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 [email protected] t (845) 707-5350 The Humane Society of the United States 2100 L Street NW Washington, DC 20037 humanesociety.org
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