Florida

In 2004, the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) became the first state agency to finance the Cats Indoors Campaign with taxpayer dollars.

Since bird watchers bring millions of dollars of revenue into Florida each year, it was no surprise that FWC’s commissioners ignored scientific evidence presented at the public “hearing” in May 2003. This resulted in a unanimous vote to establish a “policy” that prohibits TNR on lands managed by the FWC and “strongly opposes” programs and policies that allow release, feeding, or protection of cats on public lands that support wildlife habitat. If it weren’t for the strong opposition from the public and press, private lands would have been included in the so-called “policy”.

The first test case took place in Brevard County:

In May 2004, local veterinarian Christine Storts filed a formal request for the location of the colonies Space Coast Feline Network (SCFN) had assisted through their County funded TNR program.   SCFN refused to disclose the information in order to protect both the cats, a number of which had been poisoned in the past as well as the caretakers, many of whom were older women who fed the animals at night in remote locations.   As a result, Brevard County cut off funding in June 2004 as well as access to their shelter facility where sterilization of the cats had taken place.  SCFN advocates were forced to find alternative clinics which proved to be difficult since at the time Dr. Storts was the president of the County veterinarian association and had made her anti-TNR views known to her colleagues.  Eventually, the volunteers found a clinic in Apopka- a drive that took an hour and a half.   Ultimately, Space Coast Feline Network was ordered to disclose the requested information and all colonies are now legally required to be registered with the County. 

Key Largo

Key Largo has one of the most successful feral cat colonies in the state. The Ocean Reef Club, an exclusive 2,000 acre island community, cares for the largest feral cat colony in Florida. Because the property is located near the Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge and the Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammocks Botanical State Park, in 2003 the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) considered the cats a threat to endangered species. In addition to free-roaming felines on their property, the FWC asserted that the 500 well fed feral cats living at the Ocean Reef Club were wandering miles down the road to the refuge and park to kill endangered birds and rodents.

Ocean Reef residents disagreed. In the 1990’s they were faced with an uncontrolled feral cat population of approximately 2,000 which grew from an original group brought in to manage vermin infestation. Over the years, through the use of trap-neuter-return (TNR), they reduced the number to a managed colony of approximately 500 felines.

They did not believe their cats were responsible for the reduction in numbers of park or refuge wildlife. In fact, residents of the Ocean Reef Club believed the ORCAT program was such a model of success, they offered their expertise and assistance to the FWC. The offer was rejected. Instead, the FWC/USDA placed baited traps around Ocean Reef Club’s community even though they had no “absolute evidence” that the cats are involved. A spokesperson, in charge of the wood rat program at the Crocodile Lake Refuge said, “We don’t know what’s causing their demise, but a likely cause could be the feral cats. I guess we’ll see when we start trapping.”

On December 30, 2003, Bernice Constantin- Florida Director USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services, responded to an inquiry about the trapping and killing of Key Largo cats. He wrote: "Five cats have been transported and released to the animal control shelter thus far. Unfortunately, it is my understanding that all the cats have been euthanized." He also noted that the USDA was not opposed to giving the cats to a local animal sanctuary "after logistics are worked out." Any further questions were to be directed to Larry Brashears at APHIS, since he was the Supervisor in charge of “the project”. Mr. Brashears, however, was unavailable for comment on the advice of council.

UPDATE:

At the second Feral Cat Forum, sponsored by the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Committee in June 2004, cat advocates were informed that the “purpose” of the trapping effort was not to show that the cats were “negatively impacting wildlife”, but merely to prove that the cats from Ocean Reef Club were entering Crocodile Lake National Refuge located in Key Largo.

Since that meeting, it has been reported that several Ocean Reef cats were caught and returned to their caretakers. An unknown number of feral cats were taken to a local shelter and most likely euthanized. Twelve feral cats that were not from the Ocean Reef Club were taken to a sanctuary. The exact number of cats captured has not been disclosed.

The USDA and FWC discussed plans to set up a scientific test to determine if feral cats were killing the endangered species, however, this was never accomplished and the Feral Cat Forum no longer exists.

To this day wildlife officials do not know what was killing the endangered wildlife. Considering Florida has up to 400 “exotic” animal species, including 200 pound Burmese pythons, 7 feet long Nile monitor lizards and 10 pound Gambian rats, they may never know.

TALLAHASSEE

“Tired of trapping and killing cats, Leon County Animal Service Center's director, Dee Crumpler, wants the community to be involved in the solution. He has put out a survey to evaluate residents' level of concern and the options they'd consider, including paying fees for spaying, neutering and tagging pets.

‘There's no perfect answer,’ he said. But the current euthanasia rate ‘is obviously a failure on our part and on the part of the community.’

Some of the solutions being discussed include allowing colonies of feral cats in places where people have accepted them, as long as the cats are spayed and neutered and someone is feeding them. Or, the city and county could start fining people who let their pets multiply uncontrollably. ”  (Source: Pecquet, Julian. “Feral Cats are on the prowl for a wild time. ” Tallahassee Democrat. 6/26/06.)

Janet A. Thompson, Co-founder of Friends of Gypsy Inc. Feral Cat Rescue expressed her concern with the city’s approach in a letter to the editor:

“While some may think it commendable that Dee Crumpler is surveying Tallahasseeans concerning feral cats, I do not. What is needed here is some real leadership. Polling the public will do little if anything to change the annual crush of cats that overwhelms the shelter and all of the area's rescue groups.

Nathan Winograd, a national expert on “no kill” shelters and policies, came to Tallahassee more than a year ago and critiqued our shelter. Mr. Crumpler was told at that time that he could not get control of the numbers of cats euthanized unless he began public feral cat TNR (trap, neuter and release) programs. This practice is not only humane but also saves taxpayer dollars by gradually reducing the feral cat population. It has been estimated by various feral cat organizations that it costs one-third to one-half the cost of euthanizing cats to get them veterinary treatment and return them to ‘managed colonies.’

Another misconception repeated in the Democrat article is that spaying and neutering tame pets will solve the problem. It will not and has not for the last 50 years. One veterinary association has estimated that 70 percent of the overpopulation problem with cats in this country is feral cats. So dealing with cats that can be easily handled and have personal relevance will never get the job done.

Mr. Winograd talked about how animal authorities do the same ineffectual things over and over but expect a different result. This is clearly the case in our city. Nothing will get better until those who really know and love these cats begin to advise our public officials.

And despite all of the glowing Democrat articles on how things have changed at our shelter, the numbers of cats euthanized continues to go up. Extermination of feral cats is an unethical and barbaric failed policy that wastes time and money, and teaches humans disrespect for living, sentient beings.” (Sources: Tallahassee Democrat: Letters to the Editor 7/3/06 and Friends of Gypsy: www.friendsofgypsy.org )