Better Together TNVR and Public Health APHA 11-13-18.Pdf

Better Together: TNVR and Public Health 11/13/2018

Presenter Disclosures Introduction Better Together TNVR and public health Peter J. Wolf and G. Robert Weedon • TNVR: trap-neuter-vaccinate-return G. Robert Weedon, DVM, MPH Clinical Assistant Professor and Service Head (Retired) Shelter Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine University of Illinois • Emphasis on the “V”

Peter J. Wolf, MS Research/Policy Analyst – Vaccination Best Friends Animal Society Have no relationships to disclose • Emphasizes the public health aspect of TNVR programs • Vaccinating against rabies as a means of protecting the health of the public

Introduction TNVR TNVR

• Why TNVR? • Why TNVR? – The only humane way to – More than half of impounded cats are euthanized deal with the problem of due to shelter crowding, shelter-acquired disease free-roaming (feral, or feral behavior animal welfareTNVR public health community) cats – TNVR, an alternative to shelter impoundment, – When properly applied, improves cat welfare and reduces the size of cat TNVR has been shown to colonies control/reduce populations

rabies prevention of free-roaming cats

Levy, J. K., Isaza, N. M., & Scott, K. C. (2014). Effect of high-impact targeted trap-neuter-return and adoption Levy, J. K., Isaza, N. M., & Scott, K. C. (2014). Effect of high-impact targeted trap-neuter-return and adoption of community cats on cat intake to a shelter. The Veterinary Journal, 201(3), 269–274. of community cats on cat intake to a shelter. The Veterinary Journal, 201(3), 269–274.

TNVR TNVR TNVR

• Why TNVR? • Why TNVR? • The slide rule analogy – One recently published study reporting TNVR – In one of the earliest TNVR efforts documented in – Imagine being the efforts in a densely populated Chicago, Illinois, the U.S., an estimated 300 cats on the slide rule manufacturer neighborhood documented a mean population Newburyport, Massachusetts, waterfront were the day that the pocket reduction of 54% across 20 sites eliminated over 17 years calculator came out… – In both cases, approximately 30% of the cats and kittens were removed and adopted, a positive outcome almost unimaginable in the absence of focused TNVR efforts

Spehar, D. D., & Wolf, P. J. (2018). A Case Study in Citizen Science: The Effectiveness of a Trap-Neuter-Return Spehar, D. D., & Wolf, P. J. (2017). An Examination of an Iconic Trap-Neuter-Return Program: The Program in a Chicago Neighborhood. Animals, 7(11). Newburyport, Massachusetts Case Study. Animals, 7(11).

APHA 2018 Wolf and Weedon 1 Better Together: TNVR and Public Health 11/13/2018

TNVR TNVR TNVR

• The slide rule analogy • The slide rule analogy • The slide rule analogy – TNVR is like the slide – TNVR is the best – Bottom line rule public policy for • If we get rid of the slide rule, then we go back to the – Something better will come community cats; it: abacus along, but until that time, it’s • Reduces shelter intake and better than any of the euthanasia alternatives • Reduces complaint calls to municipality • Complaint-based impoundment • Saves taxpayer money and lethal injection • Supported by ~70% of the American public • Do nothing Wolf, P. J. (2015, March 17). New Survey Reveals Widespread Support for Trap-Neuter-Return. Retrieved from https://faunalytics.org/new-survey-reveals-widespread-support-for-trap-neuter-return/

The Alliance for Contraception in Cats & Dogs TNVR and Public Health TNVR and Public Health

• Why the focus on public health? – Recent attacks on TNVR have The ACC&D Mission: To advance non-surgical focused on free-roaming cats Rabies transmission via feral cats is a particular fertility control so as to effectively and humanely being a threat to the public’s concern as demonstrated by the significant reduce the number of unwanted cats and dogs. proportion of rabies post-exposure prophylaxis health associated with exposures involving cats.” www.acc-d.org – There is a lot of misinformation — Roebling et al. (2013) out there…