COEUR d'ALENE - The Kootenai Humane Society is starting a new program to control the population of feral cats in the area.

Director Rondi Renaldo said "Feral Friday," is a twice monthly catch-and-release program being performed at cost. Residents who trap wild cats can bring them to KHS, which will neuter the male cat for $10 or spay a female for $20. A rabies vaccine is $5, and all cats are de-wormed. Then, the cat is returned to the resident for release back into the wild.

"We're trying to control the cat population that is not controlled by individuals," she said.

Renaldo said the area has a problem with feral cats, although it is difficult to place a number on how many there are in Kootenai County. She believes residents will be willing to pay to help control the feral cat population.

"There are individuals out there who love these cats," she said.

KHS will also spay and neuter domestic dogs and cats at a low cost for low-income households.

With spring here, Renaldo is hoping people will have the cats fixed before they go into heat.

"We're hoping people take that few extra dollars and just take care of it," she said.

The only request is people deliver the wild cats to KHS in cages, not boxes. They can be fierce when cornered.

"It's very unsafe for our vet is the cats are in boxes," she said.

KHS has some traps available residents can borrow.

Information: 772-4019

Poodles available

The Kootenai Humane Society has four male, standard poodles available for adoption starting noon Saturday.

The male dogs are about eight weeks old and worth about $1,000 each, said Rondi Renaldo, KHS director. Poodles are particularly good pets for people who have allergies.

The minimum donation to buy one of the poodles is $250. The poodles have been neutered.

KHS received the white poodles about three weeks ago, and they are living with a foster family until they are permanently adopted.