PETA's position on TNR and feral cats - a MUST read!!

Never in my entire life did I ever think that I'd be in agreement with any of PETA's positions but I have always strived to keep an open mind about issues and look at both sides. (This can be similar to having the plague, trust me.) I'm even capable of changing my mind on issues, if the situation merits it, which is a lot more than I can say about feral cat advocates.

So here's a short paragraph from a letter written by PETA, in regards to TNR programs. (See link below for entire letter)

"You may be surprised to know that PETA is generally opposed to “releasing” cats outdoors to roam freely. Our extensive experience with TNR programs and “managed” feral cat colonies have made clear that these programs - unless they comply with stringent guidelines that protect the cats and the animals whom the cats hunt - are simply not in animals’ best interests.


Having witnessed firsthand the gruesome things that can happen to feral cats, we cannot in good conscience oppose euthanasia as a humane alternative for dealing with overpopulation. We don’t take this position lightly, and we realize it’s considered controversial."

This is an incredible letter! Congratulations to PETA for cutting to the chase and for speaking the absolute truth. I may not agree with all of PETA's policies but they are so dead on right with their assessment of this issue!

Yes, I advocate for native wildlife, who are losing their habitat at an alarming rate and suffering worse than they ever have. It's the reason I'm in this profession and do what I do. Someone has to give a pile of coon poop about wildlife and that's what I do. Willingly, voluntarily, for free. No complaints. No one puts a gun to my head in the morning and forces me to do this. I could go get a paying job, but, no thanks. I'd rather do what I am doing. Jumping through regulatory fire hoops in keeping my licenses, undergoing inspections by people who don't know squat about the work we do but who hold the power to not sign our permits and spending money I don't have to continue to acquire the educational credits I need to keep my license. It may not be much but it does make a difference to the wild animals in my hands.

I don't hate cats. I think we've already established that. We live with a whole bunch of them. Formal strays/ferals. Every last one of them. What I can't stand is the belief that feral cat colony advocates have that dumping these cats back to live outside is humane and that they are doing a favour for the cats and giving them a good life by once again abandoning them to the outdoors. Think about that. What a horrible life! We live in an area of Canada that experiences all four seasons and our winters and summers, at their peak, can be very harsh. Those cats are out there subject to those elements while their 'caretakers' are where? Home in their heated or air conditioned homes or apartments? What about the cats? You've trapped them once and just like any good self respecting raccoon, they're not going to venture into a trap again if they need medical treatment. And they will need that. How truly inhumane of all of you to say you care about the cats and then inhumanely just dump them back outdoors like they were discarded pieces of trash, knowing they kill wildlife, knowing they themselves are subjected to becoming prey for wild animals bigger than they are.

Read PETA's letter here. It's well worth the short time it will take you to do that. You owe it to yourself to be informed. This speaks the raw and honest truth - even if it isn't politically correct.

My thanks to PETA!

http://flagpole.com/Weekly/Letters/CatsAreBack.17Dec08

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Emotion Packed Letters to the Editor - no facts

Re: Feral Cat Problem – Kristi Mallinson Vogel’s letter, (The Tribune, Feb. 25)

Thanks to Ms. Vogel and others for their sentiments on free-ranging stray/feral cats in Port Colborne. Most comments were emotion based, rather than factual.

I’ve contributed nearly 30 years of my life to hands-on, animal welfare work. A large part of it willingly, and voluntarily helping stray/feral cats, housing over 30 such cats (at one point) paying for spay/neuter and providing medical care for them. Some are still here - an integral part of our family.



I agree that education is primary but this proposal doesn’t have that component. To tackle the problem at its source, rather than its sorrowful ending, spaying/neutering and licensing (identification) of cats (and dogs) must be made mandatory by by-law. If this TNR proposal is allowed to go ahead, Port Colborne will be in violation of their own cat by-law (No. 4949/5/07 - 22 January 2007), “No person who owns or possesses a cat shall allow or permit his or her cat to be at large."

The city can be a leader if it were to facilitate a concept called Animal ‘Care’ and Control, rather than bare bones Animal Control - which is no more than a never-ending, round ‘em up system. This proposed TNR program only guarantees these cats won't reproduce. It won't stop the ongoing dumping of more cats – that takes far more than what is being proposed here.

The current concept does nothing more than return the animals to possible death from fights, contagious diseases like FeLV, FIP, FIV, and FP – in short, a horrible life spent as free-roaming strays/ferals. Some of the cats may be disease carriers and won’t die immediately, but they do put other cats and wild animals at risk of exposure. Average life expectancy of an indoor cat? 12-15 years. Strays/Ferals - if lucky, 3-5 years. Your proposal is missing a key element and that involves keeping the cats in an enclosure, more commonly known as TNRE (Trap/Neuter/Release/Enclose). A TNRE program could be a benefit only if those key elements to prevent the problem are established first.

Cats who are healthy enough must be released into a secure enclosure that protects them from predators, prevents other cats from entering the colony, keeps them from becoming road kill, and prevents the killing of native wildlife. Large enough for all colony cats, it should contain a permanent form of shelter for them - not Styrofoam boxes parked on the landscape. Caretakers could ensure the cats remain healthy, and spend time to earn their trust to re-home some of them. There is no current plan in writing, in the form of a bylaw (these do exist) to demonstrably measure the success of the proposal and guarantee proper care.

UK studies show that 9 million pet cats were responsible for killing nearly 150 million wild animals in a one-year period. If 50 trapped/neutered and released cats continue roaming they will be responsible for the death of approximately 800 wild animals and birds. If the cats contribute to the needless destruction of even one of Ontario’s species at risk, does that not matter? Who will take responsibility for saving those fragile wild lives?

The Society for Conservation Biology is about to publish a paper in its Journal titled ‘Critical Assessment of Claims Regarding Management of Feral Cats by Trap-Neuter-Return’ (Longcore, Rich, Sullivan 2000) which scientifically contradicts all claims made in favour of managed feral cat colonies. Domestic cats are on the list of the 100 most invasive species globally (Lowe et. al 2000). Before these cats are allowed to continue to live there (TNR or otherwise) I’d suggest Port Colborne conduct an environmental study to gauge the impact on species conservation, and human health.

Alternatively, building an enclosure to safely house the cats would cost far less and would more than humanely solve the problem of any additional expense. The cats would be safe and so too would our native wildlife. Most letter writers advocate the humane treatment of animals, and purport no-kill philosophies. Sadly, those values appear to exclude native wildlife.

Note: If anyone would like to obtain a copy of the published study that debunks the myths about feral cat colonies, you can view an abstract and order a copy of the Conservation Biology Journal here: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/122216162/abstract

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