I wanted to take a moment and tell everyone about one of the best cat trappers in central Ohio (and probably the state)–and he volunteers with Black and Orange Cat Foundation.

Allen Young first started helping B and O with trapping cats a few years ago after we took a cat in that was hanging around his mom’s apartment. Allen asked if he could trap cats for our weekly clinic appointments and, of course, I said yes. Allen finished trapping the cats out at Crager Brothers Trucking (I had dropped the ball on that because I got too busy with other projects). He also took on the small burg of Arnold since his dad lived there. Additionally, Allen has tackled some of the most heavily cat populated areas in Plain City, including North Avenue, Converse, and Shepper (where he is working right now with his friend, Robin Clay). Allen keeps a running tab on the number of cats he has personally trapped. You’d have to ask him what number he has reached, because I’ve lost count. I am sure he is in the hundreds by now.

Allen does all of this in between working. Sometimes, he will drop cats off to me for clinic appointments late at night when he is getting off work or while he is on a pizza delivery run. I can call Allen any time and ask him to trek around Plain City to help a little old lady trap a cat and he never says no. He just takes off with his traps and some tuna and within hours (sometimes only minutes), he is calling me to tell me he caught the cat. He uses his own gas and his own car to do all of this.

Allen has to be the best cat trapper I know (even better than me and I am pretty good). He gets so excited when he catches that elusive cat. He has such passion about stopping the overpopulation problem and helping feral cats have a better life. I wish we had more cat trappers like Allen.

Not only does Allen trap cats, however, he also gets involved with other activities that B and O participates in (and even things we do not–he is just a good person). Allen helped Carol and Chuck Gaul with the clean up of their burned house and then the very next day attended the Blessing of the Animals in Goodale Park to honor their kitties that were killed in the fire. He also attends our fundraisers and has gone out of his way to help us in any way possible. Additionally, Allen twists a few arms to get donations for us. If he wasn’t a B and O volunteer, he could easily be a Mafia member–people seldom tell him no.

Allen has dropped off pamphlets to people with “Free Kittens” signs. He has lectured people about giving kittens away to people they don’t know. He can tick off a list of why you should get your cat spayed or neutered. He is the walking poster child for the benefits of feline sterilization.

And he loves dogs, too!

Allen has also been a volunteer with the Union County Humane Society, walking dogs, running errands, and just being there whenever they needed his help.

So if you are looking for the best cat trapper and animal lover in the state of Ohio, you don’t have far to look. We have him on the streets of Plain City, watching over our ferals and helping B and O make a difference in the lives of hundreds of cats.