Monday, the gentlemen I was at lunch with, encouraged me to bring this idea back up. They liked the idea and wanted to use it in their cities, so here it is.
Together as a community, we could participate at various levels to start chipping away the feral cat problem. This is a multi-layered plan that requires a lot of people to give a little, a few people to be proactive in their neighborhoods, and a government to provide the structure and oversight.
First things first.
We know that citizens will help by renting a trap and they will also take the captured feral cat to the Humane Society. However, in the past few years, the local Humane Society has started charging collection fees. This action has discouraged those who are willing to do the heavy lifting in our neighborhoods. We have good people that are willing to do the work, they just can’t afford to pay for every feral cat that is captured.
What can local government do?
We can set up a voluntary fund to cover the cost associated with the program. The City has over 20,000 users that receive a bi-monthly water bill. If any of those users wish to contribute to the program, let them! It would be a voluntary, optional charge included in the water bill. Of course, you MUST opt-in to join. This is not for everyone, it’s probably only for those who are animal lovers and want to see a humane solution to this ever-increasing problem of overpopulation of feral cats.
The money that would be collected in this special account, would go to pay for vouchers that city residents could request. The voucher could pay for the processing fee that the Humane Society charges. The idea behind the voucher program would be to collect money and buy vouchers in bulk thus, saving on administrative costs at the Humane Society.
There will be some kittens and litters that have a chance to be socialized. Those cats could be neutered, vaccinated, and could be adopted to good homes. There will be some ill, diseased, and injured cats, and those animals could have humane euthanasia. This seems like a positive alternative, to deteriorating in pain in the wilderness or a back alley somewhere.
That’s it.
1. You opt-in and voluntarily pay a few cents more a month.
2. City residents could request vouchers.
3. Residents that receive vouchers, could do as they have in the past and rent the trap, collect, and deposit the feral cat at no extra expense to them.
4. The feral cats collected, could have an opportunity to live a disease-free, long life in a loving home.