City of Evanston

What an amazing outcome!

February 5, 2010 4:37 PM

I strongly disapprove of the way you are handling the feral cat issue in Evanston. It is cruel and inhumane. Implementing a trap neuter and return plan is the only humane and practical way to address the problem . Relocation of the colony does not solve the problem , as the cats will continue to have litter upon litter of offspring in the new location. The way to break the cycle is to trap, spay, neuter, then return the cats to their colony. Euthanasia is neither humane nor deisrable. Please accept the assistanvce of the organiztions that are willing to help with a TNR program .The cats are not to blame for their situation, probably irresponsible owners are the culprit. Pleae show some compassion and work on controlling the feral cat population rather than annihilating it.

February 5, 2010 5:07 PM

This is wonderful! I am so pleased that this option was pursued by the city rather than simply persisting with the previous abatement program. Tree House provides terrific services, not just for feral populations, and I'm very happy to see this partnership. I hope that it will continue if other feral populations are discovered.

February 5, 2010 6:12 PM

Wally
I was sad to hear that the last compassionate person in Evanston died when the home owner who was taking care of the cats passed away. Its nice to know that the city of Evanston is also good at wasting the city's funds. By contacting the local animal groups, (who would have trapped and spayed / neutered the cats for free), the tax payers would have saved thousands of dollars. But now you have to cover-up your cruelty and poor fiscal judgment with this press release after all the killings have been done and hand over what few remaining cats are left to the Tree House people.

I once thought your community was a real treat, but now I will not spend any money here again so you can use it to destroy with such disdain.

February 5, 2010 7:11 PM

Thank you Tree House Humane Society for stepping up and facilitating the smartest and most humane solution to this situation. I applaud you and will donate to your actions.

February 5, 2010 8:56 PM

Very good news.

February 5, 2010 8:59 PM

I am so disappointed in how the city of Evanston responded to this situation. If it were stray dogs would the city have just started killing them to get rid of them? I thought Evanston was one of the more progressive and open-minded of Chicago's suburbs but obviously city officials are still in the dark ages. Shame on you, Evanston city officials. There was humane society, Alley Cat Allies, that repeatedly asked to work with the city to put a humane solution in place that would once and for all address the feral cat population. But Evanston officials were not interested in humane solutions and decided to just trap and kill all of the feral cats. As a life-long resident of Chicago's north side I am disgusted with Evanston and have changed forever how I will think of Evanston. The latest update on this blog makes it sound like the city is open to partnering with humane societies but since only a handful of cats remain, this is a meaningless display at this point. The city has already trapped and killed most of the feral cats. Unfortunately, relocating feral cats, as will happen to the few left alive, is very difficult and confusing for the cats and does not address other feral cat populations. What will happen if more feral cats are found? Will they just be trapped and killed once again? What Evanston needs to do is to adopt a long-term solution like trap-nueter-return which will, over time, eliminate feral cat populations without needing to kill any of them and draw such negative publicity to the city. City officials of Evanston, please work with Alley Cat Allies and implement a humane, reasonable and permanent solution that includes trap-nueter-return so that this senseless killing is never repeated. Until I hear that this type of policy is in place, I will not patronize any business in Evanston and will ask my family, friends and co-workers, many of whom are cat owners, to do the same.

February 5, 2010 9:21 PM

Thrilled to hear about this update! Thanks for doing the humane thing.

February 6, 2010 12:39 AM

Somehow this is heartening news after all the sturm und drang of the budget hearings.

February 6, 2010 5:32 AM

As a resident of the 1900 block of Grant, I believe the solution reached is fair to all. Best of all, it gives the cats a new lease on life, while alleviating the problem. And anyone wishing to buy the vacant property won't have to inherit the remaining colony. Good job, and THANK YOU Treehouse!

February 6, 2010 7:11 AM

Why doesn't this blog explain that "exercising all options" means trapping and killing? Why wasn't Trap Neuter Return done? Inhumane to kill these cats. A society can be best judged by how it treats its animals. Boo to Evanston!

February 6, 2010 8:31 AM

As a long-term caregiver of feral cats, I'm extremely disappointed in the city's decisions regarding the feral cats. Many of the cats have already been destroyed, and while the plan for relocation may make you feel better, relocation seldom works; most relocated cats die horrific deaths trying to find their way "home." If only you had listened to the pleas of Alley Cat Allies and other humane rescue groups, effective solutions that would have addressed the concerns of residents and city officials that would have also spared the lives of these cats could have been reached. Instead, you chose to close your minds and hearts. Shame on you! When I am in Chicagoland I will be sure I never pass through Evanston to purchase a meal, gasoline, or make other expenditures. When it comes time to send my daughter to college, it will not be Northwestern University, even though NWU was among the top 3 schools we were seriously considering. But I would never allow any of my dollars to be spent in such a heartless, soulless, immoral community. I hope cat lovers and humane society volunteers from all over the US will join me in boycotting the City of Evanston.

