Annette Betancourt, a feral cat caregiver in Liberty, Missouri, was charged with violating the city’s “limit law,” even though she did not “own” the feral cats found living outdoors when she moved into her neighborhood. Betancourt had been volunteering as part of a TNR program for several years, using her own money to neuter and vaccinate the cats. She stabilized the population, and no new litters of kittens were born. She was fined $200 by the court for her actions.
This verdict is a travesty. Trap-Neuter-Return is the only humane and effective approach for feral cats, and a public service to communities.
We stand behind Annette, and all caregivers, in this growing national movement.