Item I17BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
Meeting Wednesday June 20 2001 Division: BOCC
Bulk Item: Yes _ No X
Department: Nora Williams
AGENDA ITEM WORDING: Approval to direct Dr. Robert Foley, veterinarian, to put together a
committee to work over the course of the next year to research the feral cat issue in Monroe County,
with the aim of presenting both a report of that research and a suggested plan of action to the Board of
Monroe County Commission twelve months from now.
ITEM BACKGROUND: The feral cat issue has been an increasingly worrisome one for Monroe
County. Volunteer groups are doing their best, but attempts to make real changes in how we deal with
this issue has been fraught with controversy and strong feeling. Dr. Foley, with his long career in Keys'
veterinary medicine, will attempt over the course of the next year to gather the various interest groups
concerned on this issue, research possible courses of action, and return to this Commission in a year's
time with a report on their findings and suggestions for any needed government action. Dr. Foley will be
asked to work closely with our Animal Control Contractors on this issue and to keep our Public Works
Division Director informed as to progress.
PREVIOUS REVELANT BOCC ACTION:
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES:
STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
TOTAL COST:
COST TO COUNTY:
REVENUE PRODUCING: Yes No
BUDGETED: Yes — No
AMOUNT PER MONTH Year
APPROVED BY: County Atty — OMB/Purchasing Risk Management
DIVISION DIRECTOR APPROVAL:
(TYPE NAME HERE)
DOCUMENTATION: Included To Follow
Not Required
DISPOSITION:
Revised 2/27/01
AGENDA ITEM #_17D*l
Jun 04 01 09:22a VCR UPPER KEYS 3058529646 p.1
Robert H. Foley D.V.M., Cornell University 1972
Diplomate American Board of Veterinary Practioners, 1991.
Certified in Veterinary Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine
Florida Keys resident, business and property owner since 1972.
Former owner; Upper Keys Veterinary Clinic, now VCA Upper Keys Animal
Hospital, 87108 Overseas Highway, Islamorada, Village of Islands.
Owner; Veterinary Support International Inc. an international consulting and service
firm providing veterinary medical and surgical care to remote geographical areas lacking, or
not affording veterinary support.
As the owner and chief of staff of a large four veterinarian animal hospital I have had
hands-on experience in all aspects of veterinary medical and surgical care and delivery.
During the past twenty eight years I have interacted, at different levels of involvement, with
every public or privately funded animal group in the Upper Keys as well as a number of
national groups. I have been a member of national, state and local veterinary groups
continuously. I have published over fifteen clinical or scientific articles in refereed veterinary
journals.
Local community involvement has included Thre Guidance Clinic of the Upper Keys,
I was a board member twenty two years, Islamorada Chamber of Commerce, numerous
state and local committees committees and civic clubs, and San Pedro's Catholic Church.
Nationally I was board member, then the acting President of The Foundation for the
Care and Cure of Huntington's Disease a charitable, not -for-profit. I am on the board of
directors of the Community Bank of Florida.
I am willing to make a one year commitment to the Monroe County Commisioners,
to chair an informational committee addressing the countywide feral cat problem. I would
desire such a committee be informational only, not subject to sunshine law stipulations. In
addition I would desire the county provide support in the form of meeting rooms, or other
minor comforts that may be needed by committee members traveling long distances.
ORCAT
24 dockside Lane #8
Key Large. FL 33037
MAY 2 4 2001
May 18, 2001
Commissioner Nora Williams
Marathon Government Annex
490 63rd St. Ocean #110
Marathon, FL 33050
Dear Commissioner Williams:
Conditions exist in Monroe County and in many other southern
resort areas that are conducive to producing a large and often
unacceptable feral cat population. As a resident of the Ocean
Reef community and as President of ORCAT, its humane feral cat
control program, I would strongly support the adoption of a
TNR (trap, neuter and release) feral cat control program by
Monroe County for a number of reasons such as:
1. TNR is more cost effective than alternative capture
and kill (CK) programs because:
a)CK programs never work but rapidly deteriorate
into endless cycles of capturing and killing
successive generations of ever more trap -wary cats,
b) most of the work of TNR can be done by volunteers
whereas volunteers are seldom, if ever, available
for CK programs, and,
c) a community sponsored TNR program could probably
obtain substantial grant monies that would not be
available for a CK program.
2. A TNR program has the potential for generating much
favorable publicity as a humane and responsible
solution to a community problem. In contrast a CK
program has the potential for generating much acrimony
along with negative local and even national publicity
"Spay and Neuter - - The Humane Answer'
as was demonstrated several years ago when Miami Beach
attempted unsuccessfully to implement CK.
