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Once we saw trap-neuter-return was a viable approach to feral cat overpopulation, Neighborhood Cats decided to try to work with the CACC to introduce TNR to New York on a larger scale. The decision was unpopular with some who believed we were "working with the enemy." We rejected that characterization of the CACC and recognized that for TNR to reduce the number of cats entering the shelters and thereby lower euthanasia rates, it was essential to engage animal control. Right away, we were well received by certain members of the CACC's upper management, including Jody Jones and Field Director Mike Pastore. Progress was slow at first, due to resistance by others in the agency, but slowly it happened. One of the first breakthroughs was a little noticed change in internal policy which allowed feral cats to be held for a waiting period after being brought into the shelter instead of being immediately euthanized. Just last month, this new rule saved the life of a feral cat who was reclaimed by his caretaker after the neighborhood where he originated agreed to TNR and a managed colony situation. From January through April, 2002, Neighborhood Cats conducted a pilot TNR project with the CACC. Cats trapped by us were transported by the CACC to their Manhattan shelter where they were neutered and held for recovery in a specially designed space which was otherwise empty. After 48 hours, the cats were transported back to their sites to be released by our volunteers. Joyce Clemmons, supervisor of the Manhattan facility at the time, ran most of the project after taking one of our workshops at the ASPCA. In all, 44 cats from six sites were neutered. From March through August, 2002, the CACC, along with Neighborhood Cats, the Humane Society of NY, the ASPCA and other local groups, participated in the Rikers Island TNR project, involving over 250 cats. Every other Spay Day, the CACC sent its mobile spay/neuter van onto the island. The importance of the CACC's involvement went far beyond the cats neutered, but extended to giving official approval and support for TNR and the humane treatment of feral cats. At the present, the CACC actively supports the efforts of Neighborhood Cats by helping arrange access to city property when necessary and by encouraging people with feral cat problems to contact us and learn about TNR. Given our positive experiences and the improved atmosphere in the animal welfare world created in part by our cooperative efforts, we believe we made the right choice back in the beginning to engage the CACC in aiding NYC's street cats. This month, Ed Boks joins the CACC as its new executive director. Whether his tenure is short or long, Ed brings with him the success of a county-wide TNR program implemented by his animal control agency in Maricopa County, Arizona, an area that includes the city of Phoenix. His work with feral cats earned him an Award of Excellence from Alley Cat Allies for 2002 (an award also received that year by Neighborhood Cats.) With his appointment, the stage is set for a fuller engagement by the CACC in TNR efforts. Neighborhood Cats intends to stay its course and cooperate as fully as possible. The only chance to end the suffering on our streets is by all involved working together.
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Neighborhood
Cats was formed, the situation was much more polarized. The blame for the
killing was placed almost entirely on the Center for Animal Care and
Control (CACC), the city's official animal control agency, which was also
accused of having poor shelter conditions and uncaring personnel. Attacks
on the agency ignored the many difficulties it faced from its inception,
including inadequate funding, the legal requirement of having to accept
every surrendered animal and an overwhelming inflow of unwanted animals.
Clearly there were serious problems with the agency's operation, including
a leadership derived from political appointments. But the attacks did
little to reform the system and instead demoralized the agency, isolated
it from the rest of the animal welfare community and encouraged further
cuts in its already under-funded budget.