot of the rescues are friends with

a lot of Kenner police and j Jefferson

483

:

Parish police officers, and we can give

'em a heads up, Hey, we're trapping here.

484

:

If y'all could do some

drive-bys, check on us.

485

:

I'm sure they would be

more than happy to do that.

486

:

It's just, to me that is like the

scariest part of it is the unknown

487

:

of the people, not the cats.

488

:

Not the cats.

489

:

Dixie: Have you ever had

the police called on you?

490

:

Rebecca: Not yet.

491

:

I haven't, and I haven't had to call

the police while I was trapping either.

492

:

But again, I wouldn't hesitate

to if I felt like I needed to.

493

:

I think trapping cats falls under the see

something, say something kind of thing.

494

:

Cats that need help, say something

or help them yourself, be

495

:

equipped and help them yourself.

496

:

If I see something that's not right while

I'm trapping, I'm gonna say something.

497

:

I just don't want that to sit with me.

498

:

I need to pass that on to

whomever can handle it.

499

:

Dixie: How do you address concerns

about catching wildlife in the traps.

500

:

Rebecca: So I haven't caught wildlife yet.

501

:

Dixie: Really?

502

:

Rebecca: I know.

503

:

I know.

504

:

I envy those who have

My day will come though.

505

:

I think because where I

trap it's so heavily catted.

506

:

There is no room for any wildlife.

507

:

But again, you can easily open a trap

without the creature inside getting you,

508

:

unless it's like a raccoon, they do have

tiny hands that can fit through the holes.

509

:

So in my trap bag, I carry thick, like.

510

:

Bird gloves that go into like my elbows,

511

:

Dixie: uhhuh,

512

:

Rebecca: so I could absolutely

successfully open my trap and

513

:

release whatever it is if needed.

514

:

Never been in that situation.

515

:

But again, you just open the trap

and you can, lean the door forward

516

:

so that you can back up enough.

517

:

I haven't heard of a trapper being

reard by a raccoon or possum upon

518

:

release, but maybe that's me.

519

:

Dixie: I'm jealous though, 'cause

it seems like every time I'm trying

520

:

to catch a cat, I get a possum.

521

:

Rebecca: Oh

522

:

man.

523

:

Dixie: And so I have to go let the

possum go and then sometimes the same

524

:

possum will go back in the trap again.

525

:

Rebecca: Bless his heart yeah.

526

:

Dixie: So yeah.

527

:

That's pretty good.

528

:

You've

529

:

never caught wildlife.

530

:

Rebecca: I don't know.

531

:

I feel like maybe that's what

makes you like an official trapper.

532

:

Like you have to be

christened with a possum.

533

:

Dixie: I know one time I got a raccoon

and he wasn't in the trap for long.

534

:

But that sucker started

like dismantling the trap.

535

:

Rebecca: That's what I've heard.

536

:

That's what Rachel says.

537

:

Dixie: He's just started working at it.

538

:

Rebecca: Yeah.

539

:

She said they'll burn through 'em.

540

:

Uhhuh, he was big.

541

:

Dixie: Yeah, he was a big

boy, so how do you measure the

542

:

success of your TNR classes?

543

:

Rebecca: If one person comes, it's

successful because even one person

544

:

just learning about it, I don't

need everyone to go back and trap.

545

:

And so my goal is to teach 200 people.

546

:

I don't need 200 people trapping,

but if 200 people just come and

547

:

sit in this class and listen to me,

it's about an hour and a half, give

548

:

or take, depending on questions.

549

:

Just to leave with the knowledge

that I can share with them about it.

550

:

And now they know like if you

have community cats that are tnr

551

:

in your neighborhood, they're

going to protect your neighborhood

552

:

from other cats coming in.

553

:

They're gonna be territorial and

they're going to prevent other groups

554

:

from coming into your neighborhood.

555

:

I'm such a cat person, I just

don't see the negative in it, but.

556

:

It's just so much knowledge,

I know people who that cat has

557

:

three legs, it should be put down.

558

:

I'm like, he has three legs.

559

:

He's perfectly fine.

560

:

Like legs are a luxury.

561

:

He's fine.

562

:

So just sharing all of

the things about it.

