In many areas of the country drastic steps are being taken by communities to control feral cat populations. Many efforts are being made to trap, alter and release (TAR) feral cats. The benefits of these programs are that the altered cats defend their territories from other strays, while not reproducing. The downside is that the small mammal and bird populations of these territories suffer huge losses. After the non-profit Feral Cat Coalition instituted a TAR program in the San Diego area, the number of cats handled by the animal shelter dropped an amazing 35%. Before beginning the TAR program the shelter had been seeing yearly increases of about 10% in the number of cats handled. Over 70% of the cats trapped by the coalition were either in heat, pregnant or had recently given birth (Johnson, 2-3).
A more chilling means of control has been gaining ground against TAR programs; communities across the nation are contracting companies and individuals to eradicate their feral cat populations. The contractors both kill and dispose of the cats or alternately trap the cats and dump them at the nearest shelter where most are euthanized. Unfortunately, most feral cats cannot be socialized enough to make them desirable pets. As horrible as this seems, the practice cannot be wholly condemned. We have a responsibility to protect wildlife from our failure to control the breeding of our pets.
Some dog owners fear that their pet will be less protective of them and their family if the dog is altered, but according to The Humane Society’s site, this is a myth. While dogs are less prone to fight over reproductive rights, they remain just as fiercely protective of their owners as they were before being altered. Other pet owners are reluctant to neuter their male pets, reasoning that males do not give birth. This type of reasoning is erroneous because, although a female can only have one litter at a time, a male can impregnate several females each day!
Another argument against altering animals is that “It doesn’t seem natural”. In truth, very little concerning domestic animals is natural in the strictest sense. Humans, to achieve desirable characteristics, have systematically bred all domestic animals. It is also much less natural to allow our pets to breed indiscriminately, just to turn around and kill them by the millions year after year. We practice animal husbandry with all domesticated animals. It is an essential responsibility we have, to ensure we do not find ourselves with more animals than we can care for because we have outstripped our resources. We control the breeding of our livestock, and we need to better control the breeding of our pets. Uncontrolled breeding has created the nightmarish situation we have now; stray cats and dogs that are not euthanized often die of disease or car accidents. The only way to reduce these numbers is to be responsible stewards of our pets.
