| | | | | | | | TO: | Neighborhood and Quality of Life Committee Members |
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| FROM:
| Alina T. Hudak, City Manager
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| DATE: | March 7, 2022
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| SUBJECT: | DISCUSSION REGARDING RELOCATING THE CAT COLONY AT NORTH SHORE OPEN SPACE PARK. |
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| | | | | | | | HISTORY:
| The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWCC) estimates that the population of owned cats in Florida is about 9.6 million, and the feral cat population may be 6.3 to 9.6 million. Based on ABC's poll showing an average of 35 percent of owned cats are kept exclusively indoors, the number of owned and feral cats, combined, that are outdoors and potentially preying on wildlife in Florida is in the neighborhood of 12.5 to 15.8 million. There are known feral cat colonies in at least 17 Florida counties.
The City has been in support of managing populations of community cats. The City’s Cat Program started in 2012, when it obtained its first grant from PetSmart’s Charities, Inc. for the Trapping, Neutering, Vaccination, and Release (TNVR) of feral cats. This grant covered costs associated with surgeries, vaccines, TNVR trapper fees, program supplies, food, and litter. As part of the agreement for the grant, the City procured the services of The Cat Network, Inc., a nonprofit specialized in TNVR, to implement the Cat Program.
As the program developed, the Cat Network’s mobile unit (the Meow Mobile), was utilized to perform the sterilization surgeries – largely with the help of volunteer trappers and volunteer non-profit organizations. SoBe Cat Spay and Neuter, Inc. (SoBe Cats) was created to aid the City’s Cat Program and coordinate activities that did not involve surgery.
Over a seven-year period, the City has received an approximate $288,855 from the PetSmart’s Charity’s TNVR grants. These funds helped sterilize more than 5,000 cats, or an average of 700 cats per year.
At its April 21, 2021 meeting, the Mayor and City Commission approved the execution of a lease agreement between the City, SoBe Cats Spay & Neuter, Inc. and Saving Sage Animal Rescue Foundation, Inc., for a three (3) year term, for the use of a 2,400 square foot City-owned building, located at 8128 Collins Avenue, to continue providing a trap, neuter, vaccinate, and release program and other animal welfare related services via Resolution No. 2021-31690.
At its January 20, 2022 meeting, the City Commission approved a referral to the Neighborhood & Quality of Life Committee (NQLC), a Discussion Regarding Relocating The Cat Colony At North Shore Open Space Park. |
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| | | | | | | | ANALYSIS
| CURRENT STATUS OF THE CAT PROGRAM:
The PetSmart Charities' grant was intended to jump-start the Cat Program to control the feral cat population, it was not intended to sustain the program long-term. Accordingly, in 2019, PetSmart Charities decided not to continue funding the City of Miami Beach's Cat Program, and instead, used the funding to launch similar programs in other municipalities.
Once the PetSmart Charities' grant was discontinued, the City Commission approved additional funding for the Cat Program and Kitty Campus. The City, along with SoBe Cats Spay and Neuter and Sage Animal Rescue Foundation, has been able to rescue approximately 500 cats off of the streets and place them into loving homes, and TNVR another 500 cats, for total of 1,000 cats serviced in Fiscal Year 2021.
The Administration strongly believes that the practice of TNVR and rescuing cats from the streets and placing them into loving homes is the most humane and effective method that is supported by Miami Dade Animal Services/County. It is important to note, that even if performed while following the proper protocols, the relocation of community cats may be ineffective, and in many cases dangerous, since community cats are known to bond with their home environment, and if relocated, may attempt to return to their previously established territory, and thereby possibly die in the process.
PROPOSED RELOCATION PLAN & ESTIMATED FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The estimated trapping length of time is 6 months, since efficacy is lost when trapping is performed in the same locations on consecutive days.
Trapping Efforts - $200,000
Acclimating Cats to New Neighborhood in Resident Backyard is approximately $400,000
Total YEAR ONE = $600,000*
Total Operational Cost Each Year Thereafter = $240,000**
*Estimate does not include medication for trapped cats that are sick or need medical attention. Additionally, estimate does not include the cost of relocating and acclimatizing additional new cats that will move into North Shore Open Space Park once the cats have been relocated to other neighborhoods and void has been created at the park. This is known as the "vacuum effect".
**Since it is possible that as many as 40% of the relocated cats may attempt to return to North Shore Open Space Park, it is estimated that this will be the recurring cost to re-trap and re-house the cats back into the residents' backyards. |
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| | | | | | | | CONCLUSION:
Even if performed while following the proper protocols, the relocation of community cats will not be 100% effective- and in many cases dangerous, since community cats are known to bond with their home environment, and if relocated, may attempt to return to their previously established territory, and thereby possibly die in the process. Additionally, more new cats will move into the void that has been created by removing the Park cats from their natural habitat and homes. The activity of relocating and acclimatizing the feral cats by caging for 3 to 6 weeks is extremely stressful on the cats and the 15 registered feeders and may be considered cruel by some. As such, the Administration is not in support of relocating the community cats from the North Shore Open Space Park. Rather, the Administration strongly believes that the practice of TNVR and rescuing cats from the streets and placing them into loving homes is the most humane and effective method that is supported by Miami Dade Animal Services/County.
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| | | | | | | | Applicable Area
| South Beach |
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| | | | | | | | Is this a "Residents Right to Know" item, pursuant to City Code Section 2-14? | | Does this item utilize G.O. Bond Funds? | | Yes | | No | |
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