563

:

I think as eyeopening to

some people, I love to learn.

564

:

I love to find out new things.

565

:

And so to me, it's a lot of

information and knowledge that I

566

:

think everyone should just know,

again, whether you have intentions

567

:

of doing it or not, no big deal.

568

:

But so that if someone comes up to

you and says like, that cat has no

569

:

home, it should be put to sleep.

570

:

You now have the knowledge to say no.

571

:

Look, he's got an ear tip.

572

:

He's a community cat like

he is being cared for.

573

:

He's fine.

574

:

Dixie: Yeah.

575

:

Education is a big part of it and

I think it is reaching more people.

576

:

Because people don't realize

how fast they can reproduce.

577

:

Rebecca: I know

578

:

Dixie: when you tell 'em four months

old that their baby's having babies.

579

:

Yes.

580

:

It just like blows their mind.

581

:

Rebecca: I know.

582

:

Teen moms.

583

:

Yeah, absolutely.

584

:

Dixie: Do you have any plans of trying

to maybe to reach, say, high schools

585

:

about the effect of pet overpopulation?

586

:

Rebecca: So my journey.

587

:

As a human is to help animals

in any way, shape or form.

588

:

And to me, this is just

the beginning of my path.

589

:

I don't, like I said, I think my

TNR classes will continue past

590

:

2025 in some way, shape or form.

591

:

I would love to continue teaching

people and informing people, and I think

592

:

my platform with Jefferson Parish is

amazing for me to continue to do that.

593

:

I have a lot of ideas in the future.

594

:

So this isn't like a one

and done type of thing.

595

:

Like I have to incorporate

animals into my job.

596

:

That's my purpose

597

:

Dixie: Do you have any other

success stories from students?

598

:

Rebecca: So one girl, she's

actually in JP Helping Paw.

599

:

So she came to the class

to learn how to trap.

600

:

She's one of our like day ones,

she's a really loyal volunteer.

601

:

She came to the class, she

learned a bunch of stuff.

602

:

She trapped a cat that had been

showing up at her house that she

603

:

had been feeding for a little while.

604

:

So trapped that cat that

cat got fixed, was pregnant.

605

:

It was a, I think it

was a stoic pregnancy.

606

:

The babies were like

hardened solidified like,

607

:

Dixie: oh wow,

608

:

Rebecca: weren't alive.

609

:

Like, it would've killed her

if she hadn't have been fixed.

610

:

100% would've killed her.

611

:

So once she found out about

this, she was like, I cannot put

612

:

this cat back out on the street.

613

:

So that cat lives in her house now.

614

:

Dixie: Oh really?

615

:

That's amazing.

616

:

Rebecca: I know.

617

:

She is the one who fed it every day and

the cat's best friends with her husband.

618

:

So that's typically how gets,

619

:

Dixie: oh, that's Cat.

620

:

So that's typical cats.

621

:

Rebecca: So like that one story, I'm good.

622

:

Like That's amazing.

623

:

I love that.

624

:

Dixie: Yeah,

625

:

that definitely makes it

worthwhile right there.

626

:

Rebecca: Absolutely.

627

:

Where I do my TNR over a year

now, I try to teach the feeder,

628

:

look, this is how the trap works.

629

:

This is how you do it.

630

:

It's real easy.

631

:

So I'm teaching them too, like.

632

:

To where if I leave the trap

with them, they can help.

633

:

. So I had caught one of their cats that

had been tipped, and he goes, I open the

634

:

trap and I let it out, and I reset it.

635

:

And I was like, oh yeah, we're learning.

636

:

Oh yeah, step one, right?

637

:

Dixie: With feeders, do you ever

encounter feeders that when you tell

638

:

them, "Hey, I am coming to trap,

the cats don't feed the cats", and

639

:

they're putting the food out anyway.

640

:

Do you run across that and

how do you handle that?

641

:

Rebecca: So I think it's happened

a few times where I trap regularly.

642

:

And I just try to reiterate

to them, cats can go, I think

643

:

it's 72 hours without food.

644

:

They need water every day, but they can go

a very long time without food and be okay.

645

:

They're not going to starve.

646

:

And that's another huge struggle

is these are their children.

647

:

These feeders are very

attached to their cats.

