Recently enacted city ordinance endorses humane, lifesaving programs for community cats

For Immediate Release: February 3, 2014

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

BETHESDA, MDAlley Cat Allies, the nation’s largest advocacy organization for cats, today praised the Delaware City, Del. City Council for adopting a new ordinance that promotes Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR).

TNR is the only effective and humane program that stabilizesand reduces over timepopulations of feral cats, commonly known as “community cats.” Delaware City’s ordinance, adopted Jan. 28, “recognize[s] the need for innovation in addressing the issues presented by abandoned, stray, lost, or feral cats in the community.”

“Congratulations are in order for Delaware City for recognizing that adopting TNR is the best path forward in forging positive change for cats and for the residents who care for them,” said Becky Robinson, president and founder of Alley Cat Allies. “This community joins hundreds of local governments nationwide in embracing TNR and eliminating “˜catch and kill,’ which is cruel, costly and has never worked.”

The Delaware City Council adopted the measure while working with Alley Cat Allies.

Alley Cat Allies is a leader in helping municipalities implement TNR programs. Founded in 1990, the organization established best practices for TNR, and works with major citiesincluding Washington, D.C. and Baltimoreto develop citywide programs. More than 350 local governments across the country, including the Delaware cities Dewey Beach, Milford, Milton, Harrington and Rehoboth Beach, have TNR ordinances.

“We would especially like to thank Councilwoman Megan Titus for her leadership in recognizing the need for Delaware City to be more animal-friendly, and for rallying her fellow councilmembers’ support,” said Robinson.

Feral cats are the same species as pet cats, but they are not socialized to people and cannot be adopted into homes. They live healthy lives in family groups called colonies, but are almost always “euthanized” (i.e., killed) in animal pounds and shelters, at enormous taxpayer expense and with no benefit to the community.

TNR works by ending the breeding cycle. In TNR programs, outdoor cats are humanely trapped by volunteers and taken to veterinary clinics for spay/neuter and vaccination for rabies. Adoptable cats and young kittens are fostered for adoption, while feral cats are returned to their outdoor homes. Feral cats in TNR programs can be identified by their “eartips” a small portion of the left ear is removed at the clinic while the cats are still under anesthesia.

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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.