TNR HAS FAILED.
TNR is an acronym for "Trap, Neuter, Release". TNR is NOT an adoption program, it's a dumping program. Cats are trapped, sterilized, and then dumped back into the communities where they were found. The cats are once again abandoned to fend for themselves, suffer, and die. Residents are forced to endure an ongoing public health hazard from these ever expanding cat colonies.
Cats are being dumped into our neighborhoods by irresponsible pet owners, yet the laws already on the books addressing animal abandonment and cruelty are NOT being adequately enforced. It only takes a relatively small number of unsterilized cats to produce a rapidly growing population, and cats are NOT subject to the same permanent removal practices as stray/abandoned dogs in Spartanburg, SC.
And thanks to TNR being added to ordinances at both the City and County levels, we're now at the mercy of some misguided activists, NON-governmental organizations, politicians and government workers who do NOT care, while these NON-governmental organizations wield far more influence over our government than the residents who actually live here and bear the consequences of these policies.
Free-roaming cats can carry diseases and parasites, including Toxoplasma gondii, which causes toxoplasmosis and can pose particular risks to certain vulnerable populations. An elderly neighbor reported that a cat tried to attack her on her front porch; a seriously injured cat was observed roaming the neighborhood; and a cat tried to attack a pet dog in its backyard. These are just a few examples of the public health hazards the Spartanburg, SC, government has chosen to ignore and enable. Although existing guidelines provide circumstances under which animals should be removed, these removal guidelines are NOT being utilized.
We NEED responsible pet ownership, real accountability for those who abandon animals, and consistent enforcement of the animal-abandonment and cruelty laws already on the books.
We NEED stronger accountability measures such as pet registration and microchipping so that abandoned animals can be traced back to their owners. People who acquire animals as pets should be responsible for their care and should NOT be permitted and enabled to abandon their cats or dogs in someone else's neighborhood without ACCOUNTABILITY.
Code enforcement has also recognized issues involving the cat population. I explained all of this to City Council multiple times prior to considering and ultimately deciding to run and campaign for Spartanburg City Council, District 3, in the 2027 election.
I tried to speak during City Council public comment again but was prevented from doing so under an unevenly enforced policy, a systemic problem documented in the public record for years. I submitted my intended comments in writing to City Council that same day.
Public health and safety must come 1st!
We NEED policies that PROTECT residents and animals, ENFORCE responsible pet ownership, and hold people ACCOUNTABLE.
References
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). “To TNR or Not to TNR—That Is the Question.” PETA — Does TNR Really Save Cats? https://www.peta.org/features/does-tnr-really-save-cats/
American Bird Conservancy. “The Evidence Against Trap, Neuter, Release.”https://abcbirds.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Feral-Cats-Consequences-for-Humans-and-Wildlife.pdfANDhttps://abcbirds.org/strategies/reconsider-trap-neuter-release/
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and the American Bird Conservancy have detailed the problems with TNR. Please refer to the information below.