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Parks Department Takes the
Lead with TNR
May 12, 2003
One of the first city agencies to work with
Neighborhood Cats was the New York City Parks Department. In Riverside
Park, the stretch of greenery in Manhattan bordering the Hudson River,
there are several feral cat colonies. Some live in dark, hidden places,
others more out in the open and visible to park visitors. All have their
caretakers, who diligently make sure they're fed, no matter the weather or
time of year. But before trap-neuter-return (TNR) was introduced back in
 September
of 2001, few of the cats were neutered and the problems typically
associated with unmanaged colonies abounded. An endless flow of kittens
came every spring and fall, many of them dying before they could be
caught. The cats' territories began to smell badly from the spraying of
males and disease started to become more prevalent as the cats' numbers
outstripped their food sources.
It's a different and much happier tale today, now that the Parks Dept.,
the Riverside Park Fund and Neighborhood Cats have collaborated to bring
the situation under control, along with the ASPCA and the Humane Society
of NY who both provided free veterinary services. After our most recent
efforts this spring, every colony in the park is all or almost all
neutered. The noise (from fighting and mating), the odor and the litters
of kittens are gone and the cats have become a welcome part of the park's
eco-system. It was surprising to us at first, as we worked, how many
people knew and loved the cats and looked forward to seeing them running
through the grass and sunning themselves on the stone verandas. TNR has
made it possible for this to go on.
Continuing along this humane and effective path, Neighborhood Cats also
recently worked with the Parks Dept. and the Humane Society of NY to trap,
neuter and return a colony of 12 cats living in Flushing Meadows Park in
Queens. This project, referred to us by the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's
Animals, brought an end to years of kittens being born to
uncertain fates. The cats, now that their reproductive activity has been
brought to an end, will spend their energy better looking after themselves
and enjoying a life in the park. back to top
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