For Immediate Release: January 27, 2014

Contact: JOHNNIE SIMPSON, [email protected] or (240) 482-3895 or FRANCIE ISRAELI, [email protected] or (202) 207-1134

TNR proposal to be presented at January 28th Bedford City Council Meeting

BEDFORD, TEXASLocal advocates are scheduled to present a Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) proposal at Tuesday night’s Bedford City Council meeting. The program is designed to significantly decrease the number of cats “euthanized” (i.e., killed) at the Bedford Animal Shelter by endorsing and encouraging TNR for stray and feral catscommonly referred to as community cats.

In a TNR program, community cats are humanely trapped and brought to a veterinarian to be spayed/neutered and vaccinated. Each cat is also eartippedthe tip of the left ear is removed while the cat is anesthetizedto identify the cat as neutered and vaccinated. After a short recovery period they are returned to their outdoor homes.

TNR ends the reproduction cycle and behaviors associated with matingsuch as yowling and sprayingstop, addressing community concerns.

“On a national level, 70 percent of all cats who enter shelters are killed,” says Becky Robinson, president and founder of Alley Cat Allies. “And because feral cats aren’t socialized to people, they cannot be adopted, so virtually 100 percent who enter shelters are killed.”

After obtaining shelter records, Alley Cat Allies discovered that cats identified as “feral” or “temperamental” constitute the majority of cats being killed at the Bedford Animal Shelter.

“In our country’s shelter system, there has been a disturbing perceived “˜need’ to kill healthy cats,” says Robinson. “But perceptions are changingpounds and shelters are reexamining their operations and putting humane and effective programs in place.”

TNR is supported by all reputable animal protection organizations and the National Animal Control Association (NACA). In Texas alone, there are 35 cities and counties that endorse TNR as official policy for community cats, including Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, Irving and Arlington.

“Our goal is for Bedford to join the growing number of cities in the DFW metroplex, state of Texas and our country that have adopted TNR as the effective and humane way to care for feral cats,” says Connie Ziegler Stout, a Bedford resident who will present to the City Council on Tuesday. “I and others in the Bedford community want humane programs and to stop the waste of tax dollars spent needlessly killing healthy cats. We want non-lethal solutions.”

At Tuesday’s 6:30 p.m. City Council meeting, Zeigler Stout will present with Irving, Texas animal services manager Fred Sanderson and Texas Coalition for Animal Protection (TCAP) executive director Stacey Schumacher. TCAP is a high-volume spay/neuter clinic located in Fort Worth that offers services to the surrounding area. Alley Cat Allies offered its assistance to Bedford officials in Julybut have yet to be engaged by the city.

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About Alley Cat Allies

Alley Cat Allies is the only national advocacy organization dedicated to the protection and humane treatment of cats. Founded in 1990, today Alley Cat Allies has nearly half a million supporters and helps tens of thousands of individuals, communities, and organizations save and improve the lives of millions of cats and kittens nationwide. Its website is www.alleycat.org.