PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 2, 2023
In a creative bid to prevent bird killings, a bill proposed by Camden Rep. Vicki Doudera seeks to include trespassing cats in the laws governing animal trespass in the state of Maine. We believe there are better ways of achieving what is a noble goal. That bird populations are at risk from cats is in no doubt. Maine should invest in education about the damage outdoor cats do to bird populations, how to reduce that damage and what constitutes responsible cat ownership. There are positive interventions like cat leashes and enclosures. A bell on a collar can go a long way. Overpopulation of stray and feral cats is tackled by a humane strategy popularly referred to as trap-neuter-release. And Maine should consider encouraging cat owners to take full responsibility for their pets, by requiring them to license their felines and show proof that the animal has been spayed or neutered and vaccinated against rabies. (This state mandate currently applies only to dog owners.)