648

:

So when all their cats are looking

inside, like, mom, it's been days we're

649

:

starving out here, they can't handle it.

650

:

A little bit of food won't hurt.

651

:

And I'm like, I need them to be starving

so that they'll get into the traps, as

652

:

soon as I'm done, you can feed everybody.

653

:

So it is a little bit of a struggle.

654

:

I'm always like.

655

:

Look, if I'm coming on Tuesday,

Sunday night, maybe don't put

656

:

much of anything out Monday.

657

:

Nothing.

658

:

I've been trapping here so long though.

659

:

These cats, they know me, they know the

routine, they know when she leaves, we

660

:

get fed and that's a whole other issue.

661

:

So here and there again, I've been

trapping at the same place for so long.

662

:

When I go to new places or like emergency

situations, they get right in the trap.

663

:

hit or miss,

664

:

Dixie: so I would love to hear more

about the story from yesterday.

665

:

Rebecca: Okay.

666

:

So once I learned how to TNR, my

favorite thing is people who are on

667

:

Facebook, like, this cat is hanging

from a fence that needs help.

668

:

I'm like, I'm getting my trap

and I'm going to get that cat.

669

:

I've gotten a lot of cats that end

up at the J from like emergency

670

:

Facebook situations , but I love that.

671

:

I love being able to help.

672

:

So someone posts on Facebook a

picture of a cat on the sidewalk

673

:

with two kittens, just like nursing.

674

:

Dixie: Yep

675

:

Rebecca: you saw it?

676

:

Dixie: I saw that one, yes.

677

:

Rebecca: All right, so it's got,

hundreds of comments at this point

678

:

and I went to Jefferson Feed yesterday

and we helped take kitten pictures

679

:

because, they have 200 kittens.

680

:

And I was like, I'm gonna go

try and trap that cat after.

681

:

So I go after.

682

:

I pull up at the house and the people

are on the porch and I was like,

683

:

Hey, I saw on Facebook , y'all have

some cats, and I see the kittens

684

:

climbing up the side of the fence.

685

:

And I'm like, oh.

686

:

And she was like, we don't

need help with our cats.

687

:

I was like, no.

688

:

Are they fixed?

689

:

Like, I'm just coming to help.

690

:

She said, no, we don't need help.

691

:

I said, okay.

692

:

So I get back in my car and I call

Rachel, and then someone walks up

693

:

to my window and they were like,

Hey can you come out and talk to us?

694

:

I was like, okay.

695

:

And I'm like, Rachel,

just stay on the phone.

696

:

I don't know what's happening.

697

:

And the lady comes out and she was like,

we do have cats and we do want them fixed.

698

:

And I was like, oh, great.

699

:

I'm gonna go grab my trap.

700

:

So I grabbed two traps and the little

kid, she was probably like eight years

701

:

old, just picks up the kittens and starts

walking, puts 'em right in my trap.

702

:

Grabs a mama cat puts her in the

trap and I'm like, this is the

703

:

easiest thing I've ever done.

704

:

And I said, how many kittens are there?

705

:

There's six.

706

:

And I was like, alright,

we'll go get the other one.

707

:

So these kittens were probably

like, I don't know, six weeks

708

:

old and they're running around

in a very busy, dangerous area.

709

:

So the kid like grabs the cat by the

tail and I'm like, oh, let's be gentle.

710

:

So I've got, four kittens or something?

711

:

I'm missing two.

712

:

They're inside.

713

:

We're gonna go get 'em.

714

:

And I was like, okay.

715

:

So they go get the kittens and then

come out, and then the woman says, mama

716

:

said you can't take any of the cats.

717

:

I was like I just wanna fix 'em.

718

:

Like, can I at least take the mom and

then I'll come back for the kittens?

719

:

Mama said, you have to

release all of them.

720

:

And I said what if I go run to my car?

721

:

What's mama gonna do?

722

:

And they were like, she

gonna come after you?

723

:

And I was like, okay,

I'm not doing that then.

724

:

I said, I just wanna fix 'em.

725

:

I don't want your cats.

726

:

I promise you I do not want them.

727

:

I'm just gonna fix 'em and bring 'em back.

728

:

No, finally mom comes out and talks to me.

