A little public service announcement here:
I found it on this Facebook webpage. I don’t know this group and don’t belong to it, but I felt this was important information to pass along.
Feral or abandoned cats are a growing issue for communities, and require a community response. More and more animals are abandoned as families are forced to move, or downsize due to economic pressures. Often animals are not altered because the surgery is just one more expense a family cannot afford. Fortunately there are groups out there that will spay/neuter and perform this valuable service of trapping, altering and releasing these wild cats.
The Humane Society of the United States has issued this statement regarding TNR. Wikipedia’s entry describes the pro’s and con’s of this feral cat management strategy.
TNR is controversial. Wildlife advocates say it is damaging to local species of birds, reptiles, mammals, etc. Studies regarding population management are divided; some show it works, others argue it doesn’t.
I am not on the fence about this. I think TNR is a viable start to management options, because this is not a problem that is going away any time soon. It’s not a perfect solution, but better the cat be spayed/neutered and released than killed outright.
And, enough soapbox. How about some funny?
Enjoy your Wild Wednesday! Thanks for stopping by!
TNR works! I’m not on any fence about this. You can learn more about how to help feral and “community cats” at the fantastic organization Alley Cat Allies http://www.alleycat.org/
Thanks Amy! Appreciate the link, I almost included that one in the blog. Glad to know it’s a good site.
Considering how many stray kittens I’ve taken in or found homes for over the years, I think this is a great initiative. I think another great step would be offering spaying/neutering at a reduced cost for pets from lower income families. I’ve heard a lot of people talk about how they can’t afford it (don’t get me started on that rant since I have strong opinions about how irresponsible it is not to spay/neuter your pet). Thanks for sharing!
Many vets do offer low-cost or sliding scale, which is really wonderful. I think you and I probably have similar rants when it comes to leaving dogs and cats intact.
Interesting – I had not heard of TNR before. I wonder if there’s something similar for dogs, though I doubt it because feral dogs are more likely to injure people.
I haven’t looked into it for dogs. It’s emotionally harder for me to see a dog returned to live on its own. They’re not as adapted to it as cats are.
Thanks for the info Serena. Our neighborhood has a lot of cats. Some like to nap under my car in the driveway–I will be taking a closer look next time. 🙂
Especially with colder weather coming on, it’s a good reminder to give quick check for napping kitties. Thanks, Coleen!
We have an abundance of cats in my neighborhood. There’s a woman down the street from me who hangs out around our house a lot to feed them (for some reason, they love our house, and we often find them in the backyard). I have mixed feelings about the cats, but it’s good for people to be aware of what the ear-tipping means.
I’m not as happy about feeding strays as I am about TNR, but to each their own I suppose. Feeding stations mean other critters are going to come in close and become habituated to humans. Cats can and will provide for themselves.
I’ve never heard of this organization but I think it’s a good idea if it does in fact work. I’m not overly fond of cats, but I know there are a lot of homeless ones out there so kudos to anyone doing their part to help the situation.
I love the video with the baby squirrel!
Patricia Rickrode
w/a Jansen Schmidt
Thanks, Patricia!
stray cats are a common problem all over the continent. anything to save them from their short, often desperate lives.
🙂
I think it is a great idea. I’d rather see a cat neutered than taken to the pound to be euthanized. Cats overrun our neighborhood because of a single owner that allows his cats to free roam (his words) and they keep propagating and it becomes a health issue. My dog got very sick just last week from eating a cat turd (dogs are known to do that). He had to have antibiotics and other meds to get well. This issue has more far-reaching consequences than on the surface. Thanks for bringing this to our attention.
Glad to hear your pup is going to be ok. That’s so sad. 🙁 I hope you’re able to come to a resolution with your neighbor.
I had not heard of this. Thanks, Serena. What a great program. We have a guy locally that works to collect all the cats from the local shelters and saves them from the high disposal rates. He makes sure they get spayed or neutered and tries his hardest to find them all homes. We took one of his cats in a little over a month ago. We had to sign an agreement that said we would bring the cat back to him before taking her anywhere else should we change our mind. I think its great how some people put so much thought into the care of our little furry ones.
Now I’ll be looking for cats with ears like that.
The best rescue groups will have a clause that you have to return the pet to them first, it’s a sign of a quality group. How’s kitty doing in your home?