Our Story & Mission
Shadow Cats TNR was founded in 2015 with one simple goal: to create a better future for Harford County’s community cats.
At the time, Maryland’s municipal shelters had not yet achieved no-kill status, and there was no organized Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program to address the growing feral cat population. It's sometimes referred to as a TNVR because the organization also vaccinates cats. Recognizing that simply bringing cats into shelters wasn’t solving the problem, their founders stepped in with a proactive, humane solution.
Inspired by the principles of Best Friends Animal Society, Shadow Cats TNR built its organization around proven, lifesaving practices focused on reducing overpopulation instead of just reacting to it. Although the formal partnership has evolved over the years, they continue to follow those same guiding principles and educational resources that helped establish the foundation.
Since then, their work has made a measurable impact. By expanding access to TNR services throughout Harford County, Shadow Cats TNR has helped reduce the number of cats entering shelters while giving thousands of community cats healthier, safer lives.
Volunteering
Types of Opportunities
Shadow Cats TNR offers a variety of volunteer opportunities that allow students to contribute based on their interests, skills, and availability. They just recently worked with volunteers from a young group of Girl Scouts and constantly get help from volunteers in North Harford High School's Agriculture Program. Whether someone is passionate about animal care, interested in veterinary medicine, or enjoys working with people, there are meaningful ways to get involved. Did you know that from April to August it's kitten season?? Your help is needed!
Here are the types of opportunities the organization has for volunteers (including students!):
Animal Care & TNR
Volunteers can help provide daily care for cats by feeding them, cleaning kennels, socializing with them, and helping them feel comfortable while they wait for adoption. Students may also assist with Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) efforts alongside experienced volunteers, learning how to safely, comfortably trap community cats and support colony management.
Veterinary & Medical Experience
For students interested in veterinary medicine or healthcare, Shadow Cats offers opportunities to observe or assist at spay/neuter clinics, helping them gain exposure to real-world medical procedures and animal care.
Community Outreach & Events
Students can represent Shadow Cats at adoption events, community festivals, and informational booths throughout Harford County. Volunteers help educate the public, interact with potential adopters, and support fundraising events that benefit the organization.
Marketing, Media & Creative Projects
Volunteers interested in communications can assist with marketing, social media, photography, media appearances, fundraising campaigns, and creative projects. Students may have opportunities to help decorate and personalize Shadow Cats’ future facility that is currently in the works.
Leadership, Research & Special Projects
Students looking for more independent work can take on leadership opportunities by organizing volunteer groups, leading projects, assisting with fundraising initiatives, or using Shadow Cats’ adoption and medical data for capstone or research projects. The organization also welcomes students with unique ideas for community service or educational initiatives.
Time Commitment
Shadow Cats values volunteers who are willing to commit their time, but they also understand that students have busy schedules. While consistency is appreciated to help ensure there are enough volunteers available, the organization offers a flexible schedule that allows students to volunteer when they are able.
As Tina Ferrandi, the Marketing/Fundraising/Event Coordinator at Shadow Cats, explained:
“Commitment is good. We prefer to have some commitment just so we always have enough hands on deck. But having said that, the days and times are really flexible. We don’t demand it.”
Students can volunteer after school, on weekends, or at special events throughout the community. Volunteers are not expected to attend every hour of every event; If someone can only participate for part of an event or volunteer occasionally, they are still welcome.
Throughout the year, Shadow Cats also hosts monthly adoption events at PetSmart, attends local festivals and community fairs, and offers additional opportunities during kitten season (roughly April through August) when help is especially needed.
Many volunteers stay involved for one to two years, while some continue even longer. The president of Shadow Cats TNR, Jean Salvatore, shared the story of a volunteer named Shannon who dedicated four years to Shadow Cats before leaving for college, becoming “a great asset” through her reliability and willingness to help whenever needed.
Benefits of Volunteering
Not only does volunteering benefit the team at Shadow Cats and all the furry friends they help out, but it can benefit you if you decide to volunteer with them! Some of the advantages that come along with volunteering at the organization include:
- Learning animal care
- Career exploration (medicine, veterinary medicine, marketing, communications, etc.)
