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Feral Cats In Brevard County
What is a
feral cat?
Feral cats are "wild" or untamed, either due to birth or
reversion from domestication to a wild state. Feral cats are not
interactive with humans (such as a stray would be), have no known owner,
and should always be handled with caution. Why does
Brevard County have a feral cat program?
Feral cat colonies are primarily the result of uncontrolled breeding
that occurs when pet owners abandon or fail to spay or neuter their
animals. Is there a
feral cat ordinance in Brevard?
Yes. Section 14-64, Code of Ordinance of Brevard County,
addresses the following feral cat issues:
1) unmanaged feral cats
put the public at risk to rabies and other diseases and can be a nuisance
2) community members who voluntarily alleviate suffering
and neglect of feral cat colonies through humanitarian measures don't have
sufficient personal resources to impact the entire program
3)
a partnership of the County with feral cat colony caregivers is the best
means of protecting public safety, health and welfare. How does
Brevard County's feral cat management program work?
The Animal Services and Enforcement Director administers the ordinance
through oversight of services or funding provided by the County, and by
aiding caregivers in the management of a registered colony. To the
extent that County funding is available, it will be used to offset costs
of trapping, neutering and vaccinating captured feral cats that will be
returned to a registered feral cat colony. How does a
feral cat colony get registered?
A feral cat colony may be registered with the Space Coast Feline
Network when a volunteer caregiver can assure that:
1) regular
feeding will be maintained throughout the year
2) adult cats and
kittens over 8-weeks of age that can be captured will be neutered and
vaccinated
3) every attempt will be made to remove kittens from the
colony before 8-weeks of age for domestication and placement
4)
sick or injured cats will be removed from the colony for immediate
veterinarian care or humane euthanasia
5) cats will be earmarked
for recognition as members of a registered feral cat colony
6)
records of sterilization, vaccination, and animal identification can be
provided to Animal Services and Enforcement upon request.
What Can You Do About Feral Cats?
Steps
you can take to help alleviate the Feral Cat
problem in Brevard County
Be a
responsible cat owner by keeping your pet indoors.
The life span of an indoor cat is 17 years and up compared to 2-5
years for a free-roaming pet, and 6 months - 2 years for a non-monitored
feral.
Have your
pets neutered and vaccinated.
Take your cat to your favorite veterinarian or visit a low-cost clinic
in your area. A listing of low-cost clinics is available at www.spacecoastfelinenetwork.com.
Recognize a
registered feral cat colony.
Cats that are members of a registered feral cat colonies will be
marked by having the tip of the ear clipped. Colonies will be
located in non-nuisance environments away from regular interaction with
people and automobiles. Registered colonies are monitored and fed
every day - with the goal of zero population growth as the cats die out
through natural attrition.
Report stray
or feral cats to the Space Coast Feline Network by calling (321) 633-2040.
Space Coast Feral Network members will determine if a cat is already
part of a monitored colony. If not, they will assist with humane
trapping. Stray cats are relocated to the local animal shelter while
feral cats are neutered, vaccinated, earmarked, treated for minor
afflictions, and relocated to a registered feral cat colony (or, if sick
or injured, feral cats are humanely euthanized).
Support the
Feral Cat Program.
In cities throughout the United States, the trap-neuter-return
(TNR)
policy has been proven effective and considerably less expensive than
euthanasia. You can be a part through financial contributions to the
Feral Cat Trust Fund or by becoming a member of the Space Coast Feline
Network. To find out more, call (321) 633-2040 or visit the Space
Coast Feline Network website at www.spacecoastfelinenetwork.com.
Contributions should be made payable to:
Brevard
County Feral Cat fund
Animal Services and Enforcement
1515
Sarno Road, Bldg A
Melbourne, FL 32935
For Further
Information please visit the following sites:
The
Ally Cat Allies
Space Coast Feline
Network
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