Texas -- Texas recently introduced a bill, known as H.B. 3450 or the Companion Animal Protection Act, to revolutionize their animal sheltering system for the better. There are many good provisions in the bill, including requiring animal shelters to work with non profit animal rescue groups. Other good provisions include the treatment of feral cats and their caretakers. Alley Cat Allies is “wholeheartedly in support of the bill,” says Communications Manager Elizabeth Parowski.
According to Alley Cat Allies,
“More than 70% of cats entering pounds and shelters in Texas are killed. H.B. 3450 would save animals by mandating new processes for Texas pounds and shelters practices that will promote Trap-Neuter-Return and adoption of socialized cats instead of killing.”
CAPA defines a feral cat as: “a cat who is free-roaming, unsocialized to humans, and unowned.” It defines a Feral Cat Caregiver as “someone who cares for feral cats and has an interest in protecting the cats, but is not the owner of those cats.”
CAPA has many great provisions for feral cats and their caregivers, it
- Exempts feral cat caregivers from feeding bans or limits laws
- Allows public and private shelters, and rescue groups to lend people traps to capture cats only
- To catch and reclaim their wayward pet cat(s).
- To capture sick or injured cats, or cats otherwise in danger.
- To capture feral kittens for the purposes of taming and adoption.
- To capture feral cats for TNR.
- A person using a trap from a public or private shelter or rescue group for any other purpose is subject to a $200 to $500 penalty.
- All penalties collected under this section of the bill will be used only to spay or neuter animals.
Alley Cat Allies is urging Texans to send messages to members of the Public Health Committee asking that they support this lifesaving bill.
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