Evanston wanted to deal with feral cats by rounding them up, then killing them. For centuries feral cats have been associated with people, and this same method (capturing and killing) didn't work in ancient Rome any more than it works in American cities today. That's because officials never catch them all. Cats literally reproduce like rabbits.
Instead, in Cook County, according to law - the preferred method is trap, neuter, return (TNR), which Tree House Humane Society is a leader.
- Cats who are trapped, neutered, returned are vaccinated for rabies, so there's a public health issue addressed.
- As long as irresponsible citizens don't continue dumping cats into the colonies, those cats within the colonies continue live out their lives - but can not reproduce. Eventually, the colony numbers dwindle to zero. Meanwhile, caretakers insure members of the colonies don't starve to death in the cold by supplementing with food. In Cook County, TNR cats are microchipped for identification. Any really sick cats no longer suffer, they are humanely euthanized. Friendly cats are hopefully returned to owners, or otherwise adopted out.
I'll be talking more about what's happening in Evanston, and about TNR with Jenny Schlueter of Tree House, Saturday on Steve Dale's Pet World, 2 pm cst on WLS Radio, 890-AM (www.wlsam.com).
In Los Angeles, there are assorted issues with TNR, and many want the programs back!
Of course, this is the same misguided group of politicians (in LA) who thought mandatory spay/neuter was a good idea. Wildlife supporters opposed to TNR haven't thought it through have they? I'm a wildlife supporter, but I understand trapping and killing has never been effective, never, for hundreds of years. Besides, as real threats to songbirds are concerned, habitat destruction, light pollution and air pollution and other factors are more significant. Although it is true, outdoor cats do kill animals - so one of many many many reasons to keep cats indoors. With TNR, finally we've discovered the humane alternative to deal with feral cats that really does work.
Helping Community Cats Workshops coming up in Chicago (supported by Alley Cat Allies)
Saturday, February 6, 2010
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
PAWS Chicago - Lurie Family Spay/Neuter Clinic
3516 W. 26th St.
Chicago, IL 60623
Monday, February 15, 2010
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Anti-Cruelty Society
157 W. Grand Ave.
Chicago, IL 60610
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Tree House Humane Society - Bucktown Branch
1629 N. Ashland Ave.
Chicago, IL 60622
The thing about what is happening in LA with TNR is that the wildlife conservationists and bird advocates are trying to keep themselves on one side of the issue and us cat advocates on the other side; when in fact, the majority of us "cat people" love and respect all animals and want to work WITH the conservationists to find some common ground. But as long as the conservationists keep the two sides pitted against each other, the only ones who are truly losing out are the animals.
As history has shown, trap and kill does NOT work and can be counterproductive causing negative impacts on local ecosystems. Whereas, history has show that TNR DOES work and works in a humane way, with no killing. TNR stabilizes populations at manageable levels, eliminates
TNR certainly is a better way than the wholesale destruction that Evanston is planning. Besides, with the lousy economy, certainly Evanston could find better uses for the money that would be used killing cats, to instead better serve their struggling human citizens? There certainly is, and should be, a "middle ground" to strive for between wildlife and domestic animals such as pets.
Besides, these examples of mass euthanasia such as what is happening here in Evanston plays right into the hands of the various Animal Rights groups. These fanatics will likely use these increased euthanasia numbers as a "reason" for an attempt to push through more adverse pet laws, such as Mandatory Spay Neuter and Limit Laws. MSN as shown time and time again has not worked wherever it has been tried, since MSN targets the responsible owner rather than the irresponsible owner, and only drives up shelter intakes and euthanasia rates. Limit Laws simply deprive homeless pets of good homes by owners who are both able and willing to care for more than the number of pets that their local law allows, again killing these hapless animals.
Oh Evanston, screw you.