Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (TNVR) in Peoria County

 Peoria County Animal Protection Services  (PCAPS) operates as a vital component of public safety within the Peoria County government. PCAPS fulfills the role of Animal Control, responding to a substantial volume of service calls, exceeding 15,000 annually. Their responsibilities range from investigating cases of animal bites or cruelty to addressing instances such as stray livestock found on roadways. Additionally, PCAPS serves as an open admission animal shelter, accommodating an average of 5,500 animals yearly. As an open admission facility, they welcome all types of animals, including domestic pets like dogs, cats, and pocket pets, as well as injured or orphaned wildlife, exotic reptiles, and farm animals.

For more than three decades, Animal Control Officers have been addressing calls for assistance regarding stray cats by deploying traps, capturing the cats, and transferring them to the PCAPS animal shelter. Additionally, pet owners surrender unwanted cats to the PCAPS shelter, while concerned citizens bring found cats to us. Over the past decade, the number of cats brought into the PCAPS shelter has remained relatively stable, averaging between 2,000 to 2,500 cats annually. Unfortunately, despite their best efforts, only approximately 40% of these cats find homes through adoption, transfer to other shelters, or reunification with their owners. Regrettably, the remaining 60% are euthanized due to current resource constraints.

Various communities nationwide have effectively decreased the population of stray cats and minimized unnecessary euthanasia at animal shelters through TNVR (Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return) programs.

In Spring 2024, three (3) Master of Public Administration (MPA) Candidates at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) collaborated with Peoria County Animal Protection Services (PCAPS) to examine community attitudes towards implementing a trap-neuter-vaccinate-return (TNVR) program. PCAPS issued a request for proposal (RFP) highlighting the distressing 60% euthanasia rate among stray and feral cats in their shelters.

In response, PCAPS sought assistance in establishing a TNVR program across both incorporated and unincorporated areas within the county. Although implementing the TNVR program would require a change in public ordinance, the MPA candidates were tasked with gathering data and conducting research to survey residents of Peoria County.

The survey aimed to capture a representative sample of residents' opinions on the TNVR program and their preferences regarding stray and feral cats. Upon thorough examination of survey responses and existing data from animal shelter intake and outcome reports, the MPA candidates would devise a plan of action for addressing the issue of stray and feral cats.

Any Huamani Gutierrez is currently pursuing a Master's in Public Administration (MPA) from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) with a concentration in Nonprofit Management and has a proven track record of mobilizing stakeholders, building coalitions, and driving positive change. Huamani Gutierrez is poised to make a meaningful impact on any special project and brings a wealth of experience and expertise in community organizing and advocacy, as demonstrated by her contributions to grassroots initiatives. Huamani Gutierrez's commitment to social justice, coupled with her adept problem-solving skills and strategic thinking, positions her as a valuable asset for projects seeking to effect transformative social change. Lastly, Huamani Gutierrez possesses a keen ability to conduct policy analysis and implement solutions in a meaningful way, ensuring that initiatives are not only effective but also responsive to the needs of some of the most disinvested communities in Chicago.

Jackie Lopez is currently pursuing a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree with a specialization in financial management. Throughout her academic journey, Lopez has actively contributed to research endeavors, particularly in the realm of public policy analysis. Notably, she has provided valuable assistance to political figures by conducting comprehensive research on legislative proposals pertaining to property tax reform in majority, minority municipalities, and assessing their potential economic implications on real estate investment. In addition to her notable contributions in this area, Lopez's research interests encompass a diverse range of topics, including the exploration of management methodologies and organizational structures within both public and private sectors.

Chahinda Mustapha is a distinguished professional whose academic and career achievements reflect a strong commitment to public administration, urban planning, and humanitarian efforts. Graduating Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Planning and Public Affairs from the University of Illinois at Chicago in May 2015, Mustapha demonstrated academic excellence early on, a trend that continued as she currently pursues her Master of Arts in Public Administration at the same university, expected to be completed by May 2024. Her expertise extends into communications and resource mobilization, demonstrated during her tenure as a Communications and Resource Mobilization Officer at IMA Tripoli, Lebanon. Mustapha exemplifies a professional dedicated to leveraging her education and skills towards meaningful humanitarian and educational endeavors, characterized by a global outlook and a commitment to enhancing the lives of others through her varied roles in education and resource mobilization.

