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Residents urge Spartanburg City Council to review or end trap'neuter'release program over Collins Avenue feral cat concerns
Summary
At the June 8 meeting, public commenters described growing feral cat populations on Collins Avenue, alleged health risks and insufficient measurable results from the city's TNR program, and asked council to review program outcomes and costs; city manager said staff would research and report back.
Speakers at public comment on June 8 told Spartanburg City Council the city's trap'neuter'release (TNR) approach for feral cats is failing in parts of the city, especially on Collins Avenue, and asked the city to review or stop the practice.
"My name is Vanessa Lex. Spartanburg City's trap'neuter'release policy for feral cats is a failure and the situation on Collins Avenue is worsening," Vanessa Lex told council, describing "large numbers of cats" she and others have observed and asserting that feral cats carry diseases. She said she had provided evidence to council through staff, including materials from PETA and wildlife conservation experts, and urged the council to "end trap'neuter'release immediately."
Henry Lech, who identified himself as a neighbor and community volunteer, said his concern is whether the program produces measurable results. "Before public funds are spent on any program, taxpayers deserve to know what success looks like, how it's measured, and whether those goals are being achieved," he said, asking the council to review the city's TNR program, its costs and long'term effectiveness.
During staff updates later in the meeting, City Manager Chris Story summarized the TNR approach for council: it is a strategy to trap feral cats, have them neutered so they don't reproduce, and release them back as an alternative to euthanasia. Story told council he would consult staff members with more detailed knowledge of the program and provide a substantive report and follow'up on the Collins Avenue concerns.
The transcript records requests from residents for a review of program measurement and for the city to consider alternatives if TNR is not achieving its goals.
Provenance: Public comment statements from Vanessa Lex and Henry Lech and the staff explanation by City Manager Chris Story during staff updates.
