Feral Cats - Killing is Not the Answer

In December, 1996 animal rights groups were enraged when the East Bay Regional Park District Board (California) hired a contractor from a Federal Agency, Animal Damage Control, to shoot and kill feral cats that were part of a human-fed colony in Garin Regional Park near Hayward, CA. Members of Community Concern for Cats and other cat lovers, who had been feeding the feral cats as part of a trap-neuter-release program, raised an outcry of rage at these killings. The cat-killing incident was widely publicized and led to a surge of attendees at an EBRP Board meeting.

Becky Robinson of the national group "Alley Cat Allies" out of Arlington, VA, told the board that traditional programs to eradicate cats never work. A program of managed feeding, trapping and sterilizing is the best way to go.

District officials, backed by various Audubon Society leaders and other environmentalists, said hunting cats take a serious toll on native birds and rodents and should not be encouraged to live in lands that were set aside to preserve the natural environment. However, board members agreed to conduct an 18-month study that would:

1. Work to increase public understanding that it's illegal to dump pets on park lands.
2. Follow a pilot program in San Mateo County's Coyote Point Park, where cat lovers can feed and trap feral and abandoned felines for neutering. Most are put up for adoption, but some are returned to the parks.
3. Attempt to work with animal welfare groups on nonlethal methods of removing cats from parks.

At issue remains re-release. Board member John Sutter said, "I cannot support the idea of releasing cats back in the parks. It is absolutely contrary to the mission of the district. Angry cat lovers disagree. "There must be a site where we could let these cats that are totally feral live out their lives," said Doreta Chaney Reinhart of the group Community Concern for cats.

In the meantime, we would like for cat-loving taxpayers to mull over the justice in our tax dollars being used for the Federal Government to hire killers for the purpose of shooting feral cats. We don't think so!! If you agree, please write your Congressional Representative.

In recent years, the United States and Canada have seen a surge of volunteer cat rescue organizations devoted to the process of "feed, trap, neuter and release". This alternative, combined with other groups who target their efforts to the finding of homes for the homeless and returning cats to their original "owners" , with the philosophy that "euthanasia is not an option", promises a glimmer of hope in the long range for our feline friends.

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