February 6, 2010 8:39 AM

Feral cats CAN pose no harm or risk to community if treated RESPECTFULLY. Evanston likes to think of itself as forward thinking and responsible- but trapping and killing cats in not humane. Trap, Neuter, Return works very effectively and can provide the community of cats and people harmony. Feral cats exist and pro-create because of irresponsible people letting out of kicking out their own cats that have not been neutuered. The cats should not suffer because of someone's ignorance. EVANSTON should know better and act more responsibly.

February 6, 2010 10:20 AM

I have to admit that when I saw the original report on EvanstonNow.com, I naively expected Evanston would work with local groups like nearby Treehouse to implement their successful and well-organized trap-neuter-return program. I was shocked and saddened to hear that my town was killing some of these cats even while the cat care organizations were talking with them about a fast and effective plan. Glad that they finally got it together. Just not soon enough for some. Hopefully this episode will raise awareness and put a connection in place so that future ferals will be treated humanely. As for talks of boycotts, I submit that Evanston is a place full of all kinds of people. Not the last bastion of all things progressive as you might want to believe. Different people, and people who make mistakes. Please don't hold this against our entire community. Let's learn from this, fix it and do better.

February 6, 2010 11:42 AM

Too bad this rescue by Tree House has taken place when only a handful of cats survived the slaughter orchestrated by the City of Evanston. These humane organizations have been standing by ready to help and the City wouldn't let them. I believe the City only agreed because of pressure from a few of us who realized how awful this was and commented on it. Why couldn't this agreement have taken place weeks ago when most of these cats could have been saved?

February 6, 2010 11:50 AM

I am shocked to hear that such cruelty to helpless animals is being taken in our society today. It is not the cats fault that they were being hoared. Please, discontiue this policy and let Tree House have control over them. Killing should not be an option in this case or, any other where an animal is being mistreated.

February 6, 2010 2:12 PM

So much for the wildlife on the farm in Indiana.

February 6, 2010 3:54 PM

For the record, I'm a top notch professional (from another state) who was planning to apply for one of the vacancies with the city. As a former Midwesterner, I was looking for professional opportunities back in the heartland - so you would have been lucky to get me. But after seeing the news about this situation and how poorly it was handled by city officials, I have no intention of applying for the job now. This incident says a lot about city leaders - and it's not good. When people from all across your community and the country were begging you to take their help, you ignored the offers until 90 percent of the damage was done. Horrible, horrible city leadership.

February 6, 2010 8:27 PM

How does it feel to kill innocent animals? I guess there is no feeling. Other cats will breed and fill the new void and any relocated cats will be traumatized at the least. You can continue killing cats or you can allow the trap, neuter, relaese program wherein cats hold their territory without new litters being born, thus decreasing the overpopulation. If I were killing cats I would probably be facing a court penalty for cruelty to animals. Evanston has certainly made a lasing impression in my mind.

February 6, 2010 11:55 PM

For those of you upset that an on-site TNR option for these cats was not implemented, may I remind you that this is private property which will sooner or later be sold or re-occupied by someone else. Who would be willing to buy a house and property occupied by 100 cats? That would be an unreasonable burden to place upon the deceased's family or new owner. Not everyone is as fond or obsessed with cats as you may be. Plus, I can't imagine come summer, the odor from 100 cats will be very pleasant to the neighbors. If you are so concerned about the welfare of the cats you should have stepped up immediately to take the cats when the story first broke. I'm sure the city would have been glad to you let you take them. The city has done the right thing from the start on this.

February 7, 2010 8:03 AM

May I say that I am extremely disappointed in the decision to trap and kill feral cats in Evanston. Research has shown that not only is this an ineffective method ( as there is a “vacuum effect” with new cats filling in the void where food supplies exist), but it is not a cost-effective solution, as it has been shown that it costs more to trap and kill than to neuter and return to willing caregivers. This way, new animals will likewise be spayed. With time, the number of these neutered individuals gradually decrease, and this is the humane way to solve the concern for the town. Many big and small towns have faced the same issues and dealt with them in successfully humane manners that are win-win. Humane organizations such as Alley Cat Allies and others can provide assistance, education, and monitoring for these activities. Your approach to the cat population is neither reasonable, nor humane.

