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Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return programs: Better for animal welfare, public health, and wildlife
As the CEO of the Humane Society of Vero Beach & Indian River County, I was disappointed with the recent decision by County Commissioners to retain a “leash law” for cats. The debate focused largely on the difficulties of enforcement, on the one hand, and concerns about nuisance complaints on the other. Meanwhile, far too little attention was given to the fact that such laws create significant barriers to the trap-neuter-vaccinate-return (TNVR) programs necessary to reduce our community cat population. TNVR is simple: cats are humanely trapped, evaluated by veterinarians, vaccinated, spayed or neutered, and returned to their original outdoor homes, unable to have kittens. Targeted TNVR programs offer a commonsense, effective, and economical alternative to the traditional “catch-and-kill” method. And, unlike that outdated approach, TNVR enjoys broad public support. No wonder such programs are becoming increasingly popular across the U.S., in communities large and small, urban and rural.
Leash laws make TNVR programs virtually impossible, essentially forcing municipalities to continue with the same one-size-fits-all approach to managing community cats: impoundment followed, in most cases, by lethal injection. But there’s simply no evidence that this approach is effective at population management or protecting public health and wildlife. We’d like to think it works, of course—just as we would expect of any well-established, publicly funded government service. What we’ve come to learn in recent years, however, is that “catch-and-kill” doesn’t work at all. It’s also wildly unpopular and costly, the poster child for failed public policy.
Whether you love cats or hate them, the science is clear: only two methods have been shown to reduce cat populations: targeted TNVR efforts and intensive eradication campaigns. The largest successful campaign to eradicate cats took place on uninhabited Marion Island (roughly the size of Tampa), where it took 19 years to exterminate an estimated 2,100–3,400 cats, using feline panleukopenia, poisoning, hunting and trapping, and dogs. During the final phase of the project, 30,000 day-old chicken carcasses were injected with the toxin sodium fluoroacetate (the use of which is highly restricted in the U.S.) and distributed across the island. (In an ironic twist, Marion Island later became overrun with mice, threatening the very wildlife whose protection was used to justify the lethal control of cats.)
Obviously, such campaigns are non-starters in Indian River County or anyplace else in the U.S.—which brings us back to TNVR. Again, these programs are not just for the cat lovers among us; they protect public health by creating an effective barrier between the public and wildlife. Indeed, similar programs have been used for years to manage “street dogs” in developing countries. Research shows that such programs are not only more humane than the annual culls that had been done historically, but also more effective at population management and protecting public health. And because targeted TNVR programs are our best option for reducing community cat numbers, they benefit wildlife as well, by reducing the risk of predation. As a bonus, targeted TNVR efforts can also save precious tax dollars by reducing the number of cats and kittens coming into our animal shelters every year. Just last year, the National Animal Care & Control Association revised its policy on Animal Control Intake of Free-Roaming Cats, noting that the “indiscriminate pick up or admission of healthy, free-roaming cats, regardless of temperament, for any purpose other than [TNVR]… fails to serve commonly held goals of community animal management and protection programs and, as such, is a misuse of time and public funds and should be avoided.”
As with all public policy issues, TNVR programs have their detractors. It’s become clear, though, that they have little to offer other than misinformation and scaremongering, thereby undermining any chance for reasonable discussions and sound policymaking. It’s ironic that the greatest barrier to sterilizing and vaccinating more cats is often the very people complaining most loudly about the cats. Empty rhetoric might make for good press, but it gives elected officials very little to work with; their constituents—and that’s all of us—expect solutions, however imperfect.
As the CEO of the Humane Society of Vero Beach & Indian River County, I was disappointed with the recent decision by County Commissioners to retain a “leash law” for cats. The debate focused largely on the difficulties of enforcement, on the one hand, and concerns about nuisance complaints on the other. Meanwhile, far too little attention was given to the fact that such laws create significant barriers to the trap-neuter-vaccinate-return (TNVR) programs necessary to reduce our community cat population. TNVR is simple: cats are humanely trapped, evaluated by veterinarians, vaccinated, spayed or neutered, and returned to their original outdoor homes, unable to have kittens. Targeted TNVR programs offer a commonsense, effective, and economical alternative to the traditional “catch-and-kill” method. And, unlike that outdated approach, TNVR enjoys broad public support. No wonder such programs are becoming increasingly popular across the U.S., in communities large and small, urban and rural.
Leash laws make TNVR programs virtually impossible, essentially forcing municipalities to continue with the same one-size-fits-all approach to managing community cats: impoundment followed, in most cases, by lethal injection. But there’s simply no evidence that this approach is effective at population management or protecting public health and wildlife. We’d like to think it works, of course—just as we would expect of any well-established, publicly funded government service. What we’ve come to learn in recent years, however, is that “catch-and-kill” doesn’t work at all. It’s also wildly unpopular and costly, the poster child for failed public policy.
