At last week’s city council meeting, Mayor Jim Chiles proclaimed February as Spay and Neuter Awareness month in Wimberley. On hand to share the progress of those efforts in the area was Director of the Wimberley Trap, Neuter and Release Program, Marcia Sanderson.
“A total of 176 cats participated in some aspect of our program in 2025,” said Sanderson. “Receiving spaying and neutering services were 147 cats, whose treatment also included rabies and distemper vaccinations and Revolution for fleas and worms. They were treated either at the Austin Humane or the PAWS TNR clinic.”
According to Sanderson, Cypress Creek Animal Hospital provided vet care to nine community cats, other than spay and neuter services, and a total of 18 cats and kittens were adopted. It is estimated, she said, that about 40 unwanted births were prevented through the program.
Sanderson extended a special thank you to Dale Nave and Helen Sabin for their many efforts to make the program successful. She also thanked PAWS and the Wimberley Lion’s and Civic Clubs for their support through grants.
“Numbers don’t reflect the entire picture,” Sanderson said. “Being able to provide community cats in Wimberley a broad range of services and end-of-life care fills an often neglected area of humane animal treatment. Knowing that females will not have to raise kittens in hostile environments, that cats with medical problems can be healed and returned to a full life and that adoptive homes can provide safe harbor for cats that otherwise might have to fend on their own, is ample reward for the efforts involved.”
