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an online course on TNR for Humane Society University, development of an onlinedatabase to track feral cat colonies and help return eartipped cats to their caretakers, andformulation of a model TNR ordinance to guide municipalities nationwide.In 2006, The Humane Society of the United States, the nation’s most influentialanimal welfare organization, officially endorsed Trap-Neuter-Return, affirming the powerof TNR to impact lives for the better. Other national animal welfare groups are also nowsolidly in support of TNR, including the ASPCA, Best Friends Animal Society, Maddie’sFund and PetSmart Charities. In 2011, as numerous other municipalities have done, theNew York City Council made TNR its official policy for managing free-roaming cats.Today, the discussion has shifted from whether TNR should be practiced to how it can bespread most widely and effectively.These are promising days for community cats. None of this would be possiblewithout the caretakers everywhere who fill the food bowls no matter the weather, baittraps, provide shelter, tame and carefully re-home kittens, and sacrifice their own timeand money. A million small acts of kindness have led to the accomplishment of thesemilestones.By the time Apollo and I crossed paths, he was a well-fed, well-sheltered,comfortably middle-aged ex-tomcat. He and his colony mates fully enjoyed their lives,in a way that could not have happened without TNR. There are no cats left in the lot nowthough sometimes when I walk past I can almost see a little black shape basking on sundappledbricks. This guide was written in memory of old friends and with hope for thefuture. It is dedicated to all feral cat caretakers, to help speed the way to a bettertomorrow for community cats.Susan RichmondExecutive Director, Neighborhood CatsApril, 20132