Whether you love cats or hate them, the science is clear: only two methods have been shown to reduce cat populations: targeted TNVR efforts and intensive eradication campaigns. The largest successful campaign to eradicate cats took place on uninhabited Marion Island (roughly the size of Tampa), where it took 19 years to exterminate an estimated 2,100–3,400 cats, using feline panleukopenia, poisoning, hunting and trapping, and dogs. During the final phase of the project, 30,000 day-old chicken carcasses were injected with the toxin sodium fluoroacetate (the use of which is highly restricted in the U.S.) and distributed across the island. (In an ironic twist, Marion Island later became overrun with mice, threatening the very wildlife whose protection was used to justify the lethal control of cats.)
Obviously, such campaigns are non-starters in Indian River County or anyplace else in the U.S.—which brings us back to TNVR. Again, these programs are not just for the cat lovers among us; they protect public health by creating an effective barrier between the public and wildlife. Indeed, similar programs have been used for years to manage “street dogs” in developing countries. Research shows that such programs are not only more humane than the annual culls that had been done historically, but also more effective at population management and protecting public health. And because targeted TNVR programs are our best option for reducing community cat numbers, they benefit wildlife as well, by reducing the risk of predation. As a bonus, targeted TNVR efforts can also save precious tax dollars by reducing the number of cats and kittens coming into our animal shelters every year. Just last year, the National Animal Care & Control Association revised its policy on Animal Control Intake of Free-Roaming Cats, noting that the “indiscriminate pick up or admission of healthy, free-roaming cats, regardless of temperament, for any purpose other than [TNVR]… fails to serve commonly held goals of community animal management and protection programs and, as such, is a misuse of time and public funds and should be avoided.”
As with all public policy issues, TNVR programs have their detractors. It’s become clear, though, that they have little to offer other than misinformation and scaremongering, thereby undermining any chance for reasonable discussions and sound policymaking. It’s ironic that the greatest barrier to sterilizing and vaccinating more cats is often the very people complaining most loudly about the cats. Empty rhetoric might make for good press, but it gives elected officials very little to work with; their constituents—and that’s all of us—expect solutions, however imperfect.
Humane Society To Transfer in Dozens of Dogs Slated for Euthanasia
Adopters and Fosters Urgently Needed!
The Humane Society of Vero Beach and Indian River County (HSVB) is transferring in approximately 25 dogs slated for euthanasia from a rural shelter in Florida that is at capacity. Transportation is currently being arranged and the dogs should arrive early next week.
Adopters and fosters are needed for dogs currently in the shelter in order to make room for the incoming transfer. “Unfortunately, many shelters in Florida are experiencing an overpopulation crisis right now and we urgently need the help of our community to open up their home either permanently or temporarily,” states CEO Kate Meghji.
Fostering or adopting a dog currently at the HSVB shelter will allow the organization to help save the lives of dogs who have no other options left for them. Adoption fees for all HSVB dogs are waived through Monday, May 2, and all foster families will be provided with all of the supplies they will need to bring a homeless dog home for a staycation.
“Foster homes are absolutely critical to our mission. Whether someone only fosters once, or over and over again, they will allow us to save more lives and assist more at-risk shelters. It’s really that simple”, Kate explains. “We can’t do this work without our community’s help and support.”
Information about adoption and foster opportunities for the dogs being transferred in will be made available once they have received medical evaluations and care.
Adopters and Fosters Urgently Needed!
The Humane Society of Vero Beach and Indian River County (HSVB) is transferring in approximately 25 dogs slated for euthanasia from a rural shelter in Florida that is at capacity. Transportation is currently being arranged and the dogs should arrive early next week.
Adopters and fosters are needed for dogs currently in the shelter in order to make room for the incoming transfer. “Unfortunately, many shelters in Florida are experiencing an overpopulation crisis right now and we urgently need the help of our community to open up their home either permanently or temporarily,” states CEO Kate Meghji.
Fostering or adopting a dog currently at the HSVB shelter will allow the organization to help save the lives of dogs who have no other options left for them. Adoption fees for all HSVB dogs are waived through Monday, May 2, and all foster families will be provided with all of the supplies they will need to bring a homeless dog home for a staycation.
“Foster homes are absolutely critical to our mission. Whether someone only fosters once, or over and over again, they will allow us to save more lives and assist more at-risk shelters. It’s really that simple”, Kate explains. “We can’t do this work without our community’s help and support.”
Information about adoption and foster opportunities for the dogs being transferred in will be made available once they have received medical evaluations and care.
HSVB is a non-profit independently operated open door shelter located at 6230 77th St., Vero Beach, Florida. The Humane Society of Vero Beach and Indian River County is dedicated to helping and protecting the animals of Indian River County and to assisting owners to keep pets in their homes. In addition to adopting homeless animals, HSVB operates a wellness clinic and two thrift stores – one is Vero Beach and one in Sebastian. For more information please visit www.hsvb.org or call 772.388.3331.
