Trap/neuter/release

[Tammy McLeod]

What are ppl's thoughts on trap/neuter/release of stray animals?

[Carolyn Bailey]

Hi Tam!

You already know that I find this quite a difficult topic. I'm all for contraception for domesticates, and think it should be a legal requirement in order to make an impact on the terrible overpopulation of domesticated animals. Some people say that TNR is the best alternative because it prevents the continued breeding of these individuals, whilst at the same time allowing them to live freely. It's difficult. To release cats back into cities is to release them into an environment where they have to fight hard to survive, surviving on local wildlife. Not to release them is usually to give them a death sentence.

It's SO important for people to understand that it's imperative to spay and neuter domesticated animals to put an end to this.

[Nath Miles]

This is cruel and inhumane.

[Becky]

Would you be able to expand on your comment Nath? I am interested in this topic...thanks :)

[Nath Miles]

The trap neuter DUMP is full of flaws.

The supporters of trap neuter DUMP actually are very select and divisive in what they say and how it works. One only needs to look at some of the websites around promoting it and they are full of propaganda. An example of this is on one website run by a woman called Rhaya Linden she claims that if cats were removed from the native environment in Australia then native species would actually be under threat and worse off. This is beyond propaganda it is insane. There is no sound scientific evidence to support this. On the contrary there is evidence to show cats kill native wildlife.

Cats are not a part of the native eco system in Australia and as such should not be out there. If i had my way i would make it a law that cats must be confined to an owners premises 24 7 (the same as a dog) Not only is it in the interests of wildlife but it is in the best interest of the cat.

Humans can be very cruel. and Anyone who leaves there companion animal or a stray out there and at risk of being poisoned, run over intentionally or tortured by some sick human does not have the animals best interest at heart.

I was asked last year to help out a group, they have a trap neuter release DUMP program. However a new pregnant female cat has moved in and her kittens. This is a clear example that it does not stop new cats moving in.

If there is a supply of food readily available and a cat comes across it that's hungry it will move in. If a female moves in then so will toms. Desexed cats are placid and don't have the hormones that un desexed cats have, as such toms will come in to there territories and attack or beat them up.

Also once a cat is trapped it is very hard to trap it again. Cats are very smart, so what often happens in desex and return is the cat may become ill and need vet treatment but they are unable to trap it. So the animal suffers.

Also if the cat is wild and trapped the stress the cat is under from being trapped, taken home, kept for a few days, going to a vet to be desexed is cruel.

Another flaw is that cats with aids are put back out there, which then puts other cats at risk and continues to spread the disease. Very few supporters of trap neuter release DUMP test for aids. This is irresponsible and unsound. Also due to costs cats are not vaccinated again putting them at risk or getting sick or dying.

The other important thing to remember is trap neuter DUMP is actually illegal in Victoria.

Once an animal is seized by any member of the public it must be delivered to the local shelter or the municipal districts shelter provider ASAP. Failure to do so can result in prosecution. Also if the animal is then taken back out and dumped after being desexed this is another offence which carries a very high fine and can also result in prosecution.

Until mandatory desexing comes in all across Australia then nothing will change.

Animals will suffer, people will keep letting there pets breed, and people will keep dumping animals. I feel for the cat it is not its fault it is humans.

How many native animals and birds have to die at the hands of wild cats?

How many animals have to die to feed these cat colonies?

How many have to suffer a life of misery out there? I have picked them up dying with maggots in them, no legs, burnt from having hot oil thrown over them, rotten limbs and tails, aids, cat flu and the list goes on.

[red dog]

You're really all over the map, aren't you? You may find you get taken more seriously when you have the courtesy to use the spell check function.

[Nath Miles]

I agree with you Carolyn,

 

All cats that are out there are either dumped or descendants from dumped undesexed companions that at one time or another were dumped. Desexing al domestic cats is a big and important step in stopping the problem.

[Nath Miles]

Hope this helps Becky.

[red dog]

I totally agree with the need to s/n, and I support TNR for exactly the reason you mentioned: Not having such programs is (often) a death sentence for the cats.

 

The problem with making s/n mandatory is that it costs so much to enforce the laws, and that money could be better spent on programs to encourage people to do it voluntarily (making it free or affordable, providing incentives, sending a van around so transportation is not an issue). Also, in a speciesist society enforcement usually means the animals whose guardians don't comply end up losing their homes and their lives. That wasn't always my position, but I can't support laws that have had such negative effects on animals wherever they've been tried.

 

Another alternative would be to treat feral cats as wild animals and not interfere with their lives at all, but it seems obvious that many of the conflicts between humans and cats could be solved through TNR programs ... even some local governments in Korea are waking up to that reality.

[Carolyn Bailey]

Hi red dog,

 

You note that those guardians who choose not to comply with mandatory s/n, do so because it's a speciesist society, I'm not sure what you mean by that.

 

Feral cats are not wild animals and often live in busy cities or suburbs, I don't think we can treat them as wild animals and avoid interference with them, as this is also giving many native animals a death sentence.

 

The obvious overpopulation of domesticates is a problem created and perpetuated by humans, those who avoid the obvious fact of there being an overpopulation of domesticates are also responsible for this very overpopulation. While people hide away in their no kill shelters, pretending this problem is non existent, nothing is changing.

 

I see this as a serious problem that could easily and almost effortlessly be solved in the next 20 years, if only we could all understand that this problem exists and come to terms with the reality and harshness of some of the suggestions presented in order to overcome this.

 

T/N/R is not an effective alternative to solving this problem in my opinion. Far too many other species are being harmed in the process.

 

[Carolyn Bailey]

I'm not having any problems with Nath's spelling myself, red dog.

 

How is he "all over the map?"

 

I thought he was pretty clear in his analysis of the overpopulation of domesticates in Australia.

 

[red dog]

I'm disappointed in this response, Carolyn. Nath said previously that he opposed speciesism. Now he is clearly advocating a hierarchy with "native" species at the top. He claims TNR "says the cat takes priority over all other animals," yet he pretends to be against it because it's cruel to cats. He's not making a lot of sense, IMO.

[red dog]

I don't think what I said was that unclear: "Also, in a speciesist society, enforcement usually means the animals whose guardians don't comply end up losing their homes and their lives."

 

Some people don't comply with mandatory s/n, for whatever reason. I didn't say they necessarily weren't complying because it's a speciesist society. I said that when you try to *enforce* mandatory s/n laws in a speciesist society, the effects on the animals are likely to be very negative. As Nathan Winograd points out, animal control officers will have more power to seize animals, and many of those animals are likely to be killed as a result. If society weren't speciesist, I'm sure a different system could be put in place to ensure compliance, but the reality is that these laws have unintended effects.