Help for Feral Cats

Feral cats have a bounty on their head
Story by Athena Bennett - Best Friends Network

Sometimes you read a story that just makes you shake your head in disbelief. Such is the case when I read an article sent to me yesterday.

“Iowa Town Offers Bounty on Stray Cats”

This is not a story ripped from the pages of the National Enquirer. This bizarre, sadly, not uncommon story was reported by cbsnews.com, appropriately listed under “strange” news.

Randolph, Iowa population 200, has a feral cat problem. Some residents have threatened to shoot or poison the cats. Mayor Vance Trivley and town officials have approved a policy whereupon all stray cats without collars will be taken to a Vet in nearby Sydney, as Randolph does not have a vet clinic. The cats will be kept for a short time and if not claimed, they will be euthanized.

Assistance has been offered by the Humane Society to humanely capture the cats and to help provide a more safe and humane environment for both the animals and people of this town. However, Mayor Trivley has said several suggestions have been made to the residents of Randolph including neutering & trapping the cats. He said you couldn’t get a donation from these people for a cause like this. How very sad.

It’s obvious that these people are unaware of the many ways this problem can be alleviated. There definitely needs to be some education in the ways of humane capture, but sadly, as hard as it is to believe, there are people who just don’t like cats & dogs and are not concerned with finding a humane solution.

There are several programs across the United States called TNR – trap/neuter/return. Local animal shelters sponsor most of these programs, the bulk of them are no-kill shelters. The goal is to humanely trap the cats, neuter them and return them to the area they were found. This not only eases the overpopulation of feral cats but aides in rodent control. In some cases, small kittens that are captured actually have a chance at a “normal life”. These kittens have not been feral long enough to learn the rules of survival, a natural instinct instilled in animals as well as humans. Therefore they are “trainable” and quite often adoptable. They are provided food & shelter until a loving family can take them into their forever home.

Forsyth County, located in Cumming Georgia is one of the many groups that sponsor such a program. Trained volunteers assist in trapping the cats, getting them to a licensed vet to be neutered, then returning them where they were found. However their job does not end there. As resourceful as these cats are, they are still subject to starvation. Once again, volunteers take turns visiting these areas daily with food and water for the cats. They even get assistance from local merchants. These merchants are more than happy to donate food for the cats. Knowing the cats help capture mice, bugs and other rodents that may eventually cause damage to their business.

To learn more about a possible TNR program in your area, please visit one of the many web sites offering assistance in implementing a TNR program in your area. The Humane Society has come out strongly in favor of TNR and offers an excellent on-line resource. Visit www.humanesociety.org/feralcats. The ASPCA has a wonderful site created to aide in implementing a TNR program in your area, as part of their Imagine Humane Innovation Program. Their website is www.aspca.org

There are many ways to get beyond the lack of knowledge in dealing with Feral Cats. The Internet is a wonderful tool. Call your local animal shelter and ask how can help. Contact your cat-loving neighbor for a helping paw. For every uniformed animal hater, there are a dozen animal friendly loving places willing to open up their hearts to share their knowledge & experience to help these furry felines. It’s Purrfectly humane. What a wonderful gift we have been given – to share our knowledge in hopes we may help a stray cat find a home or at least a chance at life.

On a personal note, I know, I know, writers are supposed to be objective and maintain a sense of neutralism. However, as I mentioned in the beginning of this story, I shook my head in disbelief when I read the story of this small Iowa town. Imagine if we treated our homeless people with the same lack of respect and dignity we treat homeless pets? While some will argue you cannot possibly compare an animal’s life to that of a human, I strongly disagree. We provide homeless people with food and shelter and offer them hope along with a chance at a better life. I believe we owe it to the wonderful creatures that have given us unconditional love for thousands of years the same chance. They cannot speak for themselves, we are their voices. Hear their meows & barks, please, give them a chance. Take a moment to find out how you can help. You will gain an incredible sense of joy, but more importantly, you may save an animal’s life.

With that said, thanks to all for allowing me to insert some of my personal feelings. As all of us who volunteer for the animals know, it is what is in our hearts. We cannot escape this compassion if we tried. If we can instill 1/10th of this passion into everyone, we may one day achieve our goal of no more homeless pets.