Petition to Keep the Feral Cat Colony in Riverside Community

To: Riverside Community/Board Members/Donna Sullivan (First Service Residential)

We, the undersigned residents of Riverside Community, are writing to express our strong support for maintaining the feral cat colony located at the end of the bike trail. We believe that keeping this colony in our community provides numerous benefits, and we urge you to reconsider any plans for removal.

Reasons to Keep the Feral Cat Colony:
1. Environmental Control: Feral cats play a role in controlling the rodent and pest populations in our area. They help reduce the spread of disease and prevent the damage caused by these pests to local gardens, crops, and homes.
2. Humane Management Practices: Many communities have successfully implemented Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs, which safely and humanely manage feral cat populations. TNR ensures the cats are spayed or neutered, reducing the chances of overpopulation. The cats are
also returned to their home colony, where they can live out their lives in peace.
3. Community Engagement: The presence of the colony fosters community involvement. Local residents, including animal lovers and volunteers, often take responsibility for the well-being of the cats by providing food, shelter, and medical care. This kind of community effort strengthens
social ties and enhances neighborhood spirit.
4. Animal Welfare: Removing feral cat colonies does not address the root of the issue, and often results in a cycle of suffering for the cats. TNR programs are a proven, ethical solution that protects the animals while benefiting the environment.
5. Legal Considerations: Many cities and counties have recognized the importance of managing feral cat populations through TNR and other humane practices, rather than removal. We ask that Riverside consider similar policies, as they have proven effective in reducing both the number of feral cats and conflicts with residents.

Request:
We respectfully request that the feral cat colony in Riverside be allowed to remain, and that the community explore humane, sustainable management options, such as a TNR program. This approach will benefit both the animals and the people in our community, ensuring a balanced and compassionate
solution to the issue.

As someone deeply connected to the plight of the local feral cat colony, I see every day these independent, resourceful creatures making the best of their challenging circumstances. They exist because of human neglect and abandonment, yet they are cruelly viewed as the problem. They deserve a place to live, free from persecution and danger. 

These feral cats are a universal issue. In the U.S alone, it is estimated that there are as many as 70 million feral cats (Source: Alley Cat Allies). Yet, eradication trials have shown to be ineffective, causing only misery and death. Trap-neuter-return programs, on the other hand, have been proven to be the most humane and effective method for controlling feral cat populations (Source: ASPCA).

In light of these statistics, it is clear that our local policy needs to change. We cannot ignore the facts, nor can we ignore our hearts. Allow public resources to be used for trap-neuter-return programs. Let our local ordinance reflect compassion and solution-oriented action for these innocent beings. Please join me in this fight for their right to live peacefully. Sign the petition.