Click photo to enlarge
             
Earlier this week, city Animal Services officers rescued a cat... (El Paso Animal Services Division)
City Animal Services officers are being credited for saving the life of a feral cat that got its head stuck in an empty tin can. Earlier this week, officers received a report about the cat, which was found in the 5000 block of El Paso Drive. Officers took the male cat to the city's animal shelter for treatment. Staff members put the cat under anesthesia and were able to safely remove the can from the cat's head. The cat was also examined, found to be in good shape and was neutered and vaccinated against rabies, shelter officials said. Officials said they believe the cat had been looking for food inside the can when his head became lodged inside. The cat was released back into the neighborhood, and will be feed and cared for by a feral cat colony manager. Officials said feral cats are not available for adoption. Officials said they are working to control the feral cat population through the use of a trap-neuter-release (TNR) program in which feral cats are trapped, spayed or neutered and released into the neighborhood where they were collected For more information on the TNR program or on becoming a feral cat colony manager, call the city's Animal Services Division at (915) 842-1000.