DEARBORN, Mich. – A program designed to tackle a neighborhood nuisance is also helping to curb another problem in some Dearborn neighborhoods.
The city has been working with Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit on a program designed to help curb the problem of feral cats.
The TNR program stands for Trap, Neuter (or Spay), and Return. Supporters describe it as a humane way of handling the stray cat population.
“You might be asking why are there so many cats running loose in my neighborhood,” Mayor Abdullah Hammoud said in his most recent Mayor’s Minute video message posted on social media this week.
He spoke about the city’s two-year partnership with Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit and announced that the TNR program is yielding positive results.
“For us, it does one of two things,” Mayor Hammoud explained. “One, its primary purpose is to help tackle the feral cat population. And then secondly, we’re seeing some secondary positive impact as it pertains to a deterrent for the rat and vermin population.”
Staff at Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit said about 80% of the stray cats coming into the shelter are kittens.
“We’re humanely trapping them,” explained Cory Keller, President and CEO of Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit. “They’re coming into the shelter overnight. We are spaying and neutering them. And they’re being re-released after 24 hours of us monitoring them and making sure they’re ok and healthy.”
Keller said under the TNR program, residents who report a feral cat get access to a trap. They also agree to be a caregiver for the animal once it’s returned to the neighborhood.
The mayor said that Dearborn has seen rat complaints decrease by 15% this year.
Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit collects data and maps locations where feral or community cats are picked up and returned.
So far, staff said more than 115 cats have been returned to neighborhoods under this program.