About Us
Note: Cat Zip Alliance is a resource, not a rescue. We will not remove cats from your property. We can provide you with the information you need to effectively and humanely manage community cats where you live.
Cat Zip Alliance (CZA) was officially formed on January 15, 2007. It is a nonprofit organization with 501(3)(c) tax exempt status.
The mission of CZA is to substantially reduce the number of homeless cats and put an end to unnecessary euthanasia and feline overpopulation in Athens-Clarke County and surrounding communities by actively promoting and practicing the principles of responsible feral cat management.
Our program was modeled after several of the highly successful campus and other community feral cat management programs in the country. For a list of some of these programs, please see the Links Section.
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Kelly Bettinger, Vice-President, Treasurer, and Founder
Kelly A. Bettinger, research assistant in the Department of Plant Biology, received her B.S. in in Wildlife Management from Virginia Tech in 1989, and her M.S. in Wildlife Biology from Oregon State University in 1996. She has more than 14 years experience in avian research and monitoring and taught an annual workshop on monitoring protocol and birding by ear. Where appropriate, she advocates the humane and proven technique of TNR as the best solution for reducing feral cat populations and subsequently reducing conflicts with wildlife.
Lisa Donovan, President
Lisa Donovan is a professor in the Department of Plant Biology at the University of Georgia. By day, she conducts research investigating the ecology and evolution of stress tolerance in plants. By night, she practices feral cat management on the University of Georgia campus and in the surrounding community. Lisa feels strongly that TNR is an effective way to humanely reduce the number of feral cats, a vital part of larger community efforts needed to take care of all cats in Athens, Georgia. More responsible pet ownership, a functional and cooperative animal control unit, animal rescue groups, and TNR where appropriate is desperately needed in order to meet CZA's goal of humanely reducing and maintaining a low feral cat population in Athens.
Abby Adams, Secretary and Webmaster
Abby has always wanted to be more involved in animal welfare issues and finally saw a wonderful opportunity to do so after she moved to Athens in 2005. Abby moved to Athens from Savannah to work as an archivist at University of Georgia's Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies. Oddly enough, Abby had never "owned" a cat until she moved to Athens. However, an abandoned cat quickly adopted her and her husband, and now, she has a furry family of four kitties and a three-legged rescue rabbit! Abby soon realized that homeless cats are a major problem in the Athens area as in most urban areas in the U.S. After being educated from fellow cat lovers and conducting her own projects in trapping, socializing, and caring for both domesticated and feral cats, Abby decided her next step was to join with others in the area in order to make the most positive impact.
Dee Palmer, Board Member
To be posted soon...