Return to Field with Neighborhood Cats – Part 1

“Euthanasia is a dead-end policy. We’ve tried it for decades and the cats are still here.”

Listen to episode #639 now, featuring Bryan Kortis, National Programs Director of Neighborhood Cats.

This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie’s Fund.

In Part 1 of this informative workshop replay, Bryan Kortis and Susan Richmond of Neighborhood Cats dive into the effective approach of Return to Field (RTF), reshaping how shelters manage community cats. As a key evolution of Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), RTF empowers shelters to sterilize, vaccinate, and return healthy, unowned cats to their territories rather than euthanizing them. Bryan traces the roots of the movement back to Jacksonville, Florida, where an experimental collaboration between a spay/neuter clinic and the city shelter resulted in a 90% reduction in euthanasia. You’ll discover how RTF improves shelter morale, increases public support, and significantly lowers intake over time. With deep experience in fieldwork and policy, Bryan and Susan bring practical wisdom and data-backed insights into why this method is saving lives—and reshaping entire communities.

Press Play Now For:

• The critical difference between RTF and traditional TNR
• How Jacksonville became a national model for RTF success
• Proof that RTF leads to lower euthanasia and intake rates
• Why euthanizing cats fails to control populations long-term
• The “vacuum effect” explained—why removed cats are quickly replaced
• How RTF changes shelter culture and staff wellbeing

Resources Mentioned:

• Neighborhood Cats (https://www.neighborhoodcats.org/)
• Return to Field Handbook (https://humanepro.org/return-to-field)

Sponsor Links:

• Maddie’s Fund (https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/maddies639)

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