A thorough 13-question survey was thoughtfully designed to primarily explore the community's views on their preferences regarding initiatives aimed at addressing the stray and feral cat populations in the Peoria County area. The survey targeted residents of Peoria County. The project used Google Forms to best collect responses.

The survey was published on the evening of February 22, 2024 concluding on the evening of April 1, 2024. Through different outreach opportunities from both the project team and PCAPS, the survey received a total of 1,039 responses from Peoria County. The interactive map (Figure 1) indicates that the majority of participants, accounting for 60.06% (624 respondents), were residents of the City of Peoria, with residents from Unincorporated Peoria County trailing at 5.9% (61 respondents).

The survey data provides additional clarity, indicating that the predominant attitude in all municipalities throughout Peoria County favors supporting the implementation of a TNVR program in their communities. This inclination is supported by the high frequency of responses scoring 4 or 5 on the Likert Scale question in the survey. (See Figure 2)

Significantly, a vast majority of participants, totaling 79.1%, identified as female, as depicted in Figure 2. Regardless of gender distribution, a prevailing sentiment emerged among respondents, with a majority expressing concern about the presence of stray and feral cats in their community. Specifically, 62% of female participants and 52.2% of male participants voiced this concern. An overall of 60.4% of all genders identified expressed a concern about the stray and feral cats in their community.

Supported by the significant preference for choices 4 and 5 as depicted in Figure 4, it becomes evident that a prevailing sentiment has surfaced among participants, transcending gender demographics. This sentiment indicates a majority inclination towards endorsing the implementation of a TNVR program within their community. Despite varying gender demographics, the data underscores a unified stance in favor of such a program, reflecting a shared concern for addressing community needs regarding animal welfare.

Additionally, the majority of responses came from individuals aged between 34 and 49 years, as seen in Figure 5, totaling 369 responses, making up 35.51% of the total. This was closely trailed by respondents in the 50-65 age range, providing 297 responses, equivalent to 28.58% of all participants.

The majority of respondents showed familiarity with TNVR, with 58.13% of them rating their familiarity as a 4 or 5 on a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 signifies "not familiar at all" and 5 signifies "very familiar," as depicted in Figure 6. The survey data reveals a significant inclination towards the implementation of a TNVR program within the community, with 85.76% of respondents expressing favorable views. This robust sentiment is supported by the substantial preference for options 4 and 5 among respondents.

Respondents were asked about their past interactions with PCAPS, specifically regarding either bringing in a stray or feral cat or requesting the collection of such animals. Of the total respondents, 233 confirmed their involvement, while the remaining 806 stated otherwise. Participants were then asked to identify potential benefits associated with implementing a TNVR program in their community. Options provided included humane and effective management of stray and feral cat populations, reduction in cat intake at shelters, decrease in shelter euthanasia rates, natural regulation of rodent populations, none of the above, and an option for other responses. The 'other' selection allowed respondents to provide open-ended feedback, which was subsequently manually categorized. Only 44 individuals, approximately 4.23% of the sample, disagreed with any of the listed benefits.

The benefit with the highest level of agreement among respondents was population control, supported by 925 individuals, accounting for 89.03% of the total. Following closely was the reduction of shelter euthanasia, endorsed by 915 respondents, representing 88.07% of the surveyed population. Additionally, 831 respondents agreed with the mitigation of shelter intake. Furthermore, 15 respondents mentioned disease control as a TNVR benefit through a write-in response. Please see Figure 7 to see bar graph of the aforementioned responses.

