TNR can work if residents are patient, caregivers responsible

Let me set the record straight regarding TNR (trap-neuter-release) in South River.

There have been various letters to the editor regarding TNR in South River in the newspapers recently. I had the TNR ordinance passed in my town 2 1/2 years ago.

I have been practicing TNR in my town for the last 11 years, with positive results and a decrease in colony numbers. I felt that if I had the ordinance passed, residents would contact me to help them TNR the strays they've been caring for that weren't fixed or vaccinated, since it would now be legal in town to do so.

Unfortunately, this didn't happen. The approximately 10 colonies that I assisted in practicing TNR have shown dramatic decreases in population numbers. Other residents who were feeding and not fixing continued to do so, thus dramatically increasing the stray population to numbers deemed out of control.

Our new animal-control officer was now faced with an overabundance of calls from residents complaining about strays in their neighborhoods. Unfortunately, TNR is not a welcome practice for some residents, who would rather see the strays removed and taken to the shelter. Realistically, everyone knows the fate of those strays that are deemed unadoptable or feral: euthanasia. It is not a pretty term in the rescue world, but unless more communities try to accept TNR, even if for a trial period, euthanasia rates will continue to increase. I have also retrapped strays that needed to be revaccinated or medically attended to — it is not impossible to do so.

TNR is not only about ferals, which are strays born outside with no human contact, but about unaltered house pets allowed to roam outside and add to the overpopulation. People will continue to let their unaltered house pets roam outside and continue to feed strays without fixing them, not providing proper food and shelter, as well as not making the commitment to lifetime continuous care. At least with TNR the cats stop reproducing and are vaccinated.

TNR is not an easy fix … it is a tedious, time-consuming and very expensive option to euthanasia. The caregiver pays for all of this out of his/her own pocket.

Does TNR always work? No. It will not work in areas where the residents want the cats removed. Can it work? Yes, if caregivers are willing to take the responsibility for the cats they're feeding and the residents are patient while the process begins.

Cami Dukay Buffy's Rescue

South River