Alley Cat Allies "Save This Cat" Campaign

from Patricia Jones, Media, Alley Cat Allies

ALLEY CAT ALLIES UNVEILS ONLINE VIDEO CAMPAIGN
Clip urges end to animal control policies that kill feral cats
Goal is 50,000 views in 50 days

WASHINGTON, DC (November 26) – Alley Cat Allies, the national advocate for stray and feral cats, today unveiled “Save this Cat,” a 30-second online video urging an end to outdated animal control policies that impounds feral cats in shelters, where they are almost always killed. The clip can be viewed at www.alleycat.org/savethiscat.

“More cats in the United States are intentionally killed than die from any other cause,” said Becky Robinson, president of Alley Cat Allies. “This is not because of actions by cruel individuals, but rather because of an outdated animal control system that relies on ‘catch and kill’ to manage outdoor cats. Not only is this method inhumane, it is enormously expensive and it simply doesn’t work.”

Alley Cat Allies, founded in 1990, advocates for replacing lethal animal control with innovative, non-lethal programs like Trap-Neuter-Return and low-cost, high volume spay/neuter. The group says there is strong support for reform. A national survey recently commissioned by Alley Cat Allies and conducted by Harris revealed that 81 percent of Americans believe that leaving a stray cat outside to live out his life is more humane than having the cat caught and killed.

Alley Cat Allies created the “Save this Cat” video to bring further attention to the need change animal control practices, and aims for 50,000 viewers by January 2008. It urges supporters to visit www.alleycat.org/savethiscat, view the video and email the link to friends to spread the word. Visitors to the Web site can also join the Alley Cat Allies e-mail list and pledge support to keep the campaign going.

“Despite the public’s preference for non-lethal control, outdoor cats are still being killed because of the operating practices at most animal pounds and shelters,” Robinson said. “We need our voices to be heard so these cruel policies can be stopped.”

# # #


About Alley Cat Allies
The mission of Alley Cat Allies is to protect the lives and promote the wellbeing of stray and feral cats. Their web site is www.alleycat.org.