The Kauai Humane Society’s current policies on stray animals and feral cats were inaccurately characterized in Susan Straight’s letter to TGI published on 10/1. To be clear, KHS accepts ALL stray dogs without fee. KHS accepts ALL friendly stray cats and kittens without fee.
The $90 fee refer enced in Ms. Straight’s letter applies only to unlicensed feral cats that are brought to our shelter for the sole purpose of euthanasia. Unlicensed feral cats make up only 30% of the cats that come into our shelter, and 70% of the cats that are brought to us can be surrendered free of charge.
The cost of holding and then euthanizing a feral cat is approximately $150. The funding we receive from the county does not cover the cost in full. In order to continue our humane services for the community on a nonprofit basis, we unfortunately have to charge for some of the services we offer.
Ms. Straight claims that the $90 fee takes away a “safe” place to bring unwanted cats. However, unlicensed feral cats are not safe when they are brought to KHS for the sole purpose of euthanasia.
This small subset of cats — unlicensed feral cats — do not belong to anyone, cannot be handled safely in a home or shelter setting, and are unadoptable. The only outcome that KHS can legally provide for them is euthanasia.
By contrast, all other cats and kittens can be brought to us free of charge, and most of these find safe homes through adoption, transfer, or by being returned to their owners.
Ms. Straight is correct that the Kauai Humane Society wants to slow the spread of feral cats. Euthanasia, however, is not a humane or effective way to accomplish this.
As Mayor Kawakami recognized in his proclamation supporting the work of our friends at Animal Balance, the process of trap-neuter-release is the most humane way of controlling free-roaming unlicensed, feral cats.
KHS would welcome the opportunity to trap-neuter-release, but as the Animal Control Provider on Kauai, the County Code specifically prohibits KHS from engaging in this process.
The Kauai Humane Society’s mission is to foster “respect, responsibility and compassion for all animals and enriching lives by nurturing healthy relationships between pets and people.” We do not believe that cat euthanasia is either the most humane nor the most effective solution to our feral cat population problems.
The complexity of this issue is recognized by many of our community leaders, and KHS is committed to working collaboratively with county government to address them in ways that best serve the residents and the animals on Kauai.
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Mirah A. Horowitz is executive director of the Kauai Humane Society.
How about requiring neutering ‘pet’ cats on Kauai and fining those that do not do so. Euthanasia is the only solution for feral cats.
More than correct,….. but the culture on this island prohibits taking accountability and responsibility. All cats and dogs should be required to be neutered. It is irresponsible owners, over the years, that have created these problems. Irresponsible owners create the need for places like the Kauai Humane Society…..they are the root cause. All the other options to control the populations, simply mitigate the symptom.
Feral cats are a complex issue, but the continuing use of TNR allows the spread of toxoplasmosis which kills endangered monk seals. There’s also nice video of feral cats decimating shearwater chicks in Kokee. Remember the Lorax? Well, “I stand for the Endangered Species” – not the feral cats. Multiple native Hawaiian species have gone extinct because of our foolishness and allowing feral cats to go back into the wild is extremely foolish.
Thank you for the clarification, Mirah. Now it makes some sense. However, I’ve got to (as a former professor of graduate psych who also taught Research Methods and writing reports, etc.) give you an F for your initial explanation. I took it the same way as Ms. Straight, who is also no slouch when it comes to clear writing. Carry on…
So change the law so you can catch neuter and release.
Thank you for making this clear.
You all are doing a wonderful job at KHS. It is difficult work to balance the needs of all the animals and at the same time, deal with the wants and needs of the demanding public. It is a thankless task!
I understand your position. It would be nice if you could neuter feral cats. What specifically in the County Code prohibits you from performing this service? If you are allowed to neuter strays, why not feral cats? Please refer us to the specific language that prohibits this service. Is it that you are prohibited from releasing animals after they are neutered? Thanks, trying to understand your limitations.
Section 22-24.4 (c) limits what the animal control provider can do once a non-licensed cat is surrendered: return to owner, adopt out or euthanize. If the cat is feral, options 1 and 2 are not real options.
What is crueler, emaciated feral cats that catch anything that moves or euthanasia.?
I’m sorry, but this explanation is complete nonsense. I recently took in a stray cat and they charged the $90 up front without doing ANYTHING to determine if the cat was an “unlicensed feral” or a “friendly stray.” They would not take the cat without me paying the $90 fee. So to claim that it will be free in one case but not in the other is completely disingenuous. The Kauai Humane Society is making one portion of the population–those who care enough about stray problem–pay for a problem that they did not create, and it is not acceptable.