Santa Rosa County Animal Services has received a $25,000 grant from Florida Animal Friend to assist with the community cat program. This program provides free or reduced-cost neuter/spay for community cats. This funding will allow free neuter/spay and rabies vaccination services for up to 500 cats in Santa Rosa County communities. Participants can begin scheduling appointments Sat., Oct. 1. 

Participants of the program must be Santa Rosa County residents and can register up to three community cats per appointment. Cats must be at least three months of age, outdoor, unowned, and free-roaming to be eligible for the program. In addition to neuter/spay, cats will receive a rabies vaccination and ear tip. A tipped ear indicates that a community cat has been altered.

Santa Rosa County residents can register community cats by making an appointment with the shelter at (850) 983-4680. Appointments will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

Residents are responsible for trapping and transporting cats to and from the Santa Rosa County Animal Shelter, 4451 Pine Forest Road in Milton. Cats will need to be dropped off at the shelter between 8 - 9 a.m. and picked up between 3:30 - 4 p.m. on the day of the appointment. Cats must be secured in a humane trap or carrier. Traps are available to rent from SRCAS, renters will be charged $65 to take a trap and will be refunded once the trap is returned. 

For other pet help resources, please visit www.santarosa.fl.gov/animals