On April 21st of 2014, a group of concerned citizens addressed the Fairborn city council, expressing their concerns about the trapping and killing of cats within the city limits. Most of these cats are strays, not feral, and it is also very likely that some of them are our beloved family pets! Unfortunately, our suggestions for a TNR (trap-neuter-return) program were not enough to convince the board to put a halt to the trapping and killing of these innocent cats.

            In January of 2013, the council of the City of Fairborn, Ohio, awarded a contract to Chris O’Banion, owner of Advanced Wildlife Management, Dayton, Ohio. The annual contract was renewed automatically in January of 2014, with the majority of the citizens of Fairborn, and even a council member or two, completely unaware. The contract calls for O’Banion to respond when residents complain about nuisance wildlife; including felines. O’Banion is to set traps to capture the animal(s). In the contract it stipulates that any feline trapped that has a collar must be immediately released. However, I don’t know many people who make their cats wear collars. For some it is a safety hazard and break-away collars can come undone too easily. Not to mention that this practice is going completely unregulated and there is no way to verify that he is not taking our beloved family pets!

            According to the contract: “…trapped feral felines shall be euthanized, in accordance with Ohio state law, within 72 hours of being trapped.” Ohio law calls for lethal injection, or a carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide gas chamber method, to be used for euthanasia. There are very strict conditions for all three of these options and any facility or business providing these services is required to meet ALL conditions of the American Veterinarian Medical Association or the methods used are NOT considered to be a legal means of euthanasia.

            No one from the City of Fairborn has verified how these cats are being killed, let alone if the type of euthanasia being used is a legal and acceptable method. When O’Banion was contacted by someone from the Greene County Humane Society, he was unable to tell the representative the exact number of felines that he has euthanized, what areas of the city they had come from, and also refused to allow her (someone licensed to inspect euthanasia equipment) to see the facility where these cats are being killed, stating that it is a private business.

            A citizens forum is being held on Monday, April 28th, 2014 and we are going to present the council with a copy of this petition, along with an ample number of statistics and in-depth information on the benefits of a community TNR program.

https://www.facebook.com/events/482508601877725/ 

            Please sign this petition to support our efforts to stop this senseless and inhumane practice of trapping and killing Fairborn’s cats.

            Together we can make a difference!