Ask Your Virginia Delegate to Vote “YES” on House Bill 221 to Address the Free-Roaming Cat Problem

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January 24, 2024
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** Please Ask Your Virginia Delegate to Vote YES on House Bill 221 to Address the Free-roaming Cat Problem
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Free-roaming cat, Anonymous

There are 2.1 million free-roaming cats in Virginia, and 1.2 million of them are unowned. Free-roaming cats kill an estimated 2.4 billion birds and 12.3 billion small mammals in the United States each year and carry diseases and parasites that create public health risks.

House Bill 221 authorizes counties, cities, and towns, if they choose, to adopt a free-roaming cat management plan. It directs the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) to create a model Free-Roaming Cat Management plan and establish minimum standards that will control and reduce the large numbers of free-roaming cats.

HB221 does not prescribe or prohibit any specific cat management strategy, and it provides for public input during the VDACS process. It does not require localities to adopt plans but gives them guidance if they choose to do so. You can read the text of the bill here ([link removed]) .

Please ask your delegate to support the bill. If you know of specific problems caused by free-roaming cats, include them in your letter. Be sure to include your name and address in your letter so they know you are a constituent. If you don’t know your delegate’s name or email address, you can find them here ([link removed]) .

Thank you! Your support will help protect birds and our environment.

-Audubon Society of Northern Virginia
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