Reality: CNR

Animals Ilan Reality

It's not possible to rehome all the strays out there: this is the sad but true reality. Some strays are fairly well off: they've got territory, freedom, a reliable food source, and are healthy enough to reproduce.

CNR (catch, neuter, return) programs capture strays from parks, beaches, streets, etc.; have them spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and tagged; and then release them back to their original hangouts.

Because they are vaccinated, CNRed strays have a better chance at resisting disease. Because they are spayed or neutered, CNRed strays no longer contribute to the problem of stray overpopulation. Because CNRed strays are tagged, it's possible to keep a record of the effectiveness of the CNR program.

Because they are released, CNRed strays actually actively assist in controlling the stray population. Since each territory offers only limited food and space for stray animals to use, there is a natural limit to the numbers of strays that can live healthily in any one given area. Released neutered strays take up available space and eat available food, but do not reproduce. Because they protect their territory from outsiders, released CNRed strays make it difficult for other non-CNRed animals to move in. According to some studies, once 70% of the strays in a given area have been CNRed, the stray population of that area will level off and no longer keep exploding.

"Catch, neuter, and return" costs less, is more humane, and is more effective at controlling stray animal overpopulation than "catch and kill." Our goal is to get the Yilan County Government to realize the benefits of CNR, start supporting it, and eventually officially implement CNR in place of existing "catch and kill" policies.

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