Over a five-year period, the ORCAT TNR program reduced Ocean
Reef's feral cat population by over 60%. I would encourage
you and your fellow, -commissioners to discuss the effectiveness
of the ORCAT program with members of the Ocean Reef community
and David Ritz, President of the Ocean Reef Community
Association.
Additionally, I can identify a number of other Florida
communities, such as Orlando and Gainesville, which have
instituted TNR feral cat control programs.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions
relating to the above. I would be quite willing to use my
many years of humane feral cat control experience in helping
in the development of a TNR program for Monroe County.
Very truly yours,
WZ-L
Alan Litman,
President
cc: Dr. Robert Foley
Mr. David Ritz
Paul Winkeljohn
ORCAT Directors
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Volume Vlll • Published by Alley Cat Allies National Feral Cat Network Issue No. 4
THE ABC's OF TNR:
Trapping and sterilizing the ferals you feed
Mlooc,oross
eral cat caretakers don't go
king for ferals, they come
them by accident The first
impulse is to help the cats by feeding them.
This is indeed what Alley Cat Allies (ACA)
advocates because food and water are nec-
essary for survival. Not feeding them and
hoping they will "go away" is not an op-
tion. We all know they can't go away and
they may suffer. The only option and sound
solution is to take action by providing food
and sterilizing all members of the colony to
prevent future births. A caretaker must en-
sure that a feral cat colony becomes a man-
aged colony.
ACA promotes a comprehensive man-
agement plan including sterilization as well
as provision of food and shelter. The single
most important thing a caretaker can do for
feral cats is to get them to a veterinarian for
spaying and neutering. Ferals are dependent
on us to maintain a healthy, stable colony.
However, this is only possible if all mem-
bers of the colony are sterilized. Besides the
obvious advantage of population control,
the cats will be healthier and better able to
care for themselves when they are no longer
forced to put all of their energy into breed-
ing and caring for offspring.
Background/History
Nonlethal control is accepted by many
well -respected institutions and organiza-
tions including the American Veterinary
Medical Association, Cornell and Tufts Uni-
versity veterinary schools, and the Doris
Day Animal League. England and Denmark
started much of the work in this field in the
early 1970s and where the organization Cat
Action Trust established extensive spay/
neuter services for caretakers. Other coun-
tries, including South 'Africa and Australia,
have been using the trap -neuter -return
(TNR) control method for many years.
In the U.S., TNR has been successfully
implemented time and again by individu-
als in cooperation with sympathetic veteri-
narians. In fact, the more ambitious in our
movement have developed highly evolved
feral cat programs that cater to caretakers
and to the idiosyncrasies of the feral cat The
San Diego Feral Cat Coalition has "trap de-
pots" in several areas of the city for care-
takers to pick up traps.
Volunteer vets at their monthly Sunday
Spay Day perform approximately 100 ster-
ilizations in just a few hours with the help
of volunteer laypersons (9,000+ surgeries
in six years). The citizens of Orange County,
Florida, need only call their animal service
agency to learn about the free feral cat spay/
neuter services in the shelter clinic. And in
the Washington, D.C.; metropolitan area
many individuals make their traps available
to others and several veterinarians offer low-
cost spay/neuter services, including one
coordinated by ACA takes place two Sun-
days a month just for ferals and strays!
There are many other well -established pro-
grams in the U.S. and Canada
Surprisingly, the information needed to
implement TNR are not widely available in
many communities. Caretakers describe
frustrating and unsuccessful searches for
guidance and assistance from local humane
societies. Such caretakers feel isolated and
alone in their quest to help the cats to whom
they have become devoted.
While most communities do not have
established resources available, we want to
assure you that you can accomplish your
goal to manage a colony of cats with the
help we provide through our literature and
guidance. Resolve that you can do this. Even
though there are a few barriers to imple-
menting a humane management plan, the
feat is not impossible.
In this article we will walk step-by-step
through the TNR procedure.
"Just Do It!"
Many perceived obstacles may keep the
caretaker from trapping. Just coming to the
decision to trap may be the most difficult to
overcome. But, as Nike says, "Just Do It!"
The determination and persistence of a
caretaker to trap and sterilize will be of im-
measurable benefit to the cats. Realizing that
the females will produce great numbers of
kittens — many of whom die within weeks
— should be sufficient to prompt caretak-
ers into action.
Many caretakers are not familiar with
the process of trapping cats and transport-
ing them to veterinarians. While the TNR
process is straightforward, a great deal of
anxiety accompanies the first time. The
whole idea of "trapping" conjures nega-
tive images and a fear that the cats will be
hurt or traumatized, or that they will no
longer trust the caretakers. Since ACA be-
gan in 1990, hundreds Qf thousands of ferals
have been successfully trapped and vetted
and their experience did not cause them to
shun their caretakers. It did contribute
greatly to their health and well-being. (See
"Trapping Tips." The cat may experience
some stress and thrash about when trapped,
but will calm after a cover is placed over
the trap.) '
One caretaker, now quite experienced,
knew she should trap and vet her ferals but
could not overcome the possibility she
might injure one through error or inexperi-
ence. She now confesses she wishes she
had not waited three years to set her first
trap. It was a hard lesson'fo learn. The male
cat she was so fond of had engaged in sev-
eral fights and suffered many serious
wounds.
