Where They Stand
Every day in this country, more communities endorse Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) as the most logical, practical, and acceptable method to get control of feral cat populations and to bring their numbers down. In our society, and particularly within the animal protection community, responsible agencies and organizations can either greatly help or hinder the progress made for feral cats by supporting or opposing humane, effective TNR.
Statements of the following organizations are publicly available on their websites, as cited. Note that this list does not include organizations formed specifically to help feral cats. Rather, we are examining animal protection groups, animal control agencies and shelters, and veterinary associations in the United States that are in a position to advance the implementation of and support for humane, ethical, nonlethal feral cat population control, including TNR.
The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP)
“The AAFP supports appropriately managed cat colonies. Humane alternatives to the destruction of healthy cats for animal control purposes should be actively pursued by veterinary, humane, and wildlife organizations.”
http://www.aafponline.org/resources/statements/feral_cats.htm |
The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA)
“The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) is pleased to endorse the 2004 American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) Position Statement on Free-Roaming Abandoned and Feral Cats. Following a thorough review, the AAHA Board of Directors formally endorsed the guidelines during its June meeting.
“AAHA is very supportive of the comprehensive approach taken by AAFP to address the serious and widespread problem of free-roaming abandoned and feral cats,” says Dennis Feinberg, DVM, AAHA president. “The veterinary profession can play an important role in preventing abandonment and in providing education to clients about responsible cat ownership and feral cat issues.”
http://www.aahanet.org/About_aaha/About_AAFP_posstmt.html |
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)
“The number of feral cats in the United States alone is estimated to be in the tens of millions. Sadly, many communities still opt to control populations via outdated methods, including lethal elimination or relocation. Not only are some of these methods horribly cruel, they are ineffective. It’s time to focus on feral cats in the fight to end animal cruelty.
The ASPCA endorses Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) as the only proven humane and effective method to manage feral cat colonies.”
http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cruelty_tnr |
Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights (AVAR)
[AVAR does not post a position statement on TNR on their website, but consistently supports it. The following is from the newsletter Directions, fall 2003, page 5, “AVMA Revisits Feral Cat Issue in Upcoming Forum.”]
“Feral cats comprise more than half of all intakes and euthanasias (kills) in our nation's shelters and animal control facilities. The traditional method of trapping and killing cats that has been in place for decades is reactionary and entirely ineffective in controlling populations of outdoor cats. Animal control agencies report higher euthanasia rates each year and require larger budgets to carry out these ineffective, lethal programs. Research shows that this antiquated policy simply creates a geographic vacuum which will undeniably be filled by breeding populations if sterilized cats are not returned to their original locations. Feral cats are wild and usually cannot be adopted as companion cats, and Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) offers a sound and effective solution to controlling their numbers.”
http://avar.org/avar_fall_2003_directions.pdf
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Best Friends Animal Society
“Best Friends Animal Society endorses and practices trap/neuter/return (T/N/R) as the most humane and effective way to manage feral cats.
While euthanizing a suffering animal is an act of kindness, killing healthy feral cats, when the life-saving alternative of trap/neuter/return exists, demonstrates a lack of respect for their most basic rights.”
Policy link |
City of Berkeley, California
“TNR Humanely Controls Feral Cat Populations: TNR and colony management are effective in reducing the number of cats, and therefore, the number of chance encounters with humans. Prevention of TNR or the use of lethal methods, on the other hand, actually allows the population to continue multiplying. A survey of feral cat caregivers conducted by the SF/SPCA found that every caregiver who implemented a TNR program saw their colony stabilize or decrease in number.”
http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/animalservices/feralpubsafety.html |
Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA)
Guidance Statement on Feral Cats: "CFA advocates the humane treatment of all cats including those who are unowned and considered to be feral. We support the concept of managed colonies of unowned/feral cats on public or private property as a viable means to protect these cats and stabilize their populations. CFA favors trap-neuter-return (TNR) programs involving trapping, euthanasia of unhealthy/suffering cats, vaccination, sterilization, placement for adoption if possible, ear identification and return to existing locations where ongoing caregiver management and protection will be provided."
http://cfa.org/articles/legislative/feral-cats.pdf |
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS)
NOTE: In October 2005, HSUS announced that it was revising its policies toward feral cats to support Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs. The new policy has not yet been issued.
HSUS Policy |
The Institute for Animals and Society: The Animals’ Platform
http://www.animalsandsociety.org/animals_platform.htm
(See Companion Animals Section)
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No Kill Solutions
Article in PDF format: Do Feral Cats Have a Right to Live? A National No Kill Standard for Feral Cats: http://www.nokillsolutions.com/pdf/Feral%20Cats.pdf |
Petfinder (from “TNR: The Humane Alternative” in Petfinder’s online library)
“Whatever the total number of ferals in the United States actually is, bringing that number under control is a daunting task. TNR is the one program to date that offers a solution without sacrificing healthy cats and the humanity of those who care for them.”
Petfinder Policy |
PetsMart Charities – Promotes TNR workshops and works with Imagine Humane (ASPCA) to showcase TNR programs.
PetsMart Charities Policy |
Richmond (VA) SPCA
“The Richmond SPCA provides free surgeries to area residents (living in the City of Richmond, Chesterfield, Hanover, Henrico and Goochland) on government assistance, households with an annual income less than $30,000, full-time college students, owners of pit bulls (and strong pit bull mixes) and feral cat caregivers. In most cases rabies vaccinations are included.”
Richmond SPCA Policy |
San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SF/SPCA)
“At The San Francisco SPCA, we strongly believe that feral cats deserve our compassion and protection, and that there are effective, humane methods to control their populations. We support the efforts of compassionate caregivers who are working hard to make life better for feral cats. With input from the cat caring community, The San Francisco SPCA has developed a comprehensive Feral Cat Assistance Program. Free spay/neuter, education, community organizing, and cat advocacy form the basis of our ever-expanding safety net of care for our City’s feral cats.”
http://www.sfspca.org/gifs/pdf_feralcats/feralbk.pdf
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World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA)
WSPA believes that cat population
management should be carried out humanely and
comprehensively. Cats may move between the
owned, roaming and feral populations during
their lifetime, hence effective long-term
management will require a range of activities,
including education in responsible ownership,
adoption and widespread reproduction control,
including sterilization of feral cats through
Trap, Neuter and Return (TNR) programs. When
TNR programs are used it is essential that the
long-term welfare of individuals is considered
and animals are not returned when their good
welfare is unlikely to be maintained. WSPA’s
‘Cat
Care and Control’ document outlines the
elements of a humane and comprehensive cat
population management program.”
http://www.wspa-international.org/campaigning.asp |
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