The experts have weighed in on the issues facing the Boardwalk Cats. The Humane Society of the U.S. has extended their support of TNR in response to an unsolicited letter sent to Seaside Heights from PETA. The HSUS, ASPCA and multiple other animal welfare organizations have sent their firm support of TNR. But you certainly don't need to be an expert to have a voice. The plan is at a standstill and there has been a promise to provide food to the cats yet there is no established knowledge of the colony locations. The cats are in danger without a seasoned group of dedicated volunteers to properly care for them. This is the letter that the state director of the Humane Society sent in response to the negative PETA letter to the mayor. Dear Mayor Vaz, Chris, and SSH officials, You were recently sent a letter from PETA critical of TNR as a management tool for community cats and advocating for you to end the Trap Neuter Return program and instead remove the community cats. The reality of this outcome would be the publicly-unpopular euthanasia of hundreds of healthy cats. On behalf of The Humane Society of the United States, the largest, most successful animal welfare organization in the country, I’d like to offer our feedback on their claims and reiterate our commitment to advise on effective strategies as your town determines a long-term solution to the community cats in Seaside Heights. First, not only is The HSUS, the ASPCA (their position attached to this email), and a number of other very reputable mainstream organizations firm advocates for well-implemented TNR programs, we also support practical, enforceable, and effective public policy that respects the will of the residents of your town. The HSUS has worked with the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) to develop a guide for municipal leaders on this very issue. We are well versed on the latest science and public thought concerning outdoor cats and advocate best practices to both policy makers and to those on working on the ground with the cats. ICMA supported the publication of our Managing Community Cats: A Guide for Municipal Leaders (which you can read online as well as attached to this message). Unfortunately, the letter from PETA cites outdated and inaccurate information. Their quote on public health is 20 years old. Many public health officials now recognize that TNR programs – which also vaccinate cats as well as sterilize them -- lead to healthier cats, and thus reduce concerns about public health. In fact, The NJ Department of Health recognizes TNR as a strategy to reduced cat populations: http://www.nj.gov/health/animalwelfare/stray.shtml Additionally, the Phoenix College situation that PETA references fails to mention that the college did not in fact end their TNR program, but after further consideration decided to strengthen it: http://www.phoenixcollege.edu/beartracks/news/2014/02/trap-neuter-return-program-update. Part of PETA’s opposition is the claim the cats are re-abandoned and uncared for. This is of course not the case, as the crux of your conflict centers around the very people in your community who have dedicated their time and money to provide daily care for the cats once they were returned to their outdoor homes. While abandonment of cats is a real issue, it needs to be addressed in other ways – improving enforcement of existing laws, raising awareness of said laws and their penalties, providing practical options for those who can no longer care for cats, supporting affordable spay/neuter efforts and implementing programs to keep cats in their homes. The HSUS can assist with a comprehensive approach to cat population issues, working with partners like Alley Cat Allies and ASPCA. The HSUS is committed to the welfare of the cats and the welfare of the community, and to effective humane public policy. In that vein, please let me know if I can be of any assistance on this moving forward. I appreciate your consideration. Sincerely, Brian R. Hackett New Jersey State Director HSUS Brian Hackett is representing the HSUS in our fight to ENSURE the Humane teatment of ALL the Cats of SSH.. ***SIGN AND SHARE-SHOW YOU CARE***