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Residents, veterinarians propose Sand Hills Stray Solutions to address Cheraw feral-cat surge; council asked for startup funds
Summary
Speakers at the May 12 meeting said the town shelter stopped accepting cats in July 2025, which contributors say led to a growth in feral colonies. Dr. T outlined a new nonprofit, Sand Hills Stray Solutions, seeking start‑up funding, volunteer support and a pending 501(c)(3) designation.
During the public‑comment period of the May 12 Cheraw Town Council meeting, residents raised an escalating feral‑cat problem and a community organizer, identified in the transcript as Dr. T, described a local nonprofit effort to address it.
A speaker said the town shelter stopped taking cats on July 1, 2025, and that residents have since reported growing numbers of unowned cats, pregnant animals and litters. The speaker warned of rising public‑health concerns, including exposure to rabies and other disease vectors.
Dr. T said she has helped form Sand Hills Stray Solutions and that the group has registered with the state and has applied for 501(c)(3) status with the IRS. She said three veterinarians have agreed to participate at reduced, at‑cost rates: Dr. Milligan (Darlington), Dr. Cosy (Florence) and Dr. T herself. Dr. T described the plan to trap, spay/neuter, vaccinate and ear‑tip feral cats so colonies decline over time while allowing sterilized colonies to continue controlling rodents.
On costs, Dr. T said participating veterinarians would provide procedures at cost and gave rough per‑animal figures: spay procedures up to about $100 and neuter procedures around $45, acknowledging those are estimates and that additional supplies (anesthesia, sutures, vaccines) raise startup costs. Dr. T said she has personally donated cash and staff time to the effort and asked the council for kick‑start funding to cover web hosting, volunteer insurance and initial medical supplies.
Council members asked operational questions — how long cats should be held after surgery, where recovery space might be located, and whether volunteers could transport trapped animals — and Dr. T said feral cats typically are returned quickly and that volunteers and receiving veterinarians would coordinate care and any necessary follow‑up treatment. Dr. T agreed to provide the council a spreadsheet of per‑animal costs to inform any funding decision.
The council did not make a funding commitment during the meeting; councilors asked staff to receive the cost spreadsheet and explore options, and the public comment closed with offers from the speakers to share informational handouts and a Facebook page for updates.
Representative quote: "We're only proposing doing feral cats, nonowned cats...we can get it down to $100" (Dr. T, describing spay cost and program scope).