This caretaker now feels that trapping and
sterilizing is the greatest gift she can give a
feral. Unfortunately, there are not experi-
enced trappers in every city to provide di-
rect training. Often, an individual caretaker
must simply resolve to take action.
TNR is the kindest act a
dedicated caretaker can
perform to assure the health
and long life of the colony
Nonlethal control is not only humane,
it is the most effective means to stop colony
growth. The result is that a colony naturally
diminishes over time. People are not aware
that cats are so prolific. One caretaker called
us after feeding a colony for one year. What
began as three cats grew to 17 in that short
time. Implementing a control plan means
that an unmanaged colony (one that is ex-
periencing continued births of litters and
fighting for mates among males) becomes
a managed colony (one that is not growing
in size, is in good health, and whose mem-
bers often live 10 years or more.)
Establish A Plan
The majority of feral cats can remain
where they are; sterilizing them is the prior-
ity. Many people want to tame and place
them in homes. However, this is highly un-
realistic. The U.S. currently has a popula-
tion of about 60 to100 million feral cats and
the shelters and animal control facilities are
killing approximately 6 million domestic
cats each year. Taming an adult feral cat
takes time and energy away from the main
objective of sterilizing and stabilizing the
existing feral cat population. Most feral cats
prefer living outdoors and would be un-
happy in our homes. Most important, be-
cause there is an overpopulation of stray
and feral cats, others will quickly fill the void
left by the removal of whole colonies and
will again breed up to capacity. Caretakers
who want their cats to go to_a sanctuary or
the ideal barn home may not have that op-
tion. Waiting to relocate a colony will mean
more kittens. Relocating feral cats is diffi-
cult, time-consuming, and dependent on fol-
lowing strict procedures for success.
Therefore, relocation is your last resort.
Equipment
Obtaining a trap can be a hurdle. You
may be able to borrow one fi-om a humane
society or animal facility. However, some
4
organizations do not always exist nearby
and, in some jurisdictions, you may be re-
quired to return the trap AND cat, who will
in all probability then be killed. Conse-
quently, you may have to purchase a trap.
A benefit of having your own trap is that
there is no time constraint to return it within
a few days.
Getting Help From Others
Working with other caretakers is ben-
eficial. Sharing equipment, resources, and
moral support makes accomplishing the
task much easier and faster. Join ACA's Fe-
ral Friend Network,
Working With A Veterinarian
Another important step is finding a vet-
erinarian who will work with you and with
wild catti. ACA has a fact sheet to assist vet-
erinarians in dealing with feral cats, includ-
ing an explanation of ear -tipping for
purposes of identification.
Many clinics will only take appoint-
ments but, with ferals, appointments can-
not always be kept! Establish the protocol
beforehand so you get the services the cats
need: spay or neuter, ear -tip, full exam, ear -
cleaning, three-year rabies vaccination, and
deworming.
Determine the estimated cost of veteri-
nary care for each cat. You can then esti-
mate a budget for the entire colony. The sex
ratio of a typical colony is 50-50, but some
feral cat organizations have found .that as
many as 64% are female. Spay surgery is
usually more expensive than neutering a
male. If a veterinarian insists on procedures
you do not wish to have, request that the
veterinarian speak to ACA and we will ad-
vise on the best course of action. Some vet-
ennarians will offer discounts on their
services since you are providing a commu-
nity service. To defray veterinary expenses,
ask for financial help from neighbors and
businesses where the colony resides. Many
of them will be pleased that you are taking
action from which they will benefit.
One unnecessary cost is testing for vi-
ruses. Feral cats are robust and healthy ani-
mals. Statistics kept by several feral cat
clinics verify that the incidence of FeLV (fe-
line leukemia) and FIV (feline immunode-
ficiency virus) is the same in feral cats as in
domestic cats. That is, 3 to 5% for FeLV and
2 to 3% for FIV.
Therefore, many established and suc-
cessful programs for femis have eliminated
testing for these viruses because they oc-
cur so seldom and because of the exorbi-
tant cost (which can be channeled instead
to spay/neuter expenses). Remember, these
viruses cannot be transmitted to humans.
(See Alley Cat Action Vol. VIII, No. 1.) Es-
tablish a protocol ahead of time for eutha-
nasia of very ill cats.
