100 signatures reached
To: The Alaska State Legislature
Our Alaska communities need a new method for managing outdoor cats
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We, the undersigned, support the creation of community cat programs to manage Alaska’s outdoor cat population. These programs use trap-neuter-vaccinate-return (TNVR) to humanely decrease the number of cats living outdoors over time.
Allowing such programs is a long-overdue solution to managing our community cat population, protecting public health and vulnerable wildlife along the way.
Currently, an Alaska Department of Fish and Game regulation makes it illegal to release sterilized cats back into the community — this regulation needs to be removed in order for TNVR programs to be implemented.
Currently, an Alaska Department of Fish and Game regulation makes it illegal to release sterilized cats back into the community — this regulation needs to be removed in order for TNVR programs to be implemented.
Why is this important?
Trap-neuter-vaccinate-return (TNVR) programs are proven to reduce outdoor cat populations over time. This humane and cost-effective method also reduces the burden placed on local animal shelters and law enforcement (by way of fewer animals being admitted and fewer nuisance complaints, respectively).
The process is simple: Community cats are humanely trapped, evaluated by veterinarians, vaccinated to protect the public, spayed or neutered, and ear-tipped for identification. The ear-tipped cats are then returned to their outdoor homes, unable to reproduce.
Other methods are expensive, inhumane, and ineffective. Rule changes allowing TNVR would be better for the cats, better for the public, and better for reducing impact on the wildlife we all want to protect.
Other methods are expensive, inhumane, and ineffective. Rule changes allowing TNVR would be better for the cats, better for the public, and better for reducing impact on the wildlife we all want to protect.