TNR: Past, Present and Future: A History of the Trap-Neuter-Return Movement [Paperback]

Ellen Perry Berkeley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2004

A complete history of this most humane, effective, and economical method of controlling feral cat numbers. Comprehensive and authoritative, yet accessible and readable. Helpful to anyone concerned about feral cats in any way. Useful in enabling TNR advocates to reach out to people not yet "on board." Contains excellent rebuttals to arguments about the supposed damage by feral cats to bird populations. Provides solid proof on the advantages of TNR from the most recent academic research and from the careful reports of public agencies and private organizations worldwide.

Editorial Reviews

Review

". . . an eloquent and intelligent examination . . . hard to believe that any reader could come away unswayed by Berkeley's arguments..." --Sally Rosenthal, BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE

". . . a wonderful historical perspective . . . by someone who presents all sides of the issue. . . . a great place to start your research." --Lisa M. Allmendinger, I LOVE CATS

". . . a wonderful book . . . cites the solid achievements of the TNR movement . . . and of course the phony arguments of its naysayers." --NEW JERSEY ANIMAL RIGHTS ALLIANCE

About the Author

An award winning writer and editor, Ellen Perry Berkley was the author of the first article on Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) in an American publication (Cat Fancy, September 1984) and has since contributed regularly to the body of literature on feral cats in the United States. Her highly-acclaimed book, Maverick Cats: Encounters With Feral Cats, is a classic. FIrst published by the New York publisher Walker & Company in 1982, it was reissued in paperback by New England Press in 1987. An expanded and updated edition came out in 2001 and the book was included on the Cat Fancy's list of "100 Greatest Moments for 20th Century Cats." Berkley has written several other books and many articles on a variety of subjects following her time as a Senior Editor at the prominent professional journal the Architectural Forum. She has served on the Alley Cat Allies Board of Advisors since ACA was founded in 1990. With her husband Roy and their formerly feral cats, April, Leona, and Roscoe, Berkley lives in Shaftsbury, Vermont, in a house of her own design.

Product Details

• Paperback: 99 pages
• Publisher: Alley Cat Allies (January 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0970519427
• ISBN-13: 978-0970519429
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,556,118 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very informative, May 22, 2008

By 

Kelly Fine (Vacaville, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: TNR: Past, Present and Future: A History of the Trap-Neuter-Return Movement (Paperback)

I am new to working with feral cat populations. This book has really educated me about this element of our society. There is a lot of misinformation out there regarding cats in general, and this book helps dispel the rumors. Example: cats are killing off the bird population. In reality, humans do more in killing birds with their cars and disruption of habitat than cats. Another example is that these cats are sick. In reality, when a colony is cared for, their incidence of disease is no more than the pet cat population. There is so much we can do to care for ferals besides mass execution. We would never consider a round up of racoons, wild turkeys, deer or possum and execute them. Why do we think it's okay to do it to cats? This book offers a sensible approach to learning how to live along side these wild animals.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptional book, Easily Readable, Great Information, May 1, 2009

By 

Ace (East Coast) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: TNR: Past, Present and Future: A History of the Trap-Neuter-Return Movement (Paperback)

In addition to the extensive and persuasive information on the benefits of TNR (to cat AND human alike), not to be missed is the first part of this book, with its history of the inception of TNR in Great Britan, more than 50 years ago, and the struggles and breakthroughs of its leaders back then.

The book is a comprehensive guide to TNR - easy to read and filled with information for neophyte and veteran of TNR alike. Great color photos showing the ferals -- about to enter the trap (and be taken to the vet to be Neutered and vaccinated), eating, enjoying the sunshine, meditating with a sibling, and Just Being a Cat. There is, at the end of the book, an extensive section (31 pages) of Notes, with bibliographies and comments, and an equally impressive Index.

This book is also a very good "pocket manual" for those who want to know more about how to save these colonies of ferals (and strays) that live in every part of the US, and it quote extensively from the Pioneers in the field as well as today's contemporaries.

The author discusses TNR at length, and makes some very good points on how to help alleviate and dispel the injurious (to the cats) myths about Cat and bird predation. Proper control of feral colonies by Trap Neuter and Return (and Vaccination - including the Rabies vaccine) is the most humane way to keep the feral cat population low while avoiding the terrible alternative of Trap and Kill -- which only creates The Vacuum Effect (more feral cats move in).

It has also been said (elsewhere) that nowadays the worst "Cat" that kills birds is the "CAT"erpillar tractor that indiscriminately destroys habitat (which I've seen happen first-hand).

It is also true that the incidence of rabies and HIV is as low (very low) in feral cats as it is in the house cat population. And for those who say "How will you be able to re-vaccinate them?" Some TNR folk just have their ferals get used to eating in the (door-wired-open) traps, so they don't become trap-shy.

This book is a small, sensible overview of TNR and would be a great introductory "read" for anyone interested in the subject.