An ordinance is being considered in Perry, Missouri that could mean death to stray and feral cats. This is one we have time to stop, politely and through education on the vacuum effect of cats.
Perry City Hall was recently contacted to verify that they are allegedly in the process of trying to get a contract with a “private agency” to catch and euthanize all of the feral and stray cats.
Since Perry doesn’t have a shelter, what is their plan as to where the trapped cats will be kept after the trapping? Will they be immediately euthanized if they appear feral? Officials say they’ll adopt out the ‘friendly cats.’ Is this true or just a pacifier so the cat advocacy community isn’t angered?
The problem with this scenario is feral cats aren’t very friendly and community cats and even lost kitties may strike out in fear. These are the ones in the most danger, especially the ‘unadoptable’ cats. As many cats are killed in shelters due to behavioral issues as there are sick cats humanely euthanized.
Those who have read of the plan for the cats to be trapped and killed are spreading the word via social media in an effort to stop the ordinance before the plan is put into place.
Want to leave a formal complaint? Call Perry City Hall and voice your disapproval in a calm but firm manner. Write out a quick letter (again, be very polite) and actually send it by snail mail. Contact information is listed below.
Perry City Hall
Address: 127 E Main St, Perry, MO 63462
Phone: (573) 565-3131
Perry is located in Ralls County, Missouri, United States. It is part of the Hannibal Micropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 697 in 2016.
For those of you not familiar with the term: vacuum effect please click here where it is discussed on this site.
Removing feral and stray cats from an area by killing or relocating them is not only cruel, it’s pointless…Scientific evidence indicates that removing feral cats leads to a repolulation of cats from outside the area and a repolulation due to breeding from remaining cats because at that location there is a source of food.
From what I’ve gathered we have a month or so to educate the government leaders in Perry that TNR is the best option. If everyone pulls together to get the word out we have a chance of saving the cats.
Your comments are welcome.
Elisa
WOW….. home to Mark Twain Lake…. minutes from Mark Twain Birthplace musem….. now wants to exterminate cats
Mark Twain loved cats. He once said, “I simply can’t resist a cat, particularly a purring one. They are the cleanest, cunningest, and most intelligent things I know, outside of the girl you love, of course.” … Twain wrote: “When a man loves cats, I am his friend and comrade, without further introduction.”
If you would like some GREAT info on TNR that solves over population of cats PLEASE contact me…. I have had success in several counties around St Louis and Jefferson County. I have a good friend who was very successful in Louisiana; very near to you.
Removing and killing cats only adds to the problem… its called the vacuum effect. Would love to educate on topic if needed.
Thank you
Stacey Kinsey
Pevely MO
Thank you very much Stacey for your comment and for your offer to help.. I love to see that.
Hi everyone, I run the TNR program for Louisiana, MO and would be more than happy to help a local person get a TNR program started in Perry (and/or Ralls County).
If you are interested in offering a real solution to Perry/Ralls County you can email Louisiana Community Cats Coalition at LaCatsTNR@gmail.com.
Trap-Neuter-Return really does work! I’d love to talk to someone and help them save the cats!
Deborah Rue Holland
Louisiana Community Cats Coalition
Louisiana, MO
Super comment. Thanks Deborah.
This is the same thing that happened in Mauldin, SC and TNR trappers were allowed to come in and the cats were rehomed. It worked out well and the cats were adopted into indoor homes or barn cat programs.
HUMANS ARE DANGEROUS
Yes, very.
Is there a petition we can sign and share?
Zachariah Atteberry was working on one but he hasn’t posted a link yet. He’s trying to educate them from a local level. The city probably thinks it’s doing the right thing and just need educated.
Elisa, I would suggest that you offer your services to the Council at a reasonable rate of around $1000.