A reader shared this: http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/is-it-more-humane-to-kill-stray-cats-or-let-them-fend-alone/2014/02/06/472f9858-82a4-11e3-9dd4-e7278db80d86_story.html?wpisrc=emailtoafriend
I know, there has been so much debate over this issue with organisations and strong-minded individuals taking sides and claiming that their stand is the best or the “most correct” one.
We will not and should not judge. As long our decisions come from a place of wisdom and compassion, that would make them right.
For us, we support and promote CNRM; and this is the whole process of Caring, Neutering, Rehoming or Returning to Colony and Managing. It’s not easy to continue managing your return-t0-colony animals; it requires funds and effort, but we know every caregiver tries to do his/her best and that’s really good enough.
To say that it’s more humane to have street animals euthanised because they MIGHT catch deadly disease and die horribly, or they MIGHT get run down by vehicles or that they MIGHT be attacked by larger animals is quite the same as saying it’s more humane to euthanise a beggar child because the same dangers and risks MIGHT happen to him.
CNRM calls for responsibility and a see-it-through commitment. If one cannot follow through with the entire CNRM process, then just feed, neuter, return and hope for the best.
We think that’s still better than outright killing them, don’t you agree?
These are my CNRM cats.
I’ve also rehomed Raven and Mr Quack.
From the article:
“It puts way too much responsibility on the volunteers,” she says. “You can TNR them until you’re blue in the face, but it’s like emptying the ocean with a spoon. It’s better than nothing, but it’s not stopping the number of cats outside.”
I won’t argue about the statistics in the article that says TNRM is not effective at population control, but these 7 cats above (Mr Zurik is eating on the table but he’s been neutered too) have been neutered and will not produce any offsprings. My cat colony population is controlled.
That much I know!
And the article says further:
Research on TNR has found, at best, only modest success in reducing the numbers of free-roaming cats. In a 2004 paper in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, veterinarian David A. Jessup says the practice is likely to succeed only when the number of feral cats is small to begin with; when no new cats join the colony; when all females are captured and spayed; where the terrain is accessible and cats have trouble hiding; and where TNR efforts are early, intense and prolonged.
The above is likely to be true since it’s based on research findings.
But for every animal neutered, we have prevented thousands from being born. Now, that’s helping, isn’t it? This is where I’d rather use qualitative research than quantitative to evaluate the effectiveness of a decision.
Not everything in life is governed by numbers, you know (and you’re hearing this from a mathematician!).
Comments
6 responses to “Neuter and Return – humane or not, effective or not?”
Love your CNRM picture, with Timmy in the cage begging for sympathy…
They are all very round!
Anyway, who are we to play God, to decide the death of the animals in our hand? So for me, CNRM is the way to go…
I’m really tired of this argument. Besides one of the main against-cat colonies argument is that they kill bird populations. Hey! compare the success rate of cats catching birds versus the rate in which humans destroy and poison the plants making the birds starve or cannot nest – its the humans that are reducing the population of birds, idiots! So does this mean that we should exterminate all outdoor humans???!!! Of course not!!!!
Anyway I recently read an inspiring video/article about wolves in the Yellowstone Park. At one time wolves were totally exterminated in Yellowstone and in the 1990s wolves were purposely re-introduced in Yellowstone. There were of course objections and critics about reintroducing predators into a park. But after 10 years of tracking the effects of free ranging wolves in Yellowstone, they discovered that the park has instead become more alive and diverse since then. I love this: http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20140128-how-wolves-saved-a-famous-park
we muslims believes that as long as a living being is alive, it means that their ‘rezeki’ in this world is still there and available for them. god is the best planner (to take away a life or not from his creatures). not for us to decide.
I have 9 TNRM cats currently. My stand is simple, i do what i am able to do within my means and to the best of my abilities. Yes, there is the occasional new cat/kitten that comes by, but that’s because my home is near to a row of eateries and i suspect people may dump cats/kittens near the area. And another reason is that a makcik is feeding a bunch of strays a couple of houses away, and she doesn’t neuter them. Tried to talk to her 3-4 times now, yet, she still refuse and walk away with a polite smile and shaking of the head. I will keep trying to persuade and make her see the benefits, but before i can do that, i must do my own part and show her with proof of the controlled population i have on this lower half of the road. Though some may say to me, “aiyah, you potong all those on this half then the other batch keep producing….until when can finish ohhhhh?”. Then normally my next reply is, “if i don’t potong my bunch then don’t you think we would have even more cats & kittens and more poo in your garden?”. At least i am doing something, aren’t i. And some tells me, “why don’t call XXX council to come and take them away?”, then my explanation and educating them with the knowledge that, taking them away is not a solution, and i tell them, those being caught does not necessarily survive the ordeal and may die. Even if then survive, then may be put-to-sleep within a short period of time when not adopted. I ask them “do you want to be the reason for their suffering & death?”. And surprisingly most of them thought once the council comes to catch the strays, they are being placed in a better place with food and water and nice environment. They are oblivious to the actual fact that many suffer before reaching the pound, and many did not survive. It all boils down to education and knowledge. I believe not all are so wicked as to want these animals suffer and die. But if they realise that these animals are practically sentenced to death if being caught, then they may think twice before they make the call to complaint. So, no matter what studies/researches say, i can see the positive side of TNRM from the 9 meows that i have with me now, they are well fed, given adequate medical attention when required and they take refuge in my back area from the sun & rain. I try my best to rehome them, and continue to do what i do, because i know these 9 meows will not add to the statistics of the stray population on the streets, and i know no more kittens have to suffer from illness and disease contributed by them. And i know they can have a good enough life as long as i am around. When the day comes when i can no longer help them, i can move on with my conscience that i have done what i could with that short period of time i have in my hands. 2 out of the 9 cats, I may not be able to rehome them as they are still very feral though they’ve been with me for nearly 1 year now. But why worry now, who knows, maybe their angel mommy have not found them yet. When things get a little stress, i take some time off, rest & sleep more, then gather my energy and i continue to march on.
I also support CNRM. So far, all my cats are neutered except one who is scheduled to be nuetered soon and I had neutered 2 strays in my area. I plan to keep neutering the strays in my area if I have extra fund. I manage to re-home 2 of my neutered strays recenlty. To me, it helps to control their population. I do not believe in euthanasia.
Dear Ayuni, If you need a subsidy for neutering, you are welcome to apply for our funds. Policies: http://www.animalcare.my/subsidy/. Best not to wait until you have extra funds. Please do get them neutered as soon as possible. We will help with funds, as per policy.