Prairie to Peaks Animal Assistance Foundation

05/31/2026

Just an adorable video of Jan playing with her foster Daddy😻

05/30/2026

Evidence based research via Texas A & M regarding TNVR…IT WORKS. IT IS BASED ON POPULATION ECOLOGY.

If you have ever found yourself in a debate about whether TNR actually works for community cats, there is now a strong piece of research from a respected institution to point to.

In April 2026, Texas A&M University published findings from researchers at its College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences confirming that Trap-Neuter-Return is the only humane, evidence-based, and effective method for managing unowned cat populations living outdoors.

Dr. Amanda Blake, one of the researchers involved, explained the core of why TNR is effective: it stops the breeding cycle. When a cat colony is spayed and neutered, no new kittens are born into that colony. Over time, the population stabilizes and then gradually declines through natural attrition.

The research also explained what happens when TNR is not used. Simply removing cats from an area does not solve the problem. It creates what is called the vacuum effect. Other unsterilized cats move into the vacant territory quickly, and the cycle begins again. The only way to prevent that from happening is to ensure that the cats who remain in an area are no longer reproducing.

Beyond population management, TNR addresses other community concerns. Sterilized cats no longer yowl during mating season. They roam less. They fight less. They spray less. Vaccinations given during the process reduce disease risk.

From a policy standpoint, TNR also reduces the number of cats entering shelters and the associated costs of intake, care, and euthanasia.

The Texas A&M research adds institutional credibility to what animal welfare practitioners have been documenting from their own programs for years.

(Source: Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine, Phys.org publication, April 2026)

05/30/2026

Be like Pennsylvania…TNVR works…

Most people never see them. Long before most of the neighborhood is awake, they are already working.

Across Pennsylvania, in alleyways behind restaurants, in barns, near dumpsters, along freight corridors, and in suburban backyards, volunteers are running Trap-Neuter-Return programs for community cats. And according to a detailed report published in late May 2026, they are quietly reshaping how Pennsylvania communities deal with stray and feral cat populations.

The work looks like this: someone arrives early to check the traps they set the night before. A cat is transported to a low-cost spay appointment, sometimes an hour away. A colony caretaker refills feeding stations before heading to a regular job. A foster clears space for another litter of kittens born to a mom who did not yet have access to a TNR program.

None of this is glamorous. Almost none of it is paid. And most of it happens without any public recognition at all.

But the impact is real. TNR programs stop the breeding cycle, reduce the number of kittens entering shelters, decrease nuisance behaviors like yowling and fighting, and improve the health of the cats involved through vaccination and veterinary care.

Pennsylvania does not have a statewide TNR law, which means programs vary significantly by county and municipality. Some areas have robust, well-organized programs. Others are left entirely to informal volunteer networks.

The people running these programs are asking for something simple: legal clarity, public support, and resources. They are already doing the work.

(Source: Stray Cat News, Pennsylvania TNR reporting, May 25, 2026)

05/30/2026

Intake Date:5/29/26
Location: Rural town North of Minot
S*x: male
DOB:~4/18/26
Fostered: North of Minot
Potential Adopter

05/30/2026

Happy Caturday! Both Prairie and Juniper, our butterscotch ginger and white kittens ,were adopted today by an animal loving family in Williston, ND!
They are siblings that were found in abandoned home in Williston by a landlord ( 5 adults and 5 kittens were left behind by the ex tenant ) who then contacted Animal Control. It is unknown as to how long the kitties were without Care, food or water.
Prairie to Peaks Animal Assistance Foundation met AC at Kritterz Veterinary Hospital with Mamma and kittens. The kittens received their initial vetting and Mamma was spayed and vaccinated. The kittens have been in Foster Care in Sidney until their adoption.
Happy Tails to our butterscotch beauties: Prairie and Juniper. You hit the jackpot with your new adoptive family. 😻

05/28/2026

The VACUUM EFFECT IN POPULATION ECOLOGY…which is WHY TNVR works…information brought to you by Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter, Billings, MT.

The “vacuum effect” is a well-documented concept in population ecology; and it explains why removing animals doesn’t solve the problem.
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In animal welfare, we often see people trapping dozens of free-roaming cats to bring them into shelters or rehome them elsewhere. And while it may reduce numbers temporarily, it doesn’t address the underlying population dynamics.

In ecology, populations are regulated by resource availability - things like food, shelter, and territory.
When animals are removed from an area, those resources remain. This creates an ecological “vacuum,” and other animals will move in to utilize them. This has been observed across multiple species, not just cats.
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What happens when cats are removed:
🐾 Remaining or incoming cats have increased access to resources
🐾 Reproductive rates can increase
🐾 New, unaltered cats immigrate into the area
🐾 The population returns to its previous level (or higher)

This process is often referred to as compensatory population growth. TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) works with these natural systems instead of against them!
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By stabilizing the existing population:
✅ Cats are spayed/neutered, eliminating reproduction
✅ They continue occupying their territory, limiting immigration
✅ Behaviors linked to mating decrease
✅ Over time, the population gradually declines

When TNR is avoided, the same cats (or new ones) continue to cycle through intake, often leading to repeated strain on shelters and, in many cases, unnecessary euthanasia without ever addressing the source of the issue.
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If you’re experiencing a large number of free-roaming cats, look into TNR resources in your area. Here at YVAS, we offer assistance as our medical capacity and scheduling allows. 🐾

05/28/2026

Diabetes in cats versus Diabetes in dogs…brought to you by Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine & Veterinary Hospital…

Did you know diabetes looks a little different in dogs and cats?

Just like in human medicine, both dogs and cats can develop diabetes mellitus, but the disease develops differently depending on the species.

In dogs, diabetes is most commonly Type 1, insulin-dependent, meaning the pancreas no longer produces enough insulin and lifelong insulin therapy is needed.

In cats, diabetes more closely resembles Type 2 diabetes, where the body becomes resistant to insulin. With early intervention, weight management, and dietary changes, some cats can even achieve diabetic remission.

Common signs to watch for in both dogs and cats:
• Increased drinking and urination
• Weight loss
• Increased appetite
• Lethargy

If you notice these signs in your pet, talk with your veterinarian. Early diagnosis and management can make a big difference.

Purdue University IVMA: Indiana Veterinary Medical Association Indiana State Board of Animal Health

05/28/2026

Extreme temperature guidelines via The Merck Veterinary Manual…