Return Cats to Their Colony
After all vet work is completed, hold-
ing the cat for a couple of days to mover is
required. Cats who experienced difficult
surgery need to be held for longer. They
should be placed in a quite room in their
covered traps. Keeping the cat in the trap
allows for safe handling at the clinic and
easy transport back to their colony after the
recovery period.
With a well -organized plan, feral cat
colony management can be carried out with
ease. Initially trapping may feel awkward
and strange, but in time it becomes an ac-
quired skill that you perform many times,
perfecting your techniques with each ex-
perience.
You can then demonstrate trapping to
others. When a colony has been sterilized
and stabilized, you will have the satisfac-
tion of knowing you have helped the ferals
under your care. P.
Traps can be obtained from:
ACES: 800-338-ACES
TOMAHAWK: 800-27A-TRAP
Excerpted from: Affey Gat Ad ib Z
Published by Alley Cat Allies, a nonprofit orgo
nization, promoting nonlethal feral cat popula-
tion control through the trap/neuter/return
method, placing sterilized feral cats back with
caretakers in their supervised sties.
Join Today:
Become a member of ACA and keep up with
the feral cat issue through our quarterly newslet-
ter Alley CatACflon.Basic Membership $25 a year,
Alley Cat Friend $50, Sustainer $100, Patron $500
and Feral Filanthropist $1000.
A[fey Cat A(fie s
1801 Belmont Rd. NW, Suite 201
Washington DC20009-5164
Tel: 202-667-3630 Fax: 202-667-3640
email: alleygatCalleycat.org
www.alleycat.org
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finding funding For Fixing Feral Felines
(and other cats and dogs)
Ten years ago, we heard next to
nothing about feral cats. Thanks
to intensive work - particularly by
Alley Cat Allies - these cats began
to be recognized! By the mid-
i 990's, small groups all over the
country were scrambling to gar-
ner funds in order to spay/neuter
(s/n) whole colonies of feral cats.
The only way to obtain these
funds seemed to be a mix of
garage (tag) sales, bake sales, col-
lection cans, raffles and spaghetti
suppers. While this type of
fundraising launched a very posi-
tive movement to correct an enor-
mous (and growing) problem, we
feel that the private efforts need
the additional boost of public
funding. And in some places
around the country, that public
funding is beginning to materialize.
It is important to note that
many of these programs are not
only for feral cats; many cover
dogs as well. However, most
dogs are either in homes or in
shelters. Feral cats present a
unique niche in the animal world,
and institutions are still struggling
to find an acceptable way to deal
with them.
We have chosen a sampling of
programs from various parts of
the country illustrating that public
funding can be found and used,
to solve the problem of growing
numbers of ferals. Those peti-
tioning for funding vary (individ-
ual, humane society, coalition of
groups, legislator) as do the fund-
ing sources (Public Health,
Animal Control, Community
Development, General Fund)
We can offer a few general
guidelines:
• Have A Working Committee.
Recruit people with skills recog-
nized by mainstream officials
(lawyer, bookkeeper, grant -writer,
marketing or p.r. expert)
• Have An Action Plan: Present
a well -thought out plan. You can
steal ideas from other communi-
ties - no need to re -invent the
wheel!
• Be Flexible: just because you
have a plan, you need not be
rigid. Often people will "buy
into" (accept) a plan better if they
have had input.
• Plan To Keep Good Records:
Alley Cat Allies and the Feral Cat
Coalition have great model track-
ing sheets and systems.
• Do Your Homework: Who
makes the decisions? What are the
deadlines? How does your
city/county work? Do they spend
money on animals now? What
are the laws?
• Get Local Numbers: How
many rabies complaints? Dog
bites? Euthanasias? Turn negative
elements into points for your side.
• _Obtain Nonarofit Status: This
can take several months, but
many foundations and municipali-
ties require it for consideration for
grants.
• Find Examples of Success:
Some areas have reduced their
euthanasias by close to 50% over
five years - find out how they did it!
—continued on page 2—
City Of Berkeley Allocates $10,000 to
Fix Our Ferals for Trap/Neuter/Release
By Linda McCormick
By the fall of 1997, all the cat
rescue workers in my circle were
approaching burn -out, and the
kittens Just kept coming, in what
seemed like a year-round kitten
season. We all felt isolated,
because though we consoled and
encouraged each other, our
efforts were in effect, solo.
I researched many good pro-
grams around the countr but
since I had been involvedprimari-
ly with feral cats, the Feral Cat
Coalition (FCC) of San Diego
seemed closest to what we need-
ed in the East Bay area. just by
Linda McCormick, President, Fix Our Ferals
chance a woman width a FCC slide
show, Lisa Camasi, r6sponded to
my ad for a colony feeder. She
was staying just 2 blocks from me.
—continued on page 2—