WEST COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) -
Dozens of residents and business owners showed up Tuesday night to speak out about the newly proposed feral cat ordinance in West Columbia.
The consensus inside West Columbia's council chambers appeared to be simple.
"We have a problem in West Columbia," said resident Gene Ray. "Something needs to be done. I don't know what."
Neighbors and business owners filled the meeting spoke out on the proposed ordinance to trap, neuter, and then release the feral cats.
"Whether they're spayed or unspayed doesn't seem to be a practical solution when you turn them back into the neighborhood," said business owner Cathy Novinger.
"This is not something that the rescue community has made up," said Pawmetto Lifeline's Tracy Johnson. "This is not something the Humane Society of the United States made up as a big organization. This is a scientific fact proven again and again over many, many years."
The Charleston area passed the "Trap, Neuter, and Release" policy 2 years ago and the Humane Society says they've started to see a decline.
"They were euthanizing just over 80 percent of cats in 2007. They're not euthanizing just over 30 percent because TNR has been so effective down there," Humane Society representative Kim Kelly said.
Advocates say it takes time for TNR to work. The proposed ordinance wouldn't cost taxpayers and after 2 years the city can re-evaluate.
Jimmie Ewing helped to draft the ordinance.
"We have $40,000 committed for this program over the next 2 years if it's enacted," Ewing said. "I guarantee you there will be more donations coming."
Some residents don't want to wait to see results and, despite the stats, are leery it will work.
"I'm tired of them fighting under my window, breeding under my window all over my automobile, urinating on my porch, all over the furniture," Ray said. "Can't tell me a spayed cat don't spray."
Supporters say if the cats are monitored, once they're spayed and neutered, neighbors will see a change.
"There will be less annoying behavior, there will be less yowling, less fighting and yes, less spraying," Ewing said.
Mayor Joe Owens took an informal survey at the end of the meeting and the vast majority wants to change the ordinance.
"The scientific reality of that is if they haven't had cats back there already they will in a very short amount of time," Johnson said. "It is not a solution to pick up, house, and euthanize these cats. It will not work."
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