Relocation is not a viable option, though may appear so at first look. Cats are territorial animals and form strong bonds with the location they inhabit. A food source exists in the area and the cats are acclimated to local conditions. Relocating feral cats is a difficult, time-consuming, and challenging undertaking. Admittedly this is preferable to trap and kill, but will once again not resolve the long term issues involved that caused the desire to relocate these animals in the first place. Please be open to those humane organizations such as Alley Cat Allies who are willing to help the city of Evanston find a sustainable solution that would be acceptable to all.

February 7, 2010 9:36 AM

For shame on the city. Don't you realize that trap/spay/return is the only way to combat feral cat populations? Take a hint from the island of Hawaii--they tried to kill all their feral cats--didn't work. If an island can't do it, you know a city in the middle of the country can't either. Relocation is not humane. You should sponsor free or cheap cat neutering/spaying clinics all over the city so that irresponsible homeowners (those who failed to fix their cats & let them roam outside) can afford to do the right, humane thing. Cook County should do the same.

February 7, 2010 12:55 PM

Perhaps the City of Evanston will next begin trapping an killing other types of living beings that they deem "feral, useless eaters", like the mentally disabled and retired senior citizens.

Evanston, your trap and kill mentality assures me that I will NEVER set foot in your town. You are EVIL!!!

February 7, 2010 12:57 PM

City officials, your ignorance in the midst of a highly educated, enlightened, progressive community is nothing short of disgusting. You have solved nothing by destroying 33 or more innocent creature lives merely because you assumed that they were a nuisance. Thank goodness for the efforts of Tree House and other committed individuals toward the few who remain -- but really, your token acceptance of their benevolence doesn't fool any of us. My family and I once did a great deal of business in your city, but be advised that we will no longer shop there or otherwise patronize your merchants. And you will certainly not be among our considerations for future residences.

February 7, 2010 2:52 PM

I am amazed at how one sided and self centered individuals can be. I live in an area of a growing population of feral cats. At first it was live and let live, but now the situation has become one sided. By that I mean, because of the feral cats, we now have no rabbits, a rare squirrel, and no ground feeding birds (Who was here first? Birds or cats?). While I am not necessarily in favor of killing the cats, neither am I in favor of them using my garden and garage as their own personal litter box, and my garbage (in the garage in a garbage can) as their banquet of choice. (And yes I set up a motion sensor camera to verify it was cats and not a racoon or other animal). I there for am in favor of the cats being trapped and relocated to a place I can only assume would be healther than living in the streets and eating garbage.

February 7, 2010 4:31 PM

As a resident of Chicago, I frequently visit Evanston, and attend the restaurants, stores and theaters of Evanston. I spend a fair amount of money each year in Evanston. As a result of this feral cat situation, I will not be spending a dime in Evanston, ever again. Ten minutes of time is what it would have taken if any Evanston city official went online, or made a few calls to get some input on how to deal with this situation. Shame on Evanston...how sad that these poor cats had to die rather than annoy some of the residents, or because it was probably the fastest and cheapest way to deal with the situation.

February 7, 2010 5:10 PM

Simply disgusting. Too lazy to brain-storm, which would have saved those cats. How difficult would it have been for Evanston to pick up a telephone and contact some no-kill shelters, who would have happily taken these poor animals? How do these people sleep at night?

February 8, 2010 12:48 AM

I am disgusted by the approach that this city has taken in dealing with its feral cat population. Your approach is not only inhumane, but antiquated and proven ineffective. Please step into the 21st century, and out of your backward thinking, by adopting a policy of trap, neuter, release and not trap and kill. You shame your city and all of Illinois with such currently cruel policies.

February 8, 2010 10:30 AM

Thank goodness for Tree House. I would have hoped that the Evanston Police Department could have come up with a humane solution to the situation on their own. Anyone with a brain knows that TNR is the best, most effective way to manage a cat colony. I've lived in Evanston since 1999 and I'm outraged that the police responded by rounding up the cats and killing them when effective alternatives are available. Get your act together, Evanston. You're behind the times.....

February 8, 2010 10:43 AM

The City of Evanston is not telling the whole story. According to Alley Cat Allies, the national advocacy group for feral cats, most of the 100 cats were already trapped and killed before entering into the agreement with Tree House. We can only hope the City will learn from its tragic error and concede the fact that trap-and-kill is NO solution to feral cat management.

February 8, 2010 1:10 PM

How many cats were KILLED by the City of Evanston before the city finally entered into an agreement with the Tree House Humane Society? Those in the know indicate that DOZENS of cats have already been senselessly slaughtered. While I'm glad the few remaining cats will have a chance at life, I feel that the leaders of Evanston changed their policy too late...too little, too late. I am not placated by this decision, that's for sure.
I am ashamed of Evanston at the moment, and will be making sure none of my hard-earned money goes into supporting this city. Your merchants will lose out on my revenue because of the ignorance and cruelty of your leaders' politics. Just disgusting.

