AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Augusta has a roaming cat issue, and handling it has employees putting the animals down through euthanasia.
Shelter information from the Georgia Department of Agriculture reveals the Augusta Animal Shelter’s cat euthanasians leapt from more than 1,000 in 2021 to more than 1,300 in 2022.
In 2022, the city euthanized almost 4 cats a day. But if Augusta stops euthanizing cats, it might put the city in a pinch of overpopulation.
We took a seat with the director of the Best Friends Animal Society, and they state there’s another service.
“Animal welfare is and should be a happy environment and not something that you come to every day having to dread knowing that you’re going to have to put down an animal,” said Teddy Tripp, director of operations, Humane Society of Northeast Georgia, Augusta branch.
Tripp assists establish the foster program for animals in Augusta and works carefully with the Augusta Animal Shelter.
“The TNR [Trap, Neuter, and Release] program, you’re actually able to decrease the number of cats that are able to populate in that area by having those animals spayed and neutered, and then brought back,” said Tripp.
Allison Mayfield is the Humane Society of Northeast Georgia CEO. She said, “We had a 20% save rate of cats, which is what Augusta Animal Services has right now, and in five years of doing this TNR program, we now have about a 92% save rate.”
From the Department of Agriculture, for all of 2022, just 3 Georgia counties euthanized more than 100 animals in a single month.
Richmond County euthanized more than 100 cats in a month, 6 times in 2022. Best Friends thinks that a three-year collaboration with the city can bring that down significantly.
Carrie Ducote is with the Best Friends Animal Society. She said, “It’s not only a waste of resources because the staff time could be used doing something else, but it’s also really sad for the animals.”
This strategy will go through city commissioners for complete approval to attempt and alter this regulation that’s presently in location, and ideally make Augusta their brand-new home for the next 3 years.
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