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Press Release
For Immediate Release: January 5, 2009
Contact: ELIZABETH PAROWSKI, eparowski@alleycat.org or 240-482-1984; FRANCIE ISRAELI, fisraeli@johnadams.com or 202-207-1134
ALLEY CAT ALLIES CALLS FOR HUMANE PLAN FOR CATS AT
POMPANO BEACH PRISON COMPLEX
BETHESDA — Alley Cat Allies, the national advocate for stray and feral cats, applauded
officials for issuing a moratorium on plans to trap cats living at the Broward County jail complex,
and said it would work with the county to ensure a humane program would be adopted.
“As the national experts on humane care for feral and stray cats, we have provided information and
materials to the county and citizens about the best practices for implementing humane programs for
feral cats, like Trap-Neuter-Return,” said Becky Robinson, president of Alley Cat Allies.
“We are currently in touch with the Broward County Community Services Department regarding
the cats at the jail complex, and have offered educational materials and other information. We are
confident they will choose a humane approach for the prison cats,” she said.
Robinson said that trapping feral cats and taking to them to a shelter – where the only positive
outcome for an animal is adoption – would make no sense. Feral cats are members of the domestic
cat species, but they are not socialized to humans and are not candidates for adoption.
“Feral cats are almost always killed immediately in animal shelters,” Robinson said. “This ‘catch
and kill’ approach is not only cruel, it’s ineffective, because intact cats will move in and begin the
cycle all over again.”
Trap-Neuter-Return is a program in which outdoor cats are humanely trapped and taken to a local
veterinarian or clinic to be vaccinated and neutered. Adult feral cats who have undergone Trap-
Neuter-Return are identified by the removal of the tip of their left ear (called an “eartip”).
Socialized cats and kittens are put up for adoption. Trap-Neuter-Return ends the cycle of breeding
and stops cat behaviors associated with mating, such as yowling and fighting.
“Feral cats exist all over the United States, in every landscape – whether urban or rural.
Enlightened communities are increasingly replacing the failed ‘catch and kill’ approach toward
these cats in favor of Trap-Neuter-Return, because it is the most effective and least expensive way
to stabilize the population,” said Robinson.
Robinson noted that number of prisons in the United States and Canada have also adopted Trap-
Neuter-Return programs. “Trap-Neuter-Return is the best course of action for feral cats and for the
community,” she said.
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About Alley Cat Allies
Alley Cat Allies is the nation’s leading advocate for stray and feral cats. Their website is www.alleycat.org.
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