TNR reduces cat deaths at county shelters. Stray and feral cats are everywhere in Cobb and surrounding counties. Most people that come across a needy stray cat tend to bring them to their local animal shelter assuming that the cat is either lost or needs a new home. We are learning that most of these cats aren't claimed and don't get adopted but are instead put to death.
We can greatly reduce cat euthanasia by leaving the feral cats alone, trapping them only to spay, neuter and vaccinate and releasing them back to where you found them. By doing this you help end the preventable cycle of the killing of the cats. Cats can breed at an astonishing rate having up to 3 litters a year! With so many concerned people bringing these cats to shelters you can imagiine how quickly the shelter gets overwhelmed with animals. By eliminating the capture of ferals dumped at the shelter we give the staff more resources to focus on the adoptable animals, the give ups and the strays thereby reducing euthanasia. Once your local shelter is not overburdened they are more likely to go no kill and participate in local TNR, trap neuter and release programs.
Disneyland has been participating in TNR for 25 years. The staff has come to think of the cats as their Disney family. The cats have a job there, cleaning up the scraps of food left everywhere and keeping the rodents off of park property. Columbus GA animal control and Washington DC animal control are also participating in TNR thanks to the demand of their residents.
It is time for Cobb County to step up to the plate. Work with your local animal control, not against it. Blame is a cop-out. Blame says "this is your fault, you are the problem, you fix it." We see how well that approach has worked for the overwhelmed over burdened animal controls around the country that still kill homeless animals by the hundred thousands.
A better approach to solving this crisis is working together. Rescue groups work with animal control by pulling as many animals as they can manage and turn over. You can help by not bringing in any more animals, especially ferals. Feral cats are survivors. They live off the land just as the squirrels and birds do. They help reduce damage and destruction caused by rodents better than any exterminator or chemical can. If you are trapping the cats because you do not want them around your home Alley Cat Allies has great information on relocating feral cats. But you must get them fixed and vaccinated first and you can do that inexpensively through LifeLine Animal Project http://www.atlantapets.org/ for as little as 20.00 per cat. You can also find many groups online that will cover the cost of the alteration and vaccination like Spay Neuter Coalitionhttp://www.spayneutercoalition.org/.
NEVER DEPEND ON GOVERNMENT OR INSTITUTIONS TO SOLVE ANY MAJOR PROBLEM. ALL SOCIAL CHANGE COMES FROM THE PASSION OF INDIVIDUALS. Margaret Mead
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