Accentuate the Posi.ve Reasoned, Respec,ul Responses to Community Cats Naysayers Introduc7on Vincent Medley Assistant Director, Animal Care Services Department, City of San Antonio Vincent.Medley@sanantonio.gov October 23 26, 2014 1
Introduc7on Peter Wolf Cat Ini7a7ves Analyst, Best Friends Animal Society peterw@bes,riends.org Blogger at Vox Felina www.voxfelina.com Introduc7on What we ll cover today Who are these naysayers? The need for appropriate responses Perspec7ve #1: Research analyst Perspec7ve #2: Enforcement officer Q&A October 23 26, 2014 2
Who are these naysayers? Naysayers Outside of organiza7on/movement Policymakers and elected officials City, county, state leaders General public Media Conserva7on community And more October 23 26, 2014 3
Naysayers Within organiza7on/movement Other advocates (e.g., PETA, caregivers) Colleagues, employees (e.g., old- school ACOs) And more The need for appropriate responses October 23 26, 2014 4
Appropriate responses TNR and community cat programs are cri7cal to our mission Eliminate needless shelter killing We seem to be at a 7pping point Significant momentum Opponents are becoming increasingly desperate Appropriate responses To overcome opposi7on, advocates need: Credibility (e.g., facts, evidence- based policy) Respectability (e.g., integrity) Consistency (e.g., messaging) October 23 26, 2014 5
Perspec7ve: Research analyst First: A word about my blogging October 23 26, 2014 6
My blogging Vox Felina: An outlet for (strong) opinion and (o`en snarky) commentary All of it supported by lots of facts and intense analysis Not technically my day job, but I can t disassociate from Best Friends en7rely Not the voice I use to speak with policymakers, the media, etc. But, in the end, I own all of it (proceed with cau7on) A lible philosophy October 23 26, 2014 7
Philosophy Various aspects of respect The more of these you can tap into, the beber Respect for another person Respect for one s 7tle, office, accomplishments Respect for process, venue Respect for oneself Respect for one s organiza7on Respect for a cause Respect for the truth Philosophy I don t want a fight; I just want my way. Which one you get depends on which tool(s) you use October 23 26, 2014 8
Philosophy I don t want a fight; I just want my way. The tool(s) are determined by answering two ques7ons Who are the people we are trying to influence? What do we need from them? Some examples October 23 26, 2014 9
The Bal(more Sun Response to the American Bird Conservancy s Grant Sizemore: school officials were wise to be cau7ous. They may have been familiar with a recently published Mayo Clinic study that found that 30% of pa7ents with cat bites to the hand had to be hospitalized and that the average length of stay for these pa7ents was 3.2 days. The Bal(more Sun Grant Sizemore s recent leber betrays a fundamental misunderstanding of sta7s7cs, and serves as a textbook example of how such misinterpreta7ons can lead to poor public policy. October 23 26, 2014 10
The Bal(more Sun Grant Sizemore s recent leber betrays a fundamental misunderstanding of sta7s7cs, and serves as a textbook example of how such misinterpreta7ons can lead to poor public policy. A note on my windshield Paw prints on car A lible fearful of cats October 23 26, 2014 11
A note on my windshield Carefully composed note explaining TNR Killing as euthanasia Na7onal Animal Care & Control Associa7on Conference Legality of Community Cat Programs October 23 26, 2014 12
Killing as euthanasia A few highlights from our Community Cats Project in Albuquerque, New Mexico: Since being launched in February 2012, no cat euthanized for being feral. Killing as euthanasia A few highlights from our Community Cats Project in Albuquerque, New Mexico: Since being launched in February 2012, no cat euthanized for being feral. October 23 26, 2014 13
AVMA s policy on community cats All free- roaming abandoned and feral cats that are not in managed colonies should be removed from their environment and treated in the same manner as other abandoned and stray animals in accord with local and state ordinances. AVMA s policy on community cats All free- roaming abandoned and feral cats that are not in managed colonies should be removed from their environment and treated in the same manner as other abandoned and stray animals in accord with local and state ordinances. October 23 26, 2014 14
AVMA s policy on community cats We know full well the fate that awaits the majority of these cats. To con7nue to suggest, however subtly, that communi7es can kill their way out of the so- called feral cat problem is disingenuous at best, and raises numerous ethical ques7ons about our roles as veterinary professionals. AVMA s policy on community cats as others have pointed out, the AVMA should be encouraging state laws and local ordinances that reflect reality and promote the best interest of the public. October 23 26, 2014 15
AVMA s policy on community cats as others have pointed out, the AVMA should be encouraging state laws and local ordinances that reflect reality and promote the best interest of the public. Pima County County administrator and Board of Supervisors This dangerous policy would cause animal suffering and an eventual increase in animal- control related taxpayer costs, and we respec,ully urge you to oppose it. (PETA) October 23 26, 2014 16
Pima County County administrator and Board of Supervisors Based on the overwhelming evidence that invariably indicates the failure of TNR to reduce feral cat popula7ons and their associated risks to wildlife and human health and safety, we respec,ully suggest that you u7lize the best available scien7fic informa7on and reject the proposal before you. (Tucson Audubon Society) Pima County we understand that there is a great deal of debate when it comes to the science surrounding the TNR method of popula7on management and free- roaming cats in general rather than debate the scien7fic points on which some scien7sts can t even agree, we feel it is important to focus on the simple mathema7cal observa7on that this program will reduce the numbers of cats living outdoors in our community. October 23 26, 2014 17
Pima County we understand that there is a great deal of debate when it comes to the science surrounding the TNR method of popula7on management and free- roaming cats in general rather than debate the scien7fic points on which some scien7sts can t even agree, we feel it is important to focus on the simple mathema7cal observa7on that this program will reduce the numbers of cats living outdoors in our community. Pima County In terms of reducing the number of free- roaming cats in our community a goal voiced by all stakeholders this is undoubtedly a worthwhile tradeoff: put back 1,000 2,000 cats in exchange for preven7ng the birth of 15,000 kibens. October 23 26, 2014 18
Pima County In terms of reducing the number of free- roaming cats in our community a goal voiced by all stakeholders this is undoubtedly a worthwhile tradeoff: put back 1,000 2,000 cats in exchange for preven7ng the birth of 15,000 kibens. Tips and tricks October 23 26, 2014 19
Tips and tricks Know your strengths and weaknesses. (Are you the best person to respond in this case?) Be prepared and prac7ce (especially if you ve only got 3 minutes!). Assume everything you say will be recorded and widely shared. Slow down and breathe. Listen more than you speak. Tips and tricks Focus on areas of agreement. Don t try to get in somebody else s head. (Focus on what s said and done, rather than assume mo7ves.) Focus on behavior; stay away from character. Don t lose sight of what you really want (not a fight, but your way). October 23 26, 2014 20
Resources Resources Best Friends ac7on kit: Advoca(ng for TNR in Your Community When You re an Outlaw: Persuading Municipal Officials to Implement TNR hbps://petsmartchari7es.exceedlms.com October 23 26, 2014 21
Resources Community TNR Tac(cs and Tools hbp://www.petsmartchari7es.org/pro/ community- tnr- tac7cs- and- tools Crucial Conversa(ons: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High Perspec7ve: Enforcement officer October 23 26, 2014 22