Montclair Cat Lovers Harness ‘Power Of Purr’ With New Nonprofit

MONTCLAIR, NJ — The best way to get homeless animals to their forever families is often to make sure they never end up at the shelters in the first place.

That’s one of the goals of Communities Promoting Animal Welfare NJ (CPAW NJ), a new nonprofit organization that recently launched in Montclair. The organization aims to keep animals out of shelters by “providing their knowledge, expertise and resources to anyone considering giving up their pet,” according to a news release.

They don’t have a building or foster cats, but CPAW NJ members say that their greatest resource is the reservoir of goodwill and talent in the Montclair community itself.

“[We plan to] partner with as many community members and organizations as possible to keep people and pets together,” the group stated in a news release.

Learn more about the group here.

CPAW NJ plans to help the local animal population in several ways:

• “Build bridges and show compassion to people who just need a bit of help to keep their pet”
• “Share knowledge about basic cat behavior, helping owners who might be experiencing behavior problems with their pet”
• “Connect and collaborate with area groups and individuals to maximize limited resources and to lift each other up”

A large focus of the group is to promote a trap, neuter, vaccinate and return (TNVR) program in Montclair that will hopefully help to control the feral cat population in the area.

“CPAW NJ applauds people who care for the community cats in their neighborhoods and will partner with them and private organizations to engage more proactively in this life-saving practice,” the group stated.

Ultimately, TNVR will help to decrease the burden placed on local animal shelters, CPAW NJ stated.

“I think most people would agree that it’s best for animals and their humans to remain a family and to make sure the community cat population is neutered and vaccinated,” said one of the group’s founders, Karen Shinevar.

Don’t forget to visit the Patch Montclair Facebook page here.

Send local news tips, photos and press releases to eric.kiefer@patch.com

Photos: CPAW NJ