ORIGINAL MESSAGE:
Alley Cat Allies is taking swift action to oppose a cruel feeding ban against community cats in the city of Parkersburg, West Virginia. The ban, proposed Article 505.24, already passed its first reading last month. If it passes in the second and final reading on August 12, it will become law. We won’t stand by and allow that to happen.
If you live outside of West Virginia, encourage everyone you know in the state to take action in the link above. This measure would make it illegal to feed community cats on Parkersburg city property, including parks. Anyone who continues to feed would be fined hundreds of dollars simply for being compassionate.
Feeding Bans are Cruel and Ineffective
Feeding bans are ineffective and needlessly penalizing, leave cats who have come to rely on food from caregivers without that support, and make it impossible to carry out humane, effective approaches.
Making feeding illegal will not simply make the cats disappear or benefit the community. It will instead cause cats to suffer and criminalize the compassion of people spending their own time and money to make the community a better place.
Furthermore, feeding bans inherently hinder Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR). If caregivers are prohibited from feeding, trapping cats is far more difficult, which ultimately leads to fewer spays and neuters taking place. Passing any feeding ban is counterproductive to a community’s goal of addressing the community cat population.
Rather than waste resources on targeting community cat caregivers and harming cats, Parkersburg should focus on increasing TNR efforts.
Again, if you live in West Virginia, urge the Parkersburg City Council to reject any measures to criminalize the feeding of cats, for the sake of the cats and community members. Stand with Alley Cat Allies for humane, effective, and compassionate approaches to community cats.