729

:

She was very nice.

730

:

But they're not from that neighborhood.

731

:

They recently moved there and

apparently they brought Mama Cat

732

:

with them, that she was a stray.

733

:

From the neighborhood that they

previously lived in and she had

734

:

these babies at their new address.

735

:

They're indoor, outdoor.

736

:

None of them are fixed.

737

:

None of them are vaccinated.

738

:

I don't see any food

and water bowls outside.

739

:

We bring some of them inside at

night and I'm just pleading with this

740

:

woman like, what is it gonna take?

741

:

I don't want your cats.

742

:

This is the process I will.

743

:

Bring them to go get fixed.

744

:

They get fixed.

745

:

I bring them to my house for the night.

746

:

I will come back the next

morning and release them.

747

:

I send you pictures and text

updates the entire time so that

748

:

you know your kitties are safe.

749

:

Like this is how it works.

750

:

And she's like, no I

feel attacked right now.

751

:

I don't know who put that on Facebook.

752

:

I don't know these people.

753

:

Why would someone see cats and assume

that they're not being taken care of?

754

:

They look healthy.

755

:

And I said I'm positive.

756

:

It was just someone doing

good who sees cats with.

757

:

Babies on the sidewalk of a busy

street and they just want help for the

758

:

cats 'cause they're not ear tipped.

759

:

So that's a giveaway.

760

:

Maybe we're lost, maybe

we're not taken care of.

761

:

She wouldn't have it.

762

:

So she made me release them.

763

:

I gave her my card with my phone number

and I said, please, if you change your

764

:

mind today, tomorrow, whenever, please

text me I'll just go get 'em fixed myself.

765

:

I said, we will do it for free.

766

:

For free.

767

:

We will fix them.

768

:

I plan on putting a letter in her

mailbox, just like reintroducing myself,

769

:

letting her know the process of it.

770

:

The mama cat, when I released

her, she just slowly walked out.

771

:

She let me pet her.

772

:

They were the sweetest.

773

:

So the positive was these

people are handling these cats.

774

:

So if I do go back, I, it's

not a trapping situation.

775

:

It's a picking up situation and I I

informed them just to let you know if your

776

:

neighbors do call, I can trap on their

property and I can trap on the sidewalk.

777

:

Even if you say no, she said

that's fine, we'll keep them in.

778

:

It's like, we'll keep 'em in.

779

:

That's fine.

780

:

But they were covered in fleas and.

781

:

The mama, you can see in the

pictures her hair was thinning.

782

:

From the fleas.

783

:

She's a light cat.

784

:

She'll probably end up getting skin

cancer from being out in the sun.

785

:

It's like, just let me fix your cats, man.

786

:

Dixie: Yeah.

787

:

Because we don't need any more babies.

788

:

Rebecca: We really don't.

789

:

No.

790

:

And I told her that, I

said, you've got six now.

791

:

They can all reproduce at four months old.

792

:

Let's handle it.

793

:

Dixie: Do the math.

794

:

Rebecca: I told her that,

let's handle it now.

795

:

Before I said the vet bills, the

spay and neuter bills, the food.

796

:

She was like, I know.

797

:

And it's like, oh my God.

798

:

But I haven't given up hope on them yet.

799

:

But then, you go on Facebook to update,

Hey guys, this is what happened.

800

:

And I'm, just giving them

the highlights of it,

801

:

Dixie: right

802

:

Rebecca: I'm still working with

them and all these people are

803

:

coming at me and I'm like no.

804

:

Dixie: Yeah,

805

:

Rebecca: we're

806

:

not doing that.

807

:

I understand you're frustrated, as am I.

808

:

But guess what?

809

:

I went out.

810

:

If you wanna go try, go ahead.

811

:

Dixie: Yeah.

812

:

See

813

:

that's what I hate when the people always

criticize the person actually helping.

814

:

Anybody can go help too.

815

:

And that just drives me

816

:

nuts.

817

:

Rebecca: It gives me strong

secondhand embarrassment for them.

818

:

Like.

819

:

You're welcome to go grab them.

820

:

You saw 'em.

821

:

When I see an animal, my first

thing is if it's a cat ear

822

:

tip, and will you come to me?

