Michigan House bill 4596: To promote community cat welfare, care, and programs
Update: Bill not passed. Died with Agricultural Committee.
Community cats and caregivers in Michigan would benefit from new protections under a bill being considered in the state’s House of Representatives. The bill, HB 4596, would define terms, such as community cat, caregiver, and colony, while exempting free-roaming cats and those who care for them from certain laws and regulations. These changes would benefit cats and caregivers by clearing away hurdles to implementing successful trap-neuter-return (TNR) programs.
Importantly, this bill would make clear that returning cats during the TNR process is not abandonment, and that caregivers are not owners of the cats they care for. This recognizes the important and unique role that caregivers play providing daily fresh water and food for free-roaming cats without burdening them with traditional ownership responsibilities, such as licensing and “at-large” requirements.
House bill 4596 also exempts community cats and caregivers from feeding bans as well as makes clear that stray hold periods at shelters do not apply to community cats, thus allowing them to proceed through TNR programs without delay.
"The proper care and treatment of community cats ensures that they’re healthier, safer additions to our communities,” bill sponsor Rep. Laurie Pohutsky (D-Livonia) said in a release, adding, “if passed, I’m confident that my bill would benefit community cats and caretakers throughout the state.”
Please contact your state legislators today and ask them to help save cat lives by supporting HB 4596.
Importantly, this bill would make clear that returning cats during the TNR process is not abandonment, and that caregivers are not owners of the cats they care for. This recognizes the important and unique role that caregivers play providing daily fresh water and food for free-roaming cats without burdening them with traditional ownership responsibilities, such as licensing and “at-large” requirements.
House bill 4596 also exempts community cats and caregivers from feeding bans as well as makes clear that stray hold periods at shelters do not apply to community cats, thus allowing them to proceed through TNR programs without delay.
"The proper care and treatment of community cats ensures that they’re healthier, safer additions to our communities,” bill sponsor Rep. Laurie Pohutsky (D-Livonia) said in a release, adding, “if passed, I’m confident that my bill would benefit community cats and caretakers throughout the state.”
Please contact your state legislators today and ask them to help save cat lives by supporting HB 4596.
**Use this sample letter to tell your elected representatives to support HB 4596, and add a personal note to increase your impact:
Subject: Please Support House Bill 4596
Dear [Representative],
Please support House Bill 4596 and help make Michigan a safer and more welcoming place for community cats and their caregivers. This bill contains crucial provisions that, when enacted, will allow for better understanding and management of free-roaming cats as well as the process of trap-neuter-return (TNR). The programs this bill would encourage also help control the pet population overall.
TNR is the humane process used in communities across the country for effectively managing free-roaming cats. During TNR, cats are trapped and then brought to a veterinarian for a health check, sterilization, and rabies vaccination. After that, the cat is returned to the place she was trapped and provided with daily fresh water and food by a dedicated caregiver.
Community cat programs are proven to reduce shelter intake and euthanasia and HB 4596 would make it easier to promote and implement these life-saving initiatives. The bill defines important terms, such as “community cat”, “caregiver”, and “ear-tip”, and exempts community cats and caretakers from regulations that don’t fit their unique needs.
For example, by making clear that caregivers are not owners, and that the return phase of TNR is not animal abandonment, Good Samaritans and groups can move forward to help the cats in their communities without fear of repercussion.
Thanks to this bill, we have a wonderful opportunity to help lead the way at the state level for the humane care of community cats. This measure would also empower the kind-hearted Michiganders who take it upon themselves to care for community cats and who generously support the life-saving work of animal shelters and non-profit welfare groups in our state.
Please support HB 4596 and help put Michigan at the forefront of humane care and management of free-roaming, community cats.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your address]
[Your city, state, zip]
[Your email address]