[DapperButch]

Hi, folks. I have copy/pasted an email from an no kill animal shelter that I support called Faithful Friends. I thought that those who read this thread might be interested. Please read:


Faithful Friends No Kill Animal Shelter

Action Request

Stop Proposed Ban on Feeding Cats
March 30, 2011



Dear Friends:

I am writing to ask for your help to stop a proposed feeding ban against stray and feral cats. This is happening in Radnor Township, PA and may be voted on as early as April 11th. You may have seen this on Channel 6 last week.



One person complained about cats in their yard and now the Board of Health is concerned that stray and feral cats can easily transmit diseases to humans, such as rabies and toxoplasmosis. They have consulted with only one veterinarian on this matter who has recommended the ban and believes it's in the best interest of the township's public health.



As leaders in the local no kill movement, we are spearheading the advocacy effort to stop the ban in a neighboring community that is asking for help. Even if you don't live in Radnor Township, it is important to speak out against this ordinance. If it passes there, it won't be long before other communities follow suit. And those kitties will lose their lives.

I have attached a letter which you can forward through email to the Board of Commissioners. These are the persons that will decide whether the ordinance gets passed. It explains why a feeding ban would be ineffective and suggests alternative solutions.



Due to the time sensitivity, I am asking you to reach out to your family, friends and coworkers ASAP and ask them to contact the Board immediately. If you know anybody that lives in Radnor Township (Bryn Mawr, Wayne, St. Davids, Radnor, Rosemont & Villanova) please forward to them as well. You will find below the name, telephone number and email address for each board member.

We don't want to see a township pass an ordinance that allows cats to starve to death. Other solutions, such as TNR, are effective which has already gained recognition for its success in the Radnor Township.



We will be working on this issue in Delaware over the next 2 years. For now, thanks for standing up with me on this issue in a neighboring community that needs our support.

Many thanks,



Jane Pierantozzi, Executive Director


WHO TO CONTACT AND HOW!




1 Harry Mahoney Esq. 215-587-9400 hmahoney@radnor.org

2 Kevin Higgins 610-688-7787 khiggins@radnor.org

3 Willian Spingler 610-687-0839 bspingler@radnor.org

4 Elaine Schaefer 610-355-0611 eschaefer@radnor.org

5 John Nagle 610-527-7218 Jnagle@radnor.org

6 Donald Curley 610-256-1287 dcurley@radnor.org

7 John Fisher 610-519-0253 jfisher@radnor.org



SAMPLE LETTER TO SEND:


Dear Commissioners,

I understand that Radnor Township is considering a feeding ban of free roaming cats because there is a public health concern they can transmit certain diseases to humans. I ask you to vote AGAINST this proposal that would make Radnor Township an inhumane town, and seek alternative solutions that have been proven effective in other communities.

The veterinarian from the Board of Health, Dr. Len Donato, stated that various contagious diseases, such as rabies, could be transmitted from cats to humans. However, he doesn't present any scientific evidence that a feeding ban will effectively address this public health concern. The information he has presented is purely anecdotal. In fact, Dr. Donato cannot cite a single reported case of disease being transmitted directly from cats to humans in Radnor Township.

There are other humane and effective ways to address Radnor's public health concern. In a news release on September 2, 2010 by Pennsylvania's Department of Agriculture, the Agriculture Secretary Russell C. Redding stated, "Vaccinating wild animals against rabies is essential to ensuring human and domestic animal health." Twelve counties in western Pennsylvania have participated in an annual oral rabies vaccination program targeting raccoons, which make up more than half of all rabies cases in the state. According to Redding, "The oral rabies vaccination program has proven successful over the past six years, reducing the number of reported cases in Pennsylvania by nearly 60 percent." Western Pennsylvania didn't starve cats to death to effectively address the transmission of rabies to humans.

Another effective way to minimize the transmission of disease from cats to humans is a Trap-Neuter-Return-Manage/Monitor (TNRM) program. In a TNRM program, stray and feral cats are trapped, sterilized to stop reproduction, vaccinated against diseases including rabies, then returned to their home territory where they are fed, sheltered and monitored on an ongoing basis by a designated caretaker. Any sick or injured cats are removed from the colony and receive appropriate veterinary evaluation and care.

TNRM programs supported by municipalities in California, Florida, and Illinois have reduced feral cat populations by 20%-40% in five years and by over 50% in San Diego since 1989. Radnor Township itself has already seen an effective TNRM program on Eachus Avenue. In 2009, a colony of 27 cats (6 adults, 12 kittens and 9 born in captivity) was decreased to 5 cats through TNRM and hasn't grown in numbers since. Other local communities are using TNRM including Wilmington, Greenwood Delaware and New Castle County Delaware with more communities following suit. Managing and monitoring the colony requires the caretaker to provide food and water to these cats outdoors, so a feeding ban would make it illegal for him/her to continue a program that has already been recognized and applauded in your township.

According to national experts from Alley Cat Allies and Best Friends Animal Society, there are an estimated 11,700 feral (community) cats in Radnor Township. A feeding ban will not stop the proliferation and plight of all these animals. And the ban is in stark contrast to your public health concerns. Unfed feral cats are more likely to rummage in dumpsters and garbage cans with raccoons, which have the highest incidence of rabies in Pennsylvania. Feral cats avoid human contact by nature, but will be more apt to approach people for food if they are starving to death, thereby increasing the likelihood of transmitting disease.

We again ask the town's leadership to listen to the facts presented, speak to experts in this area and support a humane, more effective approach to addressing your public health concern. Please vote AGAINST a proposal that would ban feeding of roaming cats in your township.

Thank you for your consideration of this very important matter.

Thank you from our Feline Friends!

From all of our feline friends who have made their home in your neighborhood or behind your business -

Thank you for helping to protect our friends!
__________________