Feral Cat-Friendly Measure Dies In The Senate
The Humane Society supported the bill to maintain cat colonies, but opponents pointed to the damage they do to other species.
Hawaii lawmakers will not be making “trap-sterilize-return” the official state policy on how to handle a feral cat problem in the islands.
, which also would have protected self-appointed cat colony caretakers, died this week after not receiving a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by Brian Taniguchi.
The had strongly advocated for the measure, which cleared the House last month in a 40-11 vote. But scientists, state agencies and even urged the Legislature to reject the bill because of the consequences such a policy could have on endangered seals, endemic birds and dolphins.
Colonies of free-roaming cats thrive in neighborhoods throughout Hawaii, near suburbs, behind hotels and deep in the wilderness.
The Humane Society wants to trap the cats, neuter them, return them and then manage the populations. The group has said all animal lives must be valued the same.
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But federal and state scientists have cautioned that the cats have a unique ability to spread toxoplasmosis, a parasitic disease that has killed at least eight critically endangered Hawaiian monk seals, two spinner dolphins, nene geese and native birds.聽
罢丑别测听have said聽a more aggressive strategy is necessary鈥 one that may entail culling to reduce the cat population.
State Rep. Nadine Nakamura and several other House members spoke up about the 鈥渄ire consequences鈥 of a trap-neuter-return policy before the bill cleared the House.
The Senate Agriculture and Environment Committee, chaired by Sen. Mike Gabbard, and the Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs Committee, chaired by Sen. Clarence Nishihara, both passed the bill March 21.
But Tom Heinrich, the Judiciary Committee clerk, said Wednesday that Taniguchi would not be scheduling a hearing for the bill due to 鈥渟trong differences of opinion鈥 on it.
Friday is the deadline for bills to pass out of their final committee in order to stay alive this legislative session, which wraps up May 3.
Related House that were moving forward earlier this session have also died.
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