Relates to community based initiatives for the purpose of trapping, neutering, vaccinating and returning feral cats to the area from which they were trapped

Summary of specific provisions

Section 1 amends subdivision 1 of section 117a of the agricultural and markets law, as amended by section 11 of part T of chapter 59 of the laws of 2010, by adding a new subdivision 10 which would authorize twenty percent of the Animal Population Control Program fund balance annually for grants to eligible entities, in coordination with community-based initiatives, for the purpose of trapping, neutering, vaccinating and returning, to the area from which they were trapped, feral cats as defined by the environmental conservation law.

Section 2 provides that such provisions shall not apply to community-based initiatives operated in coordination with an eligible entity as defined in subdivision eight of this section, which allows entities that do not have a county animal population control program to apply for funds from the Animal Population Control Program fund for the sole purpose of providing low-cost spay and neuter services in their service area.

Section 3 provides the effective date.

Justification

The New York State Animal Population Control Program serves Upstate and Long Island, providing grants to local governments and eligible not-for-profit organizations for low-cost, low-income spay/neuter initiatives and services directly related to such programs. Operated by the ASPCA at no cost to the state, the APCP funds viable, effective and high-impact programs each year to help communities manage homeless animal populations and serve areas of great need, as well as projects reaching more remote and less served populations.

Unfortunately, the APCP does not provide sufficient authority to award grants for the management of "Trap-Neuter-Return" or "TNR" feral cat programs. As the only proven humane and effective method to manage feral cat colonies, these systems can have enormous value to a community. At least 15 other state-sponsored animal population control programs - including those in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut and Delaware - authorize the use of spay/neuter funds to cover the costs of viable TNR programs.

Once considered unconventional, TNR is now generally accepted as a viable and effective population control tool. Successfully practiced in thousands of communities and in every landscape and setting, Trap-Neuter-Return programs humanely trap feral cats - which cannot be socialized to live with humans safely - and take them to a veterinarian to be neutered, vaccinated, and eartipped. After recovery, the cats are returned to their colony. Kittens of feral cats that can be socialized to people may be adopted into homes.

Grounded in science, TNR stops the breeding cycle of feral cats and therefore improves their lives. Historically, the ineffective and costly "catch and kill" approach was used to control feral cat populations, but history has now demonstrated the futility of attempts to permanently clear an area of cats because of the scientifically-documented phenomenon known as the "vacuum effect." In basic terms, whenever cats are removed, new cats move in to take advantage of the now-available resources (like food and shelter), or the surviving cats left behind breed to capacity. Under TNR, the returned cats act as placeholders, preventing intact cats from moving into the area. The cats being returned via TNR have significantly reduced nuisance behaviors (spraying, noise from mating and fighting) and are better community neighbors than the intact cats who would otherwise fill that space if there were a vacuum. As a result, there is robust support for TNR both at the grassroots level and within traditional political structures.

This legislation is consistent with the statutory purpose of this program, especially since its reinvention as a grants initiative in 2010. The bill would simply authorize a small percentage of funds available through the APCP each year to be used to support the collaborative work of humane societies, animal welfare organizations and animal shelters with community-based TNR initiatives so they may improve the quality of life for feral cats in a given area, and improve the character of that community for its residents. This in turn supports sound public health policy by proactively reducing the risk of rabies and other zoonotic diseases."

Prior legislative history

None.

Fiscal implications

Twenty percent of the Animal Population Control Program fund balance will be allocated for the purposes of awarding grants for the management of "TrapNeuter-Return" or "TNR" feral cat programs.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.