ALLEY CAT ALLIES ISSUES STATEMENT ON “PUNITIVE AND HARMFUL” ORDINANCE PASSED IN CHARLES COUNTY, MD
BETHESDA, MD —Becky Robinson, president and co-founder of Alley Cat Allies, the only national advocacy organization dedicated to the protection and humane treatment of cats, today issued the following statement on the recent vote of the Charles County, Maryland Board of Commissioners to enact cruel measures that will harm cats and place punitive burdens on residents caring for feral cats in the community:
“Alley Cat Allies is extremely disappointed that the Commissioners ignored input from the citizens of Charles County and chose to steamroll forward with a misguided policy that will not achieve its intended goals. The new regulations that the board adopted will make stray and feral cats more likely to be impounded and unnecessarily killed. The regulations place extra burdens on feral cat caregivers—those Good Samaritans who already spend their own time and hard-earned money to care for cats and improve the community.
“Alley Cat Allies and local citizens had come forward early in this process with proposed amendments to improve the bill to protect cats and reflect the will of the local citizens. At a public hearing in November, the commissioners heard from a number of residents and animal protection groups, all with experience with feral cats and with a stake in local policy making. However, the ordinance was passed in secret and without any consideration of alternative measures. In the months ahead, we will continue to support the numerous county residents and other cat caregivers who came and spoke out in favor of cats at the public hearing.”
About Alley Cat Allies
Alley Cat Allies is the only national advocacy organization dedicated to the protection and humane treatment of cats. Founded in 1990, today Alley Cat Allies has more than 260,000 supporters and helps tens of thousands of individuals, communities, and organizations save and improve the lives cats and kittens nationwide. Their web site is Alley Cat Allies.
BETHESDA, MD —Becky Robinson, president and co-founder of Alley Cat Allies, the only national advocacy organization dedicated to the protection and humane treatment of cats, today issued the following statement on the recent vote of the Charles County, Maryland Board of Commissioners to enact cruel measures that will harm cats and place punitive burdens on residents caring for feral cats in the community:
“Alley Cat Allies is extremely disappointed that the Commissioners ignored input from the citizens of Charles County and chose to steamroll forward with a misguided policy that will not achieve its intended goals. The new regulations that the board adopted will make stray and feral cats more likely to be impounded and unnecessarily killed. The regulations place extra burdens on feral cat caregivers—those Good Samaritans who already spend their own time and hard-earned money to care for cats and improve the community.
“Alley Cat Allies and local citizens had come forward early in this process with proposed amendments to improve the bill to protect cats and reflect the will of the local citizens. At a public hearing in November, the commissioners heard from a number of residents and animal protection groups, all with experience with feral cats and with a stake in local policy making. However, the ordinance was passed in secret and without any consideration of alternative measures. In the months ahead, we will continue to support the numerous county residents and other cat caregivers who came and spoke out in favor of cats at the public hearing.”
About Alley Cat Allies
Alley Cat Allies is the only national advocacy organization dedicated to the protection and humane treatment of cats. Founded in 1990, today Alley Cat Allies has more than 260,000 supporters and helps tens of thousands of individuals, communities, and organizations save and improve the lives cats and kittens nationwide. Their web site is Alley Cat Allies.
Good to see elected officials taking positive steps to remove a destructive invasive species.
