Dorrie Harris, with the nonprofit animal rescue group The Alliance in Limiting Strays or T.A.I.L.S., has spent decades working to get cats in the area spayed or neutered. "But when I saw the story on News 12 this week about a litter of newborn kittens found at a demolition site in Bridgeport, I knew I had to do something right away," Harris told News 12 Wednesday. What she did was renew her appeal for cat owners "to do the responsible thing." "People need to take action so their cats don't go outside and mate with feral cats," Harris said. The feral cat population in Bridgeport -- made up of felines who live outside and avoid human contact - is estimated to exceed 60,000, according to chief Bridgeport Animal Control Officer Jennifer Wallace. "That number comes from a study done a decade ago - and I'm sure it's grown substantially since then," Wallace said. "The work animal rescue groups do is absolutely essential, and I commend them for working in partnership with us at Bridgeport Animal Control," Wallace said. Harris spoke out after seeing a story on News 12 Monday about a demolition crew finding a litter of newborn kittens at a commercial site on Boston Avenue. The workers called animal expert Annette Papastavros, who was able to place the kittens with a volunteer until they could be spayed or neutered, and then eventually adopted.

Harris encouraged cat owners to take advantage of spaying and neutering services available at little or no cost.