The county is offering support municipalities that use a “humane, non-lethal” trap-neuter-return program to control feral cat populations.
Burlington County Freeholder Director Bruce Garganio has announced that the Burlington County Freeholder Board has adopted a resolution offering support to any Burlington County municipality that authorizes the use of a humane, non-lethal trap-neuter-return (TNR) program as a means to control the growth of feral cat populations in their communities and reduce the number of feral cats euthanized.
According to the county, through a trap-neuter-return program, free-roaming and feral community cats are humanely trapped, evaluated, vaccinated against rabies and other diseases, and sterilized by veterinarians.
County officials say stray kittens and cats that can be socialized would be offered for adoption at the Burlington County Animal Shelter. Cats that cannot be adopted are returned to the location where they were trapped, or to a colony where they can be managed, monitored, and receive medical treatment and updated vaccinations by a municipally designed caregiver.
“Reports have shown that where implemented successfully, TNR has dramatically reduced feral cat populations and lowered complaints from residents,” Garganio said. “The Freeholder Board will work with animal welfare organizations, animal rescue organizations, and interested municipalities in establishing model trap-neuter-return policies.”
In January of 2005, the board issued a resolution supporting a trap-neuter-return program as a tool to reduce the number of feral cats and control the spread of diseases, while lowering costs and intake numbers at the County Animal Shelter. The Freeholder Board is now encouraging municipalities to adopt policies supporting TNR.
“It is our hope for municipalities to implement animal friendly TNR programs to humanely control feral cat populations that appear in neighborhoods, industrial areas, and open spaces,” Garganio said. “It’s a win-win. Not only will TNR humanely control populations of feral cats through neutering, the cats that can be socialized will be available for adoption at the County Animal Shelter and find forever homes through our county’s generous animal community.”
Trap-neuter-return programs are advocated for by animal welfare and rescue organizations, including the Friends of the Burlington County Animal Shelter, as a humane method of controlling feral cat populations.
Bordentown City is the only municipality in Burlington County that currently has a TNR program. The program, run by Bordentown City Cats, was established in 2003.
