HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0239.005 2024-2026May 20, 2025
County Council
County of Hawai'i
Hawai'i County Building
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo Hawai'i, 96720
COUNTY CLERK
COUNTY OF HA.WAi,
2025 MAY ? O Ali 9: 4 7
RE: Testimony in opposition to Resolution 140-25, Approving the Award of Funds to Aloha
Animal Alliance Hawai'i by the Animal Control and Protection Agency
Dear Chair Inaba, Vice Chair Onishi, and members of the Council,
Resolution 140-25 would provide a grant of $50,000 to the Aloha Animal Alliance Hawai'i
for spay and neuter activities. My understanding is that these spay and neuter activities
would include the practice known as "Trap Neuter Return," (TNR) or variably called "Trap
Neuter Return Manage," (TNRM), though both acronyms refer to the same general practice.
While neutering pet cats should be encouraged, I strongly oppose releasing neutered
cats back onto the landscape under a TNR program for the following reasons:
• Scientific analyses have consistently shown that these programs do not work to reduce
the number of feral cats on the landscape over time. See Longcore et al., 2009, in the
references below, for a thorough review of multiple TNR efforts that have failed.
TNRM has already been tried on Hawai'i Island and has failed for decades. Cat
welfare advocates have been trying to use TNR for years, with no success.
• "Managed" colonies like those at Waikaloa and Liliuokalani Park are high -profile
failures that put our Hawaiian species, like nene, at risk. Cats are also part of the
decline of the critically endangered palila on Mauna Kea.
• Funding failed policies like TNR will continue to cause the deaths of Hawaiian
species, many of which are federally listed as threatened or endangered and are
protected under the Endangered Species Act.
• As seen in New York where the American Bird Conservancy sued the state over the
failure to control "managed" colonies near at -risk native plover populations, a decision
by at the County to fund demonstrably harmful TNR policies may result in the County
becoming legally liable for the continued loss of native species and open to costly
lawsuits. (See references below)
• In recognition of the clear failures of TNR, the Hawai'i Invasive Species Council
articulated in 2019 the position of the state of Hawai'i in specifically opposing TNR
as a tool for cat management and instead supporting science -backed solutions. (See
references below)
In summary, using public funds to support a TNR program would be a waste of public
dollars, lead to further native species loss, and open the County to legal liability.
The number of feral cats in Hawai'i County has increased since the local Humane Society
ceased its provision of humane euthanasia services. This is not a problem that TNR can
solve. You will hear testimony from cat caregivers saying that this program works, but they
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will not be able to provide real, scientific evidence to support their personal anecdotes. You
will hear testimony saying that there is no alternative tool, but this is simply not true. I
would encourage the County Council to look at alternatives including the restoration of
humane euthanasia services (by its own Animal Control and Protection Agency, if
necessary) that previously helped keep cat numbers lower. The County may also want to
explore the use of cat sanctuaries like the model used on Lanai, or ordinances requiring pet
cats to be kept indoors, on leashes, or otherwise under the control of owners.
Sincerely yours,
Josh Atwood
References:
• Longcore et al (2009): Critical Assessment of Claims Regarding Management of Feral Cats
by Trap -Neuter -Return: https://abcbirds.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Longcore-
et-al.-2009-Criti cal-assessment-of-TNR-claims.pdf
• Feral Cats Relocated from Jones Beach State Park (American Bird Conservancy):
https: //abcbirds.org/news/feral-cats-relocated-from-Jones-beach-state-park/
• Hawai`i Invasive Species Council Resolution 19-2, Supporting the Keeping of Pet Cats
Indoors and the Use of Peer -Reviewed Science in Pursuing Humane Mitigation of the
Impacts of Feral Cats on Wildlife and People:
https:I/dlnr.hawaii.gov/hisc/files/2023/05/HISC-reso-19-2-signed.pdf