Okoboji, IA (KICD)– A group of animal lovers in the Iowa Great Lakes is working to get some help in reducing the local stray cat population.

Katt Flockhart started Lakes Community Area Animal Welfare, a non-profit aimed at working to trap, fix and return feral cats. She says there is a bigger dream that would be ideal for the local communities while also taking some of the duties off of police officers.

Jill Lanfear added that a more short-term goal would be to get the Lakes Area communities involved in a widespread spay and neuter program.

The group is asking for support from each city in the Lakes Area to help reduce the cat population as the local shelter rarely has space which they say tends to result in the captured animals being dumped in another location.