In Orange County, Florida, Wednesday Hugus has dedicated herself to aiding the area’s vast population of stray cats despite the challenging climate.
Over the past four years, Hugus and her team of volunteers have trapped and treated approximately 6,000 cats in Orange County alone. Yet, this effort is just a fraction of the estimated 90,000 community cats in the area.
Nationally, the issue is even more daunting, with Florida Fish & Wildlife estimating there are between 60 to 100 million homeless, stray, and feral cats across the country.
Hugus emphasizes the importance of spaying/neutering and vaccinating pets to curb the stray cat population. She advises against feeding stray cats unless one is prepared to provide ongoing care.
Hugus began her mission during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, initially working alone before forming “Hugus’ Community Cats & Kittens” with other volunteer trappers. Together, they collaborate with the Pet Alliance facility in downtown Orlando, ensuring cats receive necessary treatment before adoption or release.
“We’re a 100% volunteer group focused on spaying and neutering community cats to reduce diseases and control the pet population,” Hugus explained.
Fellow volunteer Rob White praises Hugus as a driving force behind their efforts, uniting individual cat advocates into a cohesive team.
Despite the challenges of trapping cats in Florida’s sweltering heat, Hugus remains undeterred in her mission, driven by the satisfaction of rehabilitating wounded cats and finding them loving homes.
Her dedication has earned Hugus recognition as a WESH 2 CommUNITY Champion, a testament to her profound impact on animal welfare in Orange County.
