Trapping animals: Do’s and don’ts of a stray problem
JACKSON, Tenn. — Loose animals around West Tennessee is an issue that many are trying to resolve. However, there are certain ways you must go about diminishing this problem.
It is always a sad time for many people when stray animals are around our neighborhoods or businesses.
Recently, we have received reports from some WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News tipsters regarding cats behind a local business. These tipsters are concerned that there is a much better way that these cats should be trapped.
We spoke with Lorraine Scarborough, the secretary and treasurer of the West Tennessee Spay and Neuter Coalition, about some of these concerns.
“What they’re using for bait, they throw cans of cat food, just thrown in there, which has the sharp edges,” Scarborough said. “That’s not how you do it. That’s a danger to the cat.”
Scarborough says that they use traps that are marked with their information, and for bait, they use sardines on a flour tortilla, or sometimes even canned cat food without the can. She also talks about what to do once the animals are trapped.
“Well, there are rules and regulations in regards to what they can do with the cats once they trap them,” Scarborough said.
Some of the things Scarborough mentioned are sending the cat to the local animal authorities, or rabies control. They will be able to handle the situation in the correct fashion.
Many people are concerned with how these animals are treated. Not only that, but also mitigating the stray animal situation in the safest ways possible. Scarborough tells us more on why this is important.
“Living around a business is not a home,” she said. “It’s dangerous, for the cat, for people, etcetera. Dropping them off somewhere else is inhumane.”
Scarborough went on to say that Middle Tennessee and East Tennessee are very well funded in regards to spay and neuter clinics. She says West Tennessee is not in the same situation.
If you have any questions on stray animals and what to do to get help, call a local animal care facility to receive that information.
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