Virginia Legislature Urged to Oppose TNR

On February 27, TWS wrote to members of the Virginia House of Representatives Agriculture Subcommittee in strong opposition of SB 359, which would allow the establishment of trap-neuter-release (TNR) programs in Virginia and exempt program participants of the legal responsibilities of cat ownership. TWS is concerned about the effects of implementing TNR as the accepted method of feral cat control because of the serious harm it poses to native wildlife and potential negative effects on human health. Feral cats are non-native predators that prey on native wildlife and can be a vector for spreading diseases and parasites to human and wildlife populations. On February 8, The Virginia State Senate passed SB 359 but the measure was later rejected by the House after receiving oral and written testimony in opposition to the legislation.