- Resume building
- Leadership
- Networking
- Hands-on experiences
- Transferable workplace skills
- Success stories
A Lasting Impact
From Overrun to Under Control
One of Shadow Cats TNR’s most impactful projects focused on a single zip code in Havre de Grace that had become overwhelmed with community cats. After months of trapping, spaying/neutering, vaccinating, and returning the cats, calls about that colony nearly disappeared. According to Tina Ferrandi, once they stopped receiving calls from that area, they knew the program was working.
A Colony of Over 70 Cats
Recently, Shadow Cats completed a Trap-Neuter-Return project involving more than 70 community cats! It took months of planning, specialized traps, and a team of dedicated volunteers. Friendly kittens were placed into loving homes, while healthy adult community cats were returned to the area that they already called home. This helped prevent future litters while allowing them to continue living safely.
Common Misconceptions
“Every outdoor cat is feral.”
Not true. Many outdoor cats are actually strays that were once socialized with people. Truly feral cats have had little to no human interaction and are generally too fearful to be adopted.
“If a cat has a collar, someone owns it.”
Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Shadow Cats explained that abandoned cats sometimes still wear collars, which is why every trapped cat is scanned for a microchip before any decisions are made.
“The best solution is to remove all outdoor cats.”
Removing community cats often creates what’s known as the “vacuum effect,” where new unaltered cats move into the area. TNR humanely stabilizes colonies by preventing reproduction while allowing healthy cats to remain in their established territory.
Did You Know . . .
7,300+
Cats have been spayed and neutered by Shadow Cats TNR since the organization began, helping prevent thousands of future litters in Harford County.
70+
Cats were part of one recent Trap-Neuter-Return colony project, completed over several months by a small team of dedicated volunteers.
20%
Is the reduction in cat intake at Harford County's municipal shelter since TNR efforts began. Starting at about 70% of shelter intake to roughly 50%.
Shadow Cats TNR in Action
Additional Information
Shadow Cats TNR & Harford Helps FAQ
Harford Helps is a searchable directory of charitable organizations and community service agencies in Harford County Maryland.
Harford Helps makes it easy to find places to donate items no longer needed, discover volunteer opportunities with meaningful causes, and locate programs and services that provide assistance to people in need.
Click the button that says Shadow Cats TNR above to go to their Harford Helps profile page.
Visit HarfordHelps.com, open the directory, use the search tool to select causes of interest, then click submit to explore local organizations supporting the causes you care about!
Harford Helps
About Harford Helps
Harford Helps is a nonprofit initiative dedicated to connecting organizations through volunteerism and donations. By partnering with local nonprofits, schools, and community groups, Harford Helps makes it easy for individuals to give back in ways that align with their passions and availability. This platform serves as a centralized hub for discovering not only volunteer opportunities but also donation options and finding help.
Powered By
Technology 4 Causes
The mission of Technology 4 Causes (T4C) is to support specialized assistance programs and charitable initiatives, expanding their positive impact through the multiplying powers of technology, networking, and collaboration.
The vision of Technology 4 Causes is to operate numerous Mentoring Programs, Technology Assistance Programs, Sports 4 Causes Programs, and Helping Hubs. The combination of these initiatives creates a powerful multiplying effect for all T4C activities powered by a common technology platform and philanthropic infrastructure.
Delivered By
Transformation Guild
The Transformation Guild is a mentoring program of Technology 4 Causes, which was launched by the Kutcher Foundation in collaboration with DICORP, Inc. to create a powerful philanthropic impact through the multiplying forces of technology. The Guild is dedicated to harnessing the power of writing and technology to create a positive impact in society. Our primary focus is to engage and inspire young writers to craft compelling stories that encourage involvement in non-profit organizations and charitable initiatives. By providing guidance and instruction through mentorship, we ensure that these young writers receive the necessary support to thrive. Through their participation in this program, they gain invaluable experience while contributing to a greater cause.