February 8, 2010 1:24 PM

My high opinion of Evanston has changed after this. I'm hearing that there are only a few cats remaining since your city killed the majority of them. I do not believe you worked effectively with anyone to try to save the cats; you wanted to get rid of them and did the most expedient and convenient thing for the city to do -- you killed them instead. Evanston is not a compassionate, humane, and decent city and neither are the people who run it.

February 8, 2010 3:55 PM

My opinion of Evanaston has declined lately and this may be the nail in the coffin. I used to think Evanston was a progressive city. Everyone knows that trap-neuter-return is the only effective, long-term solution to feral cat populations. This is because if you remove the cats by any other means a vacuum effect is created. Other cats simply move in to the exact location you took them from, they repopulate quickly, and in no time at all you're back where you started from. 20 minutes of research, google "trap-neuter-return", would tell you this. No rocket scientist degree required. Honestly, taking the cats away en masse and killing them is something a backwards, unintelligent, unresourceful town would do. I did not expect this from Evanston. And then to call in Tree House (an excellent group) as a cover-up only AFTER the dirty killing was done is beyond shameful.

Something is clearly wrong with the leadership in Evanston. You better take a good, long look at yourself and your actions before it's too late to turn your city around. Perhaps instead of letting your ego get in the way, decide to make things better. Make a change and announce that whatever has happened has happened and is in the past, and from this point forward Evanston will be a Trap-Neuter-Return city.

February 8, 2010 5:00 PM

Evanston should be ashamed of itself. Join the 21st century and learn about Trap, Neuter and Return.

February 8, 2010 7:17 PM

Looks like some of the meaner cats have decided to flee up North a little and take residence under my porch. These are not nice cats by any stretch of the imagination. We have many neighborhood cats that are fine and friendly. Last week a group of 3-5 ferals have taken residence and they are scary. I wonder if anyone who has commented has seen these cats? I highly doubt they would be domesticated at this point. They scare me and I am afraid they are going to attack my dog and my children. They are a pack. If there were a pack of stray dogs running around hungry I'm pretty sure the city would treat them the same. Pretty sure none of you would want to do the work I've had to do to make my front porch secure and cat free. Hopefully blocking their entrance will make them move along. They hiss and fight on everyone front lawn all day long. Are these the sweet little cats you are imagining when you are judging how the City of Evanston decided to handle a problem?

Any boycotting businesses in the City even though the owners may feel the same as you? Seriously? Sounds like a real statement. The city officials don't own the stores and restaurants. I doubt the officials called the stores and restaurant owners and asked for their approval before they made their decision, don't punish them. If you want to make a statement, don't step foot in the police department or city hall.

February 8, 2010 11:51 PM

Evanston, I used to think you were cool.
To those who think that because these cats were on private property, this had to be done (because who would buy a house with a feral cat colony?): Humans might divide up the world's land and pay for it as they will, but we still have to share it with the other species of the world.
To those who are concerned about the other wildlife in the area being hunted by these cats: That's where trap, neutering/spaying, and RETURNING them to their previous environment helps. If you don't, other cats will just move in their place, and these won't be neutered or spayed - they will cause the population to grow. Additionally, there are people everywhere willing to provide food for feral cats. If these cats are spayed/neutered and fed by humans, their population will be controlled, they will hunt much less, and they will continue to have a natural life.
To those who think these cats are mean: yes, they are wild animals, like racoons, possums, and such. The average lifespan of a feral cat is only 2 years. Every day is a fight for survival, they have to be tough.
I'm ashamed that the discovery of a large colony of cats was enough to send the city of Evanston into such a state of panic that most of the cats were killed, even as advocacy and rescue groups voiced their concern and offered alternative options.
Hopefully the death of these living beings will at least serve to educate and prevent such rash actions in the future.

February 9, 2010 9:08 AM

"That’s where trap, neutering/spaying, and RETURNING them to their previous environment helps". Not a darn bit. TNR is the scourge of nature. Sustaining artificially high numbers of cats in a given area indefinitely does not give wildlife a break. Well fed cats hunt no less - the hunting instinct is separate from the urge to eat. The cats that are fed are better able to hunt. There are numerous studies including Lepczyk et al 2003, Hawkins et al 2004, and Crooks & Soule 1999 that indicate the magnitude of this problem. Updated info here about TNR:

http://www.abcbirds.org/abcprograms/policy/cats/tnr.html

February 10, 2010 9:49 AM