Support AWAKE! and oppose the Florida feral cat bill.
This is ONLY for residents of Hillsborough County.
Dear Citizens,
Our county Animal Services Director is proposing a scheme that would release thousands of cats onto our community streets each year. This misguided plan would badly risk our public health and cause major damage to our wildlife, in addition to being dangerous for the cats that are released. This is unacceptable on numerous fronts, and we invite you to read our concerns with TNR on the HAHF.org website. Thank you for taking the time to get involved in this important issue.
As veterinarians, we endorse AWAKE! as a newer, and more innovative, approach to the management of feral cats that does NOT require the mass euthanasia of cats. That is the last thing veterinarians want to do! We need a better plan, because the old way of TNR is simply not working, and creates too much risk to public health, wildlife and the feral/stray cats. We agree with the senior medical director of the Humane Society of the United States’ Veterinary Association Dr. Kellogg who observes, “it is clear that effective solutions to the problems of free-roaming cat overpopulation and wildlife predation will have to include newer and more innovative approaches.” It is past time to try something new that considers the legitimate concerns of all the stakeholders who are concerned with feral and stray cats in Hillsborough County.
You can read all the details about AWAKE! here.
Please fill out the following form to send an email message to your Hillsborough County Administrators:
The following message will be sent to your Board of County Commissioners:
Dear Commissioner,
I am writing in support of AWAKE!, the new and innovative approach to managing our feral and stray cat challenge. I am in agreement with the idea of reasonable restrictions as recommended by veterinarians in the AWAKE! plan, and I do not support the county engaging in Trap-Neuter-Return using outdated methods. Without more, these euphemistically called ‘community’ cat programs are too high a risk for our community. The Florida Department of Health (FDOH) warns against these programs in the 2012 Rabies Guide, writing, “The concept of managing free-roaming/feral domestic cats (Felis catus) is not tenable on public health grounds because of the persistent threat posed to communities from injury and disease. While the risk for disease transmission from cats to people is generally low when these animals are maintained indoors and routinely cared for, free-roaming cats pose a continuous concern to communities. Children are among the highest risk for disease transmission from these cats.” These clearly stated risks are why most human doctors, wildlife organizations, and veterinarians are against TNR programs as currently implemented.
I agree with the senior medical director of the Humane Society of the United States’ Veterinary Association. Dr. Kellogg, who observes, “it is clear that effective solutions to the problems of free-roaming cat overpopulation and wildlife predation will have to include newer and more innovative approaches.” AWAKE! is that newer and more innovative answer! TNR is simply re-abandonment which endangers public health and kills wildlife – it isn’t possible to reconcile the ideas of responsible pet ownership with the idea of dumping a domesticated species behind the dumpster at a local store and calling it good animal care. Bad for the cat – but WAY worse for us.
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With AWAKE! we can make our community a better place for everyone; two-legged, four-legged and feathered!
Sincerely,
(Your Name)
(Your Address)
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