Originally Posted by lovinganimals (Post 1092383)

Unfortunately, TNR is expensive and government does not want to take on that responsibility. Every TNR I know of personally is done by rescue groups or individuals. Yes, there are vets who do discounted surgeries and vaccines, but the money for this comes out of individuals pockets, either privately, or through donations from individuals. No government money. That is why there are no protocols. If the government took some steps to help control this, things might get better. But the don't so unless we want those types of cats roaming, ones that bite and transmit diseases, we need to rely on the individuals who do TNR to get them vaccinated. They also get more familiar with people when they are fed on a regular basis (sometimes to the point of letting that person touch them) so they don't attack out of fear when they feel trapped (like beneath a car). Obviously that cat had no interaction with people and felt he had to attack to get out from under the car. I have a cat that I got up at Winn Dixie 2 years ago. She was feral to the fullest. At first she wouldn't let me even see her. As time went on and I talked to her as I put out food, she let me see her, then came closer, then I would hold out my hand and she would bat at it (no claws) to see if she could trust me. I trapped her, and as she was in the cage at my house after surgery, she would slam herself against the top of the cage and hiss so violently I thought she would hurt herself. That's how scared she was- she would have done harm to me if she could. On the last day (day 3) I let her out of the cage into a less confining area. She went back to her old self batting my hand (she felt less threatened out of the cage). I decided to work with her (and her sister). Today she is the most loving cat I have ever had. I have a new puppy and she will let him chew on her ear and face and she will wrestle with him without hurting him. I am so glad I gave her and her sister a chance. If I had not, they would still be out there in the thunderstorms, starving or maybe being hit by a car in the parking lot and my heart breaks every time I think of such a sweet cat living like that. But many do. The least we can do is try to help them. Its not their fault they have to live like that.......its ours.