Help the Ferals

Alley Cat Allies

Beginning January 1, 2003, the US Navy will require the immediate termination of TNR programs and feeding feral cats will be prohibited. They will implement a plan to trap and remove feral cats on all Navy property. Because feral cats are considered to be "too wild" for adoption from shelters, this policy amounts to a death sentence for feral cats.

Admiral Vern Clark, the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), approved the policy despite the fact that TNR has proven to be an effective and low-cost method of humanely controlling feral cat populations in many settings, including on Navy property. Since the implementation of a TNR program, the Norfolk Naval Shipyard feral cat population has been reduced by 90 percent!

Unless the CNO reverses this policy, caretakers will be forced to stop caring for colonies, many of which have existed for years. Continuing to feed the cats they care for may threaten their jobs, so they will be required to watch as the cats starve, until the day they are removed and killed.

Your letters are urgently needed to reverse this policy!

1. Write polite, factual letters urging the Navy to allow TNR to continue. Explain that TNR is less costly and more effective in reducing feral cat populations than their new trap and remove policy. Address your letters to:

Raymond D. Dubois, Jr.
Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Installations and Environment)
3015 Defense Pentagon
Room 3E1006
Washington, DC 20301-3015

Connie DeWitte
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Safety)
2600 Army Pentagon
Room 4122C
Washington, DC 20310-2600

2. Write to your Congressional representatives. Request the initiation of a Congressional inquiry into the Navy's "Policy Letter Preventing Feral Cat and Dog Populations on Navy Property."

Ask that the Navy answer specific questions, such as statistics on the fate of the cats trapped and the cost of the program. If your questions remain unanswered, write back!

To find out who your Senators and Representatives are and where to contact them:

Senate: Visit www.senate.gov or call (202) 224-3121.
House of Representatives: Visit www.house.gov or call (202) 225-3121.

Thank you for making us aware of this. I know that this subject is near and dear to your heart. You do so much to help the feral population. I hope the letters will help.

Logan

What I think the Navy SHOULD do is prohibit military families from having pets while in the service. When I lived in CT, there were always cats and dogs being abandoned by military families who have relocated. I also think the government should be held responsible for the care and feeding of the ferals who were once owned by Naval families and disposed of like yesterday's garbage and the families be fined for abandoning them. I placed at least 6 cats from the naval sub base in Groton alone. It makes me sick!! These "wild" cats were once family pets!! UGH!!! Don't get me started.

It's all so irritating. Seems cats always get the worst deal. At the park where we feed, everyone feeds the pigeons, chickens, rabbits etc. but NO ONE ever even thinks to feed the cats. All they see them as is a nuisance. It totally aggravates me!