Published in the Fort Bend Herald on June 22, 2018
Congratulations to Fort Bend County and thank you Fort Bend County Commissioners for taking a progressive step for its community cats by passing an ordinance that allows for Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR). TNR will benefit residents and cats living here, just as it has improved hundreds of communities around the nation. Alley Cat Allies proudly served as a resource for Fort Bend Animal Services and the county as this legislation moved forward.
With TNR, community cats are humanely trapped, spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and returned to their outdoor homes. TNR is sound public policy. Instead of the cruel and endless cycle of impounding cats in shelters, where virtually all are killed, TNR decreases shelter intake, “euthanasia” rates, and calls to animal services. This also saves taxpayers’ money.
Decades of research shows that TNR immediately ends the cycle of new kitten litters and stabilizes the population of community cats. TNR improves cats’ lives as well as their relationships with people who live nearby.
Thousands of towns and cities conduct TNR programs, and more than 650 communities have adopted official TNR policies and ordinances. As these programs succeed, communities increasingly embrace TNR. In fact, Fort Bend County joins 48 other Texas counties and cities that have already passed TNR ordinances, and thousands of other Texans who conduct TNR on their own.
Fort Bend is now part of a compassionate network of cities and counties that recognize TNR as the only humane and effective approach to outdoor cat populations.
Becky Robinson
President and Founder
Alley Cat Allies