November - Melissa Crowe

From Volunteerism to Activism

Have you ever asked yourself "what am I passionate about?" Our November Notable Neighbor was asking herself that and began on a journey of volunteerism to find the answer. Melissa Crowe, of the Lake Formosa neighborhood, began in December of 2018 volunteering to trap, spay/neuter and vaccinate more than 60 cats in a single night. Since then, Melissa has trapped more than 1,000 cats and kittens and for Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate, Return (TNVR) projects both in South Florida and here in Orlando since July 2019. Currently she volunteers for The Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando and partners with several Orlando rescues such as the Way Home Rescue, Kingdom Cat Rescue, Live To Purr Another Day and has founded her own organization, the Feline Justice League. 

When asked why she continues this work, she simply replied, "the first event opened my eyes to the problem of feline overpopulation in Florida, and in many other places. Feline overpopulation is a solvable problem. We just need more funding and awareness" she said. “Orange County offers resources to residents to have their outdoor cats TNVR’d. The Animal Services' TNVR program is free to Orange County residents for up to five cats per household per year. Residents can take advantage of this program by calling 3-1-1.”

Melissa's unique contribution to the Lake Formosa Neighborhood includes her impact helping decrease the number of nuisance homeless cats, and calls to Animal Control which often ends in the death of the cats in question.