823

:

'cause I'll pick you up right

now and call Rachel and get an

824

:

appointment to have you fixed.

825

:

I'm not going on Facebook saying,

oh my god guys, I need help.

826

:

Like, I'm a problem solver.

827

:

Let's fix it.

828

:

I guess I'm lucky enough to know who

my people are to solve things before

829

:

having to go to Facebook for it.

830

:

But.

831

:

The person who came at me, it was like

you can go back and pick 'em up yourself.

832

:

I said, they told me that mama

was gonna come out and chase me.

833

:

And like that wasn't on

yesterday's agenda, that's on you.

834

:

I did my best.

835

:

It's a work in progress.

836

:

Like either it will happen or it won't,

but I'm sure I'll find six more cats

837

:

that need to be TNR someplace else.

838

:

Like we're all doing our best.

839

:

Dixie: Yeah, and it's educating people.

840

:

I know a couple of weeks ago.

841

:

I found a very friendly, intact male cat.

842

:

And so I found the girl

immediately through the lost

843

:

and found found pet groups.

844

:

And it's the funniest thing too,

because she lives almost right

845

:

around the corner from me, but I

found the cat like six blocks away.

846

:

Rebecca: Of course you do.

847

:

Okay.

848

:

He was intact,

849

:

Dixie: so Yeah.

850

:

, he was intact.

851

:

So I got the cat back to her and I I

said I've never seen him in the area.

852

:

Do you keep him inside?

853

:

And she's like, yeah he ran out.

854

:

And I said, he's gonna keep running

out you don't have him neutered?

855

:

And so she told me, she goes, yeah, she

had planned on getting him neutered.

856

:

And I really don't blame her for this.

857

:

She said she had just moved to the

neighborhood, she wasn't aware of

858

:

the low cost programs that we have.

859

:

But when she had tried to get him

neutered wherever she came from.

860

:

First they told her he

needed to be six months old.

861

:

Rebecca: Oh my God.

862

:

Dixie: Okay.

863

:

So then after that it

was $500 to neuter him.

864

:

Rebecca: Wow.

865

:

Dixie: So I told her, , look,

866

:

I can get 'em neutered tomorrow.

867

:

Rebecca: Yeah.

868

:

Dixie: She gave me the cat,

I was able to go pick him up.

869

:

Rebecca: That's amazing.

870

:

Dixie: And I told her, look, , if

you see any stray cats in the

871

:

the area.

872

:

I'm like, let me know.

873

:

And I will just come put

up a trap on your property.

874

:

Rebecca: Yeah.

875

:

Dixie: And so she's like,

oh yeah that's fine.

876

:

Rebecca: So that's awesome.

877

:

Dixie: Yeah.

878

:

So it's a little bit of a win because

. A lot of people aren't open to that.

879

:

When you tell 'em that, they just

look at you like you're nuts you

880

:

know.

881

:

Rebecca: I know.

882

:

Absolutely.

883

:

The amount of doors I've knocked on, like,

hi, do y'all know who feeds these cats?

884

:

You're like, no.

885

:

Never seen them.

886

:

Like, okay.

887

:

Thank you.

888

:

That's awesome though.

889

:

Dixie: Yeah.

890

:

It was a win.

891

:

Yeah, a win for sure.

892

:

Rebecca: My 2020 year plan is that when

I retire, I would love to run for council

893

:

and change all of those laws and make

sure everyone really knows about TNR

894

:

because like, hello, we can't all complain

as a parish and do nothing about it.

895

:

And that's what we're doing.

896

:

We're complaining and we're doing nothing.

897

:

If you have problems, come

to me with a solution.

898

:

Y'all aren't doing that.

899

:

Y'all are complaining and doing nothing.

900

:

I could talk about that all day.

901

:

Dixie: So before we end the episode, is

there anything else you would like to add?

902

:

Rebecca: I think we covered everything.

903

:

I just, I wish.

904

:

Like you said, people would know

more about TNR, that it's available

905

:

to every single Jefferson Parish

resident and that people are capable.

906

:

It doesn't matter how old you

are, you're capable to trap.

907

:

I know a lot of the TNR people are

older and they're gonna be retiring

908

:

from trapping soon, we can start,

there should be a younger generation

909

:

of people out there trapping.

