100 signatures reached
To: City Manager Beckmeyer, Mayor Joven, and Odessa City Council
City leadership, Odessa deserves better
Para leer y firmar nuestra petición en español, visite: https://bestfriends.controlshift.app/petitions/liderazgo-de-la-ciudad-odessa-merece-algo-mejor
In 2023, only 37.5% of animals entering Odessa Animal Shelter made it out alive with only 28.7% of cats making it out alive. Community cat programming can change this and serve as a resource for the community. Local and national lifesaving organizations have offered to fund and support implementation of a comprehensive cat program for the city.
The people of Odessa want their city to be transparent with data and accept offers of support to provide the community with comprehensive animal services with a focus on saving animals' lives and keeping pets with families- including community cat programming.
Why is this important?
83% of Texans believe that their community should adopt policies that decrease the number of healthy, treatable dogs and cats that are killed in their shelter. Odessa residents want their elected officials to know they support prioritizing saving the lives of Odessa animals. The city of Odessa has rejected offers of support including comprehensive cat programming. Meanwhile Odessa officials have responded to the pet crisis and lack of resources by adding excessive restrictions without offering shelter or city support to the people of Odessa.
Community cats (aka stray or free-roaming cats) in Odessa risk losing their lives simply because they've made a home in the outdoors. Many of these cats are thriving living outdoors because someone in their community cares for them. These programs use trap-neuter-return (TNR) to save cats. The process is simple: Community cats are trapped, evaluated by veterinarians, vaccinated, spayed or neutered, ear-tipped, and returned to their outdoor homes, unable to have kittens.
Lifesaving programs like these are proven to be the most cost-effective, veterinarian-approved, and animal-friendly solutions for controlling and reducing free-roaming cat populations.
It is important your elected officials know that access to cat resources, animal lifesaving, and data transparency is important to the people of Odessa. Your voice is a critical part of ensuring that pets and people in Odessa have access to these resources.
Sign the petition to let city officials know this change is needed and wanted.
Have you been impacted by this issue? Send us an email to tell us about why this matters to you.
Reference the facts:
Community cats and public health: https://www.felineresearch.org/post/issue-brief-feral-cats-and-public-health
TNR and population management: https://www.felineresearch.org/post/issue-brief-what-to-do-with-feral-cats-examining-tnr
Cat health and welfare with TNR: https://www.felineresearch.org/post/issue-brief-feral-cat-health