HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0283.478 2024-2026From: GIG[ DG
Sent: Monday, July 21, 2025 7:47 PM
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To: Council Testimony
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Subject: Oppose Bill 51
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To whom it may concern,
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I am galled at a proposal, specifically Bill 51, that
is attempting to legalize choomg animal
cruelty over humane treatment. I am disheartened and confused to hear that you will be
effectively choosing to end a life to save another.
I recognize the urgency to help native
wildlife populations. But this problem is decades'
old and is a result of little planning nor
consistent community education. This proposal sanctions painful torturous death of
innocent lives. How can you justify this action?
What are your criteria and justifications that you are utilizing to determine which life is
more precious? It couldn't include that which makes all animals equal ---hearts, blood,
and all organs. According to Eugenia Natoli's article, "The intrinsic moral value of
individuals: A bioethical" approach to domestic cats and damaged species" (Applied
Animal Behaviour Science, Volume 271, 2024), "Based on the most basic dictates of
bioethics, although domestic cats cause 'harm', they deserve 'humane" methods of control
(Wallach et al., 2015) because they are sentient animals capable of experiencing suffering
and, as such, have intrinsic moral value." This is too delicate an ethical matter to create a
quick placebo in Bill 51, to a very complicated solution that includes many entities.
This overpopulation of cats is caused by humans and a poorly -constructed system to help
support the reduction in feral cat numbers. These policies should align with the humane
treatment of all animals in our care as stewards of this earth —free or low-cost clinics,
pet -friendly renter protections, spay/neuter vouchers, and feeder registries —offer far
more effective, humane, and community -supported outcomes.
This problem has occurred as a result of humans' lack of education. According to the
American Veterinary Medical Association, (AVMA) the numbers will reduce in a
collaborative effort focused on multiple approaches as well as education. Specifically, the
public should understand and embrace the negative effects of feral cat populations. The
public needs to be a part of the solution.
This knee-jerk reaction will not reduce the populations indefinitely until . The AVMA
states, "State and local agencies should adopt and enforce ordinances that:
Prohibit the abandonment of owned cats Comm. �I L22025
Ref. To:Ref. Date-
• Require sterilization of all cats adopted from humane organizations and animal
control agencies
• Require rabies vaccination
• Require microchip identification of all owned cats and cats in managed colonies
• Require cats in managed colonies be ear tipped when spayed or neutered
• Encourage owners to keep owned cats indoors, in an outdoor enclosure, or on an
attended leash
• Prohibit public feeding of intact free -roaming abandoned and feral cats"
(httos•//wzm avma org/resources-tools/avma-policies/free-roaming-abandoned-and-feral-
cats).
The bottom line is that until you, as a community, address the larger issues that are
CREATING these colonies, you will be a part of the cyclical inhumanity of killing thousands
of innocent lives reinforced by your inaction at collective change. This is not a
solution. This is simply an insufficient patch with no end that will contribute to the slow,
painful weeks' long cruel death of innocent cats.
I urge you to work collectively, for a better solution than is proposed in Bill 51--currently
sanctioning torture.
Respectfully,
Genevieve Di Giulio
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