Animals Taiwan does TNR for dogs and cats I was thrilled to discover that the pioneering work of TNR with cats has also been applied to help other animals. Maybe those who love dogs, rabbits, and horses will be persuaded of TNR’s usefulness when they see how it helps them too. As I’ve outlined before, Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) is a humane way of stopping reproduction and lowering the numbers of domestic animals living outdoors. Abandoned animals are often unneutered, and their offspring may be fearful of humans. What do we do with these unsocialized animals? With TNR, babies are tamed, and tame animals are adopted into homes. All animals receive medical care and ongoing care, whether in homes or outdoors.
Scientific research shows the effectiveness of TNR, but it just makes plain sense to me. Do the math: a sure path of multiplication is stopped. Populations decline and fewer animals enter shelters. Suffering is lessened as care is provided for any medical conditions. Everyone wins. I find it exciting that the concept, pioneered with cats, has also spread to other animals. Some people have a strange lack of affinity with cats, even to the point of wanting them harmed! But maybe more animal lovers will come to appreciate how effective TNR is not just with cats. Let’s look at three species. Dogs: We don’t see many street dogs where most of us live, but they are plentiful in many northern First Nations communities, where there is no veterinarian nearby. The Foundation of Animal Wellness Initiatives (FAWI) provides contraceptive implants in female dogs in some of these communities. Certain relief organizations also provide spay/neuter clinics from time to time, but there remains a great need. Several international groups work with street dogs. Animals Taiwan has been doing TNR with both dogs and cats since 2004, focusing on the most needy street dogs in Taipei. Canadian M13 did a very popular YouTube video about their work (above). Animal Balance of Portland, Oregon, has been helping island communities since 2004. Founder Emma Clifford started TNR with dogs and cats in the Galapagos Islands, and now also works in Hawaii and other international locations. SOSD (Save Our Street Dogs) does TNR with dogs in Singapore. They describe a successful TNR program on the island of Pulau Ubin: “Pulau Ubin may be the only place in Singapore where free-roaming dogs are not only tolerated but celebrated as part of kampong life. It is the ultimate paradise, in comparison to the situation on mainland Singapore where dogs are heavily culled by the authorities. The only way we can end the stray dog tragedy is through TNRM.” They hope that more people will share about the effectiveness of TNR to help street dogs. Rabbits: We have a fair number of wild rabbits where I live, which is as it should be. But some communities are plagued with abandoned domestic rabbits, of course unneutered. The population explodes with great suffering of the animals struggling to fend for themselves. Groups like Rabbitats are working at relocating these bunnies to sanctuaries. Delta, B.C. embarked on a TNR program in 2012. The population of domestic rabbits on the municipal grounds had grown to 400-500, and was expected to grow. The city relocated the sterilized bunnies to an isolated park. The program was under budget at only $25,000 with many volunteers involved, much less than the $350,000 spent each year repairing damage to buildings and landscaping. The city considered the program “a humane and cost-effective solution to the problem.” Horses: The Wild Horses of Alberta Society uses contraceptives for wild horse mares to help control the population of wild horses in Sundre, Alberta. “Very young foals that have been abandoned or injured have been rescued, gentled and adopted out to forever homes.” This program is a humane way to handle the population growth instead of the unfortunate culls that have been too common. Technically TNR may not involve contraception instead of permanent sterilization, but it’s the same idea. Birth control is achieved, even for a time. Sometimes you don’t need a trap, and in this case you don’t, because the contraceptive is delivered with a dart. But the idea is the same. Wherever uncontrolled breeding of abandoned animals is causing a problem, a compassionate solution exists. And in large part, cat rescuers have led the way. - Irene Plett Topics: TNR, sterilization, spay/neuter, cats, dogs, horses, wild horses, Foundation of Animal Wellness Initiatives (FAWI), Animals Taiwan, Animal Balance, Galapagos Islands, Hawaii, SOSD (Save Our Street Dogs), Singapore, Delta, Delta Community Animal Shelter, Wild Horses of Alberta Society, Sundre, animal contraception
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