Best Friends Animal Society releases statewide TNVR poll

AUSTIN - Today, Best Friends Animal Society released the findings of its statewide poll of Texas registered voters on the topic of Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (TNVR) programs, which are utilized to control the outdoor cat population without unnecessary killing of the animals.

The poll was conducted by Ascend Action, in collaboration with Griffin Communications, and revealed 80% of Texans support TNVR in their local community with 62% indicating strong support.

Republicans, female, and Hispanic voters were revealed to be among the strongest supporters.

Registered voters, including these key demographics, also overwhelmingly believe that TNVR does not constitute a form of animal cruelty or abuse (73%).

Currently, a request for opinion is before Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on whether these essential population management programs conflict with criminal cruelty statutes regarding the unlawful abandonment of animals.

Best Friends Animal Society submitted a 65-page packet to A.G. Paxton that included a detailed legal brief, peer-reviewed studies on TNVR, and a letter from the criminal statutes' primary author in support of TNVR.

Nineteen Texas municipalities, local governments and animal care, control, and sheltering organizations signed onto Best Friends' submission to A.G. Paxton.

Laura Donahue, Senior Director for External Affairs, Legislation, and Advocacy, commented on the statewide poll's findings:

"Texans intuitively understand that TNVR programs are good for their communities and good for their community cats, and do not constitute cruelty or abandonment.

When the nonprofit and private sector collaborate with local governments to administer TNVR programs, we can effectively control the outdoor cat population without unnecessary killing."

To view the critical results of the poll, please click here.

For interview requests on TNVR or the pending Attorney General opinion, please email Elliott Griffin at elliott@griffincomms.com.

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