Thomas University student launches nonprofit feline welfare program

THOMASVILLE, Ga. – A Thomas University student launches a nonprofit dedicated to feline welfare.

Motivated by the prevalent issue of stray cats in Thomasville, Kristen Manza, a senior at Thomas University, has taken action. Seeing numerous felines roaming around apartments, houses, businesses, and dumpsters, Manza feels a heightened sense of responsibility. In an effort to make a positive impact, Manza has established the “All Saints Cat TNR.”

“I moved to Thomasville a couple of years ago for school here, and I noticed that there were a lot of stray cats outside that didn’t really have homes and they just kept reproducing and nobody was really doing anything about it. So, I looked into what resources the community had, and I noticed there was a low cost clinic that people can take in stray or feral cats and they would fix them and then they’d be released back and they’d be fully vaccinated,” said Kristen Manza, founder, “All Saints Cat TNR.”

Kristen’s initiative also receives substantial support from professors and staff members at Thomas University. Their encouragement and involvement continue to contribute to the effectiveness and reach of the program.

“A lot of the professors here and other staff members have been really encouraging for me to just keep going and keep trying with this to the point where we are a registered nonprofit now. And, it’s it’s awesome to see that there are so many people that are behind this and really just, you know, want it to succeed,” said Manza.

Manza’s dedication knows no bounds, as her ambitious vision for the future of, “All Saints Cat TNR,” group reveals relentless commitment. She envisions significant strides and influence that extend beyond the present, demonstrating her unwavering determination to make a lasting impact on her community and their local feline friends.

“So, we want to create sort of volunteer events where, you know, the community in and around Thomasville would come and create feral cat kits. You know that you can take care of the cats in your backyard or on your property as well as cat shelter. You have a couple cats that are fixed on your property, you build them a nice little shelter for when it gets cold. Just stuff to bring the community together and make them realize that we’re here to help the cats. It’s an ecosystem between all of us,” said Manza.

De’Andra Jacobs reporting.

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