More Good News—December 2, 2016
We are happy to say that your action has made an even bigger difference for Washington D.C.’s cats! Because you spoke out, all mentions of cats have been removed from the Fisheries and Wildlife Omnibus Amendment Act of 2016 (B21-0386). The D.C. Council unanimously voted in favor of this new version of the bill on Tuesday, December 6.
We want to thank Councilmember Mary Cheh for introducing an amendment to the bill that prohibited the Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) from listing cats as a nonindigenous nuisance species. The amendment also removed all sections of the bill that referenced the DOEE’s ability to control or eradicate cats. The bill will now make its way to the Mayor’s office for her consideration.
Trap-Neuter-Return remains the best method to care for and manage community cats in D.C. This is great news; for both the district’s cats and its wildlife!
Thank you to everyone who took action. Alley Cat Allies could not have done it without your support!
Update and Good News—December 1, 2016
Your help made the difference!
A huge thanks to D.C. Councilmember Mary Cheh, who showed tremendous leadership. Because you took action, she has agreed to remove cats from the scope of this bill! This is great news for the District’s cats, residents, and wildlife alike!
Thank you for being a voice for cats and for your ongoing support of Alley Cat Allies!
Original Message—November 18, 2016
The D.C. City Council is dangerously close to passing a bill that fails to protect cats, fails to protect wildlife, and will cost a lot of money. We need your help stopping them.
The bill is called the Fisheries and Wildlife Omnibus Amendment Act of 2016 (B21-0386), and it dangerously empowers the Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) to make decisions on where cats can and can’t live.
Unless the DOEE’s authority is significantly trimmed in the bill, this law could result in the deaths of many cats and the expensive, stressful, and ineffective trapping and relocation of hundreds, perhaps thousands, of others. Pet cats that sometimes go outside (with or without permission!) and well-cared-for and loved spayed/neutered colony cats are no exception.
Overall, the bill has some good parts to it, but the section dealing with cats is a disaster. It fails to offer anywhere near the level of protection that free-roaming cats, their caretakers, and the District’s Trap-Neuter-Return program deserves.
Tell the D.C. City Council that you stand with Alley Cat Allies in opposing this bill.