A legal change could allow veterinarians across Idaho to spay and neuter feral cats before releasing them. Current state law frowns on trapping and releasing feral animals, but Senate Minority Leader Kate Kelly, D-Boise, wants to give counties and cities the option of making an exception for cats. “The practice is going on where these cats are being neutered or spayed and released,” Kelly said. “We just want to make sure it’s legal.”
Kelly hadn’t heard of any shelters or people being cited for trapping and releasing animals, but wants to change the law to reflect common practices and preferences for veterinarians. “These are good Samaritans who just want them sterilized and re-released,” she said. “There are a lot of veterinarians who are not comfortable with euthanizing a healthy animal.”
Kelly said she has the support of the Idaho Humane Society, an animal shelter in her Boise district. The shelter takes in 8,000 stray cats a year, though Kelly said many other shelters across the state won’t accept cats. Kelly said 50,000 feral cats could be living in the Treasure Valley.
The proposed legislation would only apply to trapping, sterilizing, and releasing free-roaming cats, not other animals or livestock. Counties and cities would have the option to regulate capturing and neutering cats so that they wouldn’t fall under state animal cruelty laws. Kelly said that research shows that sterilizing and re-releasing animals is a more effective way to reduce stray populations that euthanizing cats because of cats’ territorial activities and ability to breed quickly.
how bout free spay and neuter for cats that are peoples pets. domestic cats get pregnant all the time unintentionally. I cant believe people actually trap cats to get them spayed or neutered. It’s stuff like this that makes our country so messed up. Worrying bout Haiti etc. Lets worry bout our pets, our domestic animals. We should pass a law where people can kill stray cats. There are too many of them and they are dirty and disease ridden. They spray my house because I have a cat. These damn stray cats have more rights than I do. This country Is F$&%^$ up. These politicians are all assholes. Senate Minority Leader Kate Kelly is probably single and only has her cats to come home to and that’s why she is trying to pass this law. If this health care bill gets passed I’m moving to Canada.
Hey Brian,
Why don’t you go ahead and start packing your bags! Hell, I will even help you! We don’t need or want someone with your barbaric, ignorant mentality here.
You mention that Senator Kelly may be single, with only cats to come home to. So? What’s your point? I didn’t read about your significant other in your comment. Only that you have a cat. Spay your cat, and you won’t have the uninvited feline visitors! DUH!!
What is so messed up about a country caring for it’s animals? It’s called C-I-V-I-L-I-Z-E-D !!!
FACT: Feral cats can be, and are, as clean, healthy and loving as any domesticated cat. And if YOUR domesticated cat is getting pregnant (unintentionally)all the time….It’s YOUR FAULT!!! YOU are the human! YOU are the ONE responsible!!
Yeah, go to Canada….idiot!!
Hey Christy,
Brian is not barbaric or an idiot, he brings up a good point. Feral cats are a problem, thats a fact. Feral cats come from domesticated cats, that is also a fact. Feral cats destroy the population of game birds, another fact. These animals are nothing more than the mistake of careless pet owners, who feel its acceptable to have outside cats. And its funny how dog owners get beat on for letting their dogs on the loose, but when its a cat its perfectly acceptable. I believe the senate should set the same laws to cats as with dogs. If a cat is found outside with a chip or tag, than the owners get a fine. If a cat is found without a chip or tag, than the cat stays in a shelter for up to one week, and if no one adopts, then it gets euthanized. Simply put. And if you believe it is “civilized” to have mange covered cats fighting for bits of food, your retarded.