For Immediate Release: March 2, 2010
Contact: ELIZABETH PAROWSKI, email@example.com or 240-482-1984; FRANCIE ISRAELI, firstname.lastname@example.org or 202-207-1134
ALLEY CAT ALLIES APPLAUDS WITHDRAWAL OF
Proposed legislation in Rhode Island would have resulted in deaths of thousands of cats
BETHESDA, MD — Alley Cat Allies, the nation’s advocate for stray and feral cats, today
expressed relief for the withdrawal of a bill in the Rhode Island state legislature (S.B. 2253) that
would have mandated the impoundment of “any roaming or feral cat at large.”
“We are grateful that the sponsors saw the grave dangers inherent in this bill and revoked it,” said
Becky Robinson, president of Alley Cat Allies. “Such laws will invariably lead to the needless
death of thousands of cats and are completely ineffective.”
“According to the most recent nationwide research, more than 70 percent of all cats who enter
shelters are killed there,” Robinson said. “For feral cats, who are not adoptable, this rises to
virtually 100 percent. Any bill requiring cats to be impounded would lead to even more deaths.”
Robinson noted that the vast majority of Americans do not support this killing. Research
commissioned by Alley Cat Allies and conducted by Harris Interactive found that 81 percent of
Americans would prefer a stray cat be left alone to live out her life than be caught and killed.
Millions of people care about these cats, Robinson said. The same study reported that over 40
percent of Americans have fed a stray cat in their lives, and one out of five has done so in the past
year. She noted that many progressive communities across the country have adopted the humane
program known as Trap-Neuter-Return for feral cats, with great success.
“Trap-Neuter-Return is the best course of action for feral cats,” Robinson said. “It humanely
stabilizes the population by ending the breeding cycle and helping the cats live better and healthier
lives. It also makes the cats better neighbors by ending mating behaviors like roaming, yowling
Robinson said that Alley Cat Allies will be following up with the Rhode Island state veterinarian’s
office to educate staff about Trap-Neuter-Return and ensure such legislation is not proposed again.
About Alley Cat Allies
Alley Cat Allies is the nation’s leading advocate for stray and feral cats. Their website is www.alleycat.org.