Letter to the Editor: Response to Polk County Commissioner Bill Braswell’s opinion piece

By G. Robert Weedon, DVM, MPH

I am compelled to respond to Polk County Commissioner Bill Braswell’s opinion piece in the
Four Corners Sun. As a veterinarian with more than four decades of experience, twenty-five of
which have been dedicated to the humane and effective management of feral and free-roaming
cats (known more broadly as community cats), and being an expert in that management, I need
to correct the misinformation that you shared. My first thought is, Braswell, stay in your lane.
You are a blueberry farmer for crying out loud! What in the world do you know about the
effective and humane management of community cats?
My first comment is that, as you stated, the BOCC does not “own” the animal control facility. But
you most certainly CAN tell the sheriff how to run it! It’s called the Polk County Animal
Ordinance, which if amended by you and the other Commissioners to embrace TNVR in the
county, the sheriff would HAVE TO adhere to. To your specific points:

1. TNVR DOES effectively reduce community cat populations. Where are your references
   that show that “TNVR programs overwhelmingly fail to reduce populations in the long
   term?” I will share references (one from the University of Florida) that, in fact, DO show
   that TNVR programs DO significantly reduce colony population over time. Here are just
   a couple:
   Spehar, DD, and Wolf, PJ. Back to School: An Updated Evaluation of the
   Effectiveness of a Long-Term Trap-Neuter-Return Program on a University’s
   Free-Roaming Cat Population. Animals. 2019, 9, 768
   J.K. Levy et al. Effect of high-impact targeted trap-neuter-return and adoption of
   community cats on cat intake to a shelter. The Veterinary Journal 201 (2014)
   269–274
   Yes, research has shown that to be effective 70% of the cats in a colony need to be
   sterilized for the population to diminish. That is referred to as ‘targeted TNVR,’ and
   studies have shown that it is, indeed, effective at reducing colony numbers.
2. TNVR DOES NOT disregard the cats’ quality of life. Quite the contrary. With colony
   caretakers providing resources, which by the way, reduces wildlife predation, cats can
   be retrapped and any necessary medical needs, including rabies vaccination boosters,
   can be attended to. There are numerous reports of community cats having a lifespan
   approaching that of indoor pet cats. Yes, common sense would tell you that outdoor cats
   are more likely to be injured or killed by automobiles or other predators, but isn’t giving
   them a chance to enjoy the life they have better than just summarily killing them?
3. Describing community cats as “invasive predators that kill billions of birds, mammals,
   reptiles, and amphibians annually” is a GROSS MISCHARACTERIZATION. There is
   compelling research that having a colony caretaker to provide resources (food) for these
   cats reduces predation of wildlife. It only makes sense; why would a cat hunt if it has a
   full stomach? Cats don’t hunt for sport; they hunt for subsistence. Scat analysis has
   shown that colonies with a caretaker have less bird DNA in their stools than unmanaged
   colonies.
4. TNVR actually strengthens public health! Consider this: community cats vaccinated
   against rabies form a barrier to the disease between wildlife, and domestic pets, and
   people. Remember ‘herd immunity’ from the COVID days? Well, it is alive and well in a
   colony of community cats. And the bad news is that when animal control traps a
   previously-vaccinated cat, it actually weakens that herd immunity. And, toxoplasmosis?
   TNVR actually reduces the threat of toxoplasmosis. You make it sound like these colony
   cats are out there spreading toxoplasmosis, 24/7. That is just not the case. You see, cats
   only shed the Toxoplasma gondii organism for a short period of time (less than two
   weeks) ONCE in their life. They typically acquire the organism as youngsters when they
   begin to hunt rodents. With TNVR, these kittens are NEVER born to acquire and spread
   the organism.
5. TNVR DOES NOT ENCOURAGE PET ABANDONMENT! Where is your evidence? This
   is a feckless argument that is propagated by those who do not embrace TNVR! And, to
   suggest that resources spent on TNVR could be better allocated on alternatives like
   adoption or euthanasia is nothing short of ridiculous! Adoption? Feral cats are NOT
   adoptable in the genuinely accepted sense of pet adoption. And euthanasia? Are you
   kidding me? We have been killing cats for decades, and it has NOT solved the problem.
6. Do you have evidence to support your contention that TNVR is “an unethical
   compromise that fails on animal welfare grounds, as the weight of data suggests it’s
   unlikely to resolve stray cat problems?” You cite several organizations that do not
   support TNVR, one of them being the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).
   Your contention is incorrect. The AVMA’s position on “Free-roaming abandoned and feral
   cats” encourages non-lethal strategies, and states, “VMA encourages the use of non-
   lethal strategies as the initial focus for control of free-roaming abandoned and feral cat
   populations. Public, private, and not-for-profit humane organizations and individuals
   must make every effort to promote the adoption of acceptable unowned cats and implement
   sterilization programs. Control of free-roaming abandoned, and feral cats may be
   improved when:
   a. State and local agencies provide significantly more funding for animal control
   agencies.
   b. Concerted and sustained public educational campaigns highlight the problems
   associated with free-roaming abandoned, and feral cats, as well as effective
   efforts toward their control.
   The position statement goes on to say, “The AVMA recognizes that managed colonies
   are controversial. However, properly managed programs can improve quality of life for
   these cats through better nutrition, vaccination to prevent disease, spaying and
   neutering to reduce unwanted litters, euthanasia of sick and debilitated cats, and
   adoption of healthy kittens. The goal of colony management should be continual
   reduction and eventual elimination of the colony through attrition. Appropriately managed
   colonies also have the potential to significantly decrease risk to public health, wildlife,
   and ecosystems.”

And to cite the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) as a credible animal
welfare source is just plain ridiculous, and actually misleading. PETA opposes traditional
rescue, domestic pet ownership of any kind, TNVR, and frequently kills animals in their
shelter in Virginia. To consider PETA a mainstream humane organization is ludicrous.
According to sources, PETA kills thousands of cats and dogs instead of finding them
homes. Why? Simply stated, PETA does not believe in pet ownership. PETA’s president,
Ingrid Newkirk has been quoted as saying, “If people want toys, they should buy
inanimate objects. If they want companionship, they should seek it with their own kind.”
Ridiculously, PETA has argued that outdoor cats should be summarily killed instead of
allowed to live. In a 2014 interview with the Washington Post, Newkirk argued that
outdoor cats would be better off dead because they might contract a future illness or be
hit by a car in the future. In PETA’s twisted mind, it’s more humane to just euthanize the
animals than for a hypothetical harm to befall them in the future. It is unsurprising,
however, that you would cite them as a credible source. They are not a domestic animal
advocacy organization.
Braswell, I have refuted everything you have posed in your ridiculous opinion piece! My
question to you is why can you not read the science and recognize that your position is way
off base? And, corollary to that, why can you not realize that you and the other
Commissioners have the power to amend the Polk County Animal Ordinance to embrace
evidence-based humane and effective methods to manage community cats. Or, are you SO
beholden to Grady that you refuse to exercise good judgment and common sense? As I said
earlier, stay in your lane!