This study examines the environmental impacts of stray and neglected animals and the effect social media can have on improving the issue. Feral and stray animals can cause rapid declines in native wildlife, spread disease to humans and other animals, and have effects on the gene pool of native wildlife by interbreeding. This study seeks to identify the effectiveness of popular hashtags and social media campaigns such as #tnr (trap, neuter, return) on minimizing the issue. Articles and studies regarding feral animals and their environmental impacts were analyzed, people in the field were interviewed, and social media hashtags were measured using online analytics. This study broadens the literature on the environmental impacts of feral, stray and free-roaming animals and how social media can be used to combat this issue.