910

:

I tell people, it's like Pokemon Go in

real life like but they're all meowths.

911

:

It's still exciting.

912

:

We just need to like let people

know and like challenge each other.

913

:

So my goal my first year was to

trap 20 cats and I think I trapped

914

:

like 30, but that for me was huge.

915

:

If you can compete with your

friends, like I bet Jack can

916

:

trap more cats than you like.

917

:

It's so fun.

918

:

It really is.

919

:

Yeah.

920

:

And then you get to see 'em

all and it's just so much fun.

921

:

Like there's no reason why

everyone isn't trapping at least

922

:

one cat a year, which is nothing.

923

:

There's just no reason.

924

:

Dixie: Yeah.

925

:

And it's weird too when you said

something about all the older

926

:

people that are doing the trapping.

927

:

And why isn't the younger

generation involved?

928

:

Because, I remember from, my younger self.

929

:

When I was a teenager, I was doing

this stuff, we didn't have the

930

:

programs like we have now, if.

931

:

I saw an animal that needed help, I

would automatically go and help it.

932

:

I got into trapping as soon as we started

having the low cost programs available.

933

:

And so it's weird.

934

:

I don't know.

935

:

Rebecca: It is weird, my mom, when she was

pregnant with me 30 something years ago.

936

:

She was always, an animal activist.

937

:

She was picketing, stealing

animals, knocking on doors.

938

:

She did all of those things.

939

:

So I know that's where I got it from, but

I didn't start until I was in my thirties.

940

:

I don't know.

941

:

We definitely need to get 'em

at a younger age and let them

942

:

know just how to handle animals.

943

:

That is a huge pet peeve of mine.

944

:

We run day camps and my staff.

945

:

Let's have a petting zoo come.

946

:

And I'm like, absolutely not.

947

:

I cannot let that poor lizard be poked

by 500 fingers in a day, not on my watch.

948

:

So like just training children

and teaching them like this

949

:

is how we handle animals.

950

:

And giving them that knowledge that

they grow into being that animal person.

951

:

And maybe they do start

trapping right when they're 18

952

:

or ride along with their mom.

953

:

Like I know for sure.

954

:

One day I'll have probably like.

955

:

An infant in my backseat

and like a tortie in a trap.

956

:

Like it's probably gonna happen one

day and like it should, but Right.

957

:

We need to do a better job as a parish

of just getting the information out to

958

:

people, getting it out and maybe somehow

some way incentivizing, trapping, maybe

959

:

if you trap a hundred cats a year in

Jefferson Parish, you receive like a

960

:

little pin or just something you know.

961

:

All of these trappers, we do it

from the kindness of our heart.

962

:

We get zero back.

963

:

We spend our time, effort, money,

and energy on this because we love it

964

:

and we don't get anything back, and

we don't need anything back either.

965

:

But the parish has a problem and we're

here to solve it, and they should be

966

:

backing us up like wholeheartedly.

967

:

You know when you call the police

because there's a dog tied up and

968

:

they're like, oh I don't care about that.

969

:

And it's like, no, it's against the law.

970

:

I don't care whether you

personally care about it or not.

971

:

Do your job, follow through with it.

972

:

We should be backed every way, shape and

from our government so that,:

973

:

Dixie: I'm glad you are on the front

lines there, helping all the cats,

974

:

and thank you so much for taking

the time to speak with me today.

975

:

Rebecca: Absolutely.

976

:

Thank you for having me.

977

:

Dixie: All right.

978

:

You're welcome.

979

:

And that's all the time we

have for today's episode.

980

:

If you are in animal rescue, or if

you know someone that has a story that

981

:

should be told, please contact us.

982

:

We would love to have

you or them on the show

983

:

. Thanks for listening, and please

join us next week as we continue to

984

:

explore the world of animal rescue.

Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode

Listen for free

Show artwork for Animal Posse

About the Podcast

Animal Posse
A look inside the world of animal rescue
Dive deep into the world of animal rescue with heartwarming stories, expert interviews, and behind-the-scenes insights. From heartwarming adoptions to daring rescues, we'll explore the incredible bond between humans and animals.
Support This Show