Bethesda, Md. (Nov. 23, 2016) – Alley Cat Allies president and founder Becky Robinson has offered the following statement about the District of Columbia Fisheries and Wildlife Omnibus Amendment Act of 2016 (B21-0386):
“This bill dangerously empowers the Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) to make decisions on where cats can and can’t live. It gives an agency with no expertise on cats the ability to decide where and when Trap-Neuter-Return should happen.
“Unless its authority is significantly trimmed in the bill, this law could result in the deaths of many cats and the expensive, stressful, and ineffective trapping and relocation of hundreds, perhaps thousands, of others. Pet cats that sometimes go outside (with or without permission!) and well-cared-for and loved spayed/neutered colony cats are no exception.
“People love and care for feral cats – they are members of our community. DC implemented Trap-Neuter-Return long ago because it is the best practice for both the care and management of cats.
“We urge city residents to visit AlleyCat.org to learn more about the problems with this bill and see how they can ask council members to amend it to properly protect cats.”
Becky Robinson
President and Founder
Alley Cat Allies
