Peoria County Animal Protection Services (PCAPS) is seeking opinions on a new program for controlling stray cat overpopulation.
PCAPS takes in over 2,000 cats per year. Only 40% find homes; the other 60% is either relocated to another shelter or euthanized.
In collaboration with University of Illinois Chicago Masters in Public Administration candidates, Peoria County is asking residents to respond to a survey with their thoughts about Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate, Release programs.
These programs consist of trapping stray cats, spaying or neutering them, administering a rabies vaccine, and returning them to where they were found rather than keeping them in a shelter.
PCAPS Director Rebecca Spencer said Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate, and Release programs have helped communities address stray cat overpopulation across the country.
“Cats can sometimes make for difficult neighbors and because they're spraying or they have, they're fighting in the community with other cats or they have yelling or other mating behaviors. And so, trap neuter, vaccinate, return helps with those behaviors and make these cats better neighbors,” Spencer said.
Spencer said sterilizing the cats eliminates unpleasant mating behaviors, which stops the growth of a stray cat population.
Spencer also said this survey will help PCAPS understand how the community feels about the stray cat population of Peoria.
“I feel like if the public understood that only 40% of the cats were really making their way out of the shelter by adoption or are returned to their owners, they would probably be more excited to take on and support us as we move forward in a trap neuter return initiative,” Spencer said.
She also said residents should not approach a stray or feral cat, and the process of Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate, Return keeps the cats safe in their desired environment while also providing benefits such as natural rodent control.
