Across the country, thousands of cat caregivers work to improve the lives of feral and stray cats by feeding them, humanely trapping and then vaccinating and sterilizing them, and bringing them back to their outdoor “home.” Because there has never been a concerted effort to coordinate these efforts with local public health departments, there are too often unnecessary conflicts with these officials.
Public Health department goals include protecting the general public against zoonotic diseases. Also, complaints about feral and stray cats are usually brought to the attention of local public health officials. Thus, the problem of too many, and unvaccinated, cats has registered on their radar – but not the solution.
Amazingly, as of 2008, there has been no formal, wide-scale effort to meet with public health officials, to explain the health and safety benefits of Trap/Neuter/ Return, and to recruit them to support feral colony caregivers in a public-private partnership.
Public Health departments can help local veterinarians working with rescue groups obtain the rabies vaccine in large lots, and in some regions might even help with the costs of holding large-scale spay clinics for these cats in order to reduce the population.
In 2008, Marian’s Dream organized a panel of seven experts on Trap/Neuter/Return to speak at the American Public Health Association’s 136th annual meeting in San Diego, and also had a large booth with information on humane trapping of cats, the benefits of Trap Neuter/ Return and examples of successful programs. This was very well received. The experts will be at the 2009 APHA conference in Philadelphia, this time with a policy statement on feral cats for discussion amongst public health officials.