SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO: Alley Cat Allies, the leader of the global movement to protect cats and kittens, has achieved a critical legal victory against the National Park Service (NPS) and its plan to eradicate cats from Puerto Rico’s San Juan National Historic Site. The United States District Court for the District of Columbia has denied the NPS’ attempt to transfer the Alley Cat Allies lawsuit to a court in Puerto Rico.
After this failed maneuver, the NPS is now hastening the implementation of its brutal plan before the court can determine its legality. It plans to round up cats on the historic site starting October 1, 2024.
“The NPS tried to delay by transferring the case and, now that the court has seen through its tactic, is acting in bad faith by moving forward in a rush,” said Yonaton Aronoff, a lawyer representing Alley Cat Allies. “Alley Cat Allies insists that the NPS cease any further steps in its deadly plan against Puerto Rico’s cats or we will seek appropriate relief.”
Alley Cat Allies argues that the NPS’s eradication plan violates the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and is arbitrary and capricious under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA).
The plan, which includes trapping, removing, and “euthanizing” cats, is cruel and ineffective. Removing the cats creates a vacuum, which cats living in San Juan will quickly move into the historic site to fill. The NPS is only setting itself up for an endless cycle of killing rather than supporting humane, effective approaches like Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR).
The court’s decision is an important step forward, and Alley Cat Allies remains committed to holding the NPS accountable and protecting Puerto Rico’s community cats.
The people of Puerto Rico have voiced their opposition to the NPS plan. They, and Alley Cat Allies, recognize the threatened cats as community members who are woven into Puerto Rican culture and history. We call on the NPS to immediately halt its cruel plan and engage in a transparent, accountable process that respects the law, the lives of the cats, and the community’s wishes. Alley Cat Allies will not stop fighting until it does.
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About Alley Cat Allies
Alley Cat Allies believes every cat deserves to live out his or her life to the fullest.
Founded in 1990, Alley Cat Allies is the leading advocacy organization for cats with a mission to transform and develop communities to protect and improve the lives of all cats and kittens. Together with our over 1 million supporters, we work toward a world where cats are valued and every community has humane and effective programs and policies to defend them.
Through our fearless advocacy, humane care, education and outreach, and law and policy activism, we empower and mobilize citizens, advocates, grassroots groups, shelters, veterinary professionals, and elected officials across the United States and around the world to improve their communities for cats through nonlethal, evidence-based approaches. Our website is www.alleycat.org, and we are active on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.