Why Trap-Neuter-Return Feral Cats

Not only does TNR save money for animal shelters, but it saves money for the taxpayer as well. You read correctly, your taxpayer dollars are being used to euthanize cats that have no chance of being adopted. It’s a waste of money and time, and it’s absolutely pointless because the cats are going to be replaced anyway by kittens that are being born. Alley Cat Allies, an organization that is dedicated to educating the public on feral cats, advocating for them, and establishing human ways of controlling the feral cat population instead of killing them, stated in their article, “Why Trap-Neuter-Return Feral Cats? The Case for TNR,” that is published on their website, “Over 70% of cats entering shelters are killed - a figure that rises to
nearly 100% for feral cats, who cannot be adopted. For decades, animal control policy has wasted millions of dollars catching and killing outdoor cats, but populations of cats are still there, just as they always have been. Clearly, this cruel and costly system has failed.” Euthanization is a dysfunctional system that collectively wastes money that taxpayers have paid, which is a big dilemma. Furthermore, TNR is easier on everybody’s wallet. Best Friends Animal Society and PetSmart Charities teamed up to prove this and is stated on the Best Friends’ website, “TNR programs have the potential to cut taxpayers’ costs in half compared to the “catch and kill” method. The study states that to trap and kill feral cats accumulates to a total cost at $16 billion. Whereas TNR programs would cost approximately $9 billion to support and run these programs by rescue organizations and volunteers” (Benefits of TNR). TNR is much cheaper and is actually effective.