Residents were given the opportunity to express their concerns regarding the potential implementation of TNVR initiatives. Instead of presenting a multiple-choice format, the query was intentionally structured as an open-ended prompt to gather comprehensive responses. The received feedback was then meticulously analyzed and categorized. Due to the open-ended nature of the inquiry, respondents were able to convey multiple concerns within a single response. Notably, 459 individuals, constituting 44.18% of the respondents, reported having no concerns, see Figure 8. Among the identified concerns, a significant theme emerged, with 122 respondents expressing worries about the possibility of cats being reintroduced to the streets after TNVR procedures. They feared that this could expose the cats to risks such as injury, adverse weather conditions, and a lack of sustenance and shelter. Additionally, 123 respondents voiced concerns regarding the potential misidentification of cats captured by PCAPS as feral or stray, even though they were domestic pets allowed outdoors by their owners. This concern emphasizes the need for accurate tracking and the prompt return of treated cats by PCAPS. Furthermore, 142 responses deviated from the predefined categorization criteria, presenting various outlier perspectives, questions, or statements tangential to the primary concerns. These responses highlight the diverse engagement of the community with the TNVR initiative.

As seen in Figure 9, out of all respondents, 82% (852 respondents) supported the adoption of TNVR as a method to address the issue of stray and feral cat overpopulation. In contrast, 81 respondents preferred maintaining the current approach, which entails adoption whenever possible and resorting to euthanasia as needed. Additionally, 61 respondents proposed a hybrid solution, suggesting the adoption of a combination of programs. Among them, 30 advocated for a mixture of adoption and TNVR, while the remaining 31 recommended combining TNVR with adoption efforts, with euthanasia reserved as a last resort. Responses that didn't fit into the predefined categories were placed in the 'other' category, with 50 such responses identified.

The survey aimed to collect insights from participants regarding the presence of feral and stray cats in their community (see Figure 10). The primary concern voiced by residents, totaling 405 responses, focused on worries that these cats might suffer from illnesses without proper care, thus posing risks of disease transmission and endangering their own safety. Following this, 394 respondents highlighted the ongoing problem of cat overpopulation and the absence of spaying or neutering measures.

Another significant concern raised by residents of Peoria County related to the potential threats these cats might pose to other wildlife or humans, as expressed by 188 respondents. Additionally, a subset of 67 individuals expressed concerns about the potential capture and subsequent euthanasia of these cats. Furthermore, 119 respondents indicated no concerns regarding feral or stray cats.

Drawing from thorough research, initial PCAPS data, and survey analysis, the MPA candidates have formulated several recommendations for PCAPS moving forward. Essential to the success of any TNVR program implementation, as with any city or county endeavor, is the cultivation of public support. The program hinges on active community involvement and backing, making each member feel valued and essential to its efficacy.

1. Education and Awareness: Conducting educational campaigns, workshops, and informational sessions to raise awareness about stray and feral cats and the advantages of TNVR compared to traditional methods like euthanasia.
2. Community Involvement: Encouraging community engagement in the TNVR process fosters a sense of ownership and participation. This involves recruiting volunteers and encouraging residents to report cat colonies, establishing a network of resident advocates who actively support and engage in the program.
3. Partnership with Local Organizations: Collaborating with local agencies, animal shelters, veterinary clinics, and animal welfare organizations can augment the resources and outreach of a TNVR program. These partnerships can offer financial, volunteer, and service support.
4. Transparency and Communication: Keeping the community informed about TNVR progress and success sustains and expands public support. Updates encompass data sharing, impacts on local cat populations, and overall program effectiveness. Social media, local news outlets, and community gatherings serve as effective channels for communication.
5. Addressing Concerns: It's imperative to listen to and address the concerns of community members who may harbor skepticism or opposition toward a TNVR program. Open dialogues on the scientific and ethical implications of TNVR can facilitate this process.
6. Highlighting Success: Sharing success stories such as reductions in cat colonies, decreased shelter euthanasia rates, and positive health outcomes for TNVR cats can sway skeptics and reinforce support among advocates of TNVR.