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April 8, 2015
MEMO IN SUPPORT OF A.2778 (McDonald) / S.1081 (Marchione)
An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to community
based initiatives for the purpose of trapping, neutering, vaccinating and
returning feral cats to the area from which they were trapped
The Humane Society of the United States, the nation’s largest animal
protection organization, supports A.2778/S.1081. This bill would authorize
funding through the New York State Animal Population Control Program
(APCP) to support community-based Trap/Neuter/Return (TNR) initiatives
conducted by animal welfare groups, animal shelters and duly incorporated
humane societies and SPCA organizations.
Currently, the APCP does not support grants for community based programs
designed to effectively manage feral cat colonies. At least 15 other states have
established sponsored animal population control programs which authorize the
use of spay/neuter funds to cover the costs of viable TNR programs.
Cats are the most popular companion animal in the U.S., with more than 86
million of them living in nearly 39 million American households. Tens of millions
more unowned cats live outdoors and usually rely on people to provide them
with food and shelter. In standard TNR practice, cats are humanely trapped
and, if healthy, spay/neutered, rabies vaccinated, eartipped (for identification),
and returned to their community. These programs have shown evidence of
stabilizing cat numbers that eventually dwindle to zero as the cats naturally
pass away.
Passage of A.2778/S.1081 will benefit our communities by designating a small
percentage of funds through the APCP each year to be used to support
successful TNR programs.
On behalf of our members and supporters in New York State, The HSUS
supports passage of A.2778/S.1081, which will lead to improved
management and control of homeless animal populations throughout the
state.
Brian Shapiro
New York State Director
bshapiro@humanesociety.org
t (845) 707-5350
The Humane Society of the United States
2100 L Street NW Washington, DC 20037
humanesociety.org