In a perfect world, we would already have mandatory pet registration for all domestic animals, spay/neuter laws, and higher fines/prison sentences for animal abuse and illegal dumping of domesticated animals. So yes, I am all for keeping your domesticated pet indoors.
But, after working with the group Stray Pet Advocacy my view on TNR is not misguided in the least. I am totally for TNR and there are many studies that show TNR does work and has many advantages over lethal methods. We have spent the last 6 months collecting research on this issue.
The San Francisco SPCA fact sheets cover the TNR, Feral Cats and Public Health concerns. Click here for a basic overview - Feral Cat & Public Health (pdf. file)
You can also read more collections of reports and studies on the effectiveness of TNR vs Lethal Methods of Eradication. Non Lethal Control
After helping out at Stray Pet Advocacy and SaveSamoa, I am a firm believer that many anti-TNR advocates are turning a blind eye to the human effects (urbanization, pollution etc) and are making feral colonies (the former household cat that they no longer wanted to take responsibility for) as the scapegoat of their own inaction.
If people took the time to contact their local political representatives, helped out at local animal shelters, lobbied for changes to animal abuse laws and the creation of illegal dumping laws that came with stiff sentences, then feral populations would no longer be a scapegoat to the ecosystems troubles. There would no longer be ferals around, so who is left to blame when these 'fragile' ecosystems are still being threatened? Human populations are the major threat to all ecosystems, now and in the future.
I am all for LAWS that force pet owners to take responsibilities for their domesticated pets and pay penalties when they go against these laws. But I am not going to take for fact that TNR practices are 'misguided' when so many studies, projects, and current feral colony managers show exactly the opposite - positive results.
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks