Saturday, January 15, 2011
Blog the Change for Animals...
Mom is all about it this year. See, last fall she got a call from her friend Kelly asking about helping another friend living in a small suburb nearby. She had been feeding some ferals/outdoor cats and got a notice posted from animal control that the cats were going to be taken if she couldn't relocate them. Kelly and I were upset. Kelly called and spoke to the animal control officer. She was told that the lady tries to find homes for the ones she cans and relocates those she can't and if she can't do that then she euthanizes them. But when she takes them out to farms, she just takes them without sterilizing them since "they only live 1-2 years anyhow". Mom went NUTS!!! That is just so WRONG!!! She checked the local ordinances and there is nothing to protect feral colonies. And the local county states that you cannot feed ferals. However, the local Chief Humane Officer said that this suburb is THE ONLY one that upholds the county code. So, mom did a bunch of research and sent emails for help. She compiled everything and put together a suggested code to be looked at by the city council. She hadn't got a response so she emailed the city clerk on Friday. She got an email back that was a forward of an email from animal control that restated the county health code and then said that mom doesn't have a grasp of the problem.
We are pretty sure steam came out of mom's ears. She emailed the clerk back but hasn't heard anything. She forwarded the email to a woman from HSUS that was helping her as well. Grandpa knows a woman on the city council and mom is tempted to pull a string and get a meeting with this woman to discuss it. Cause now she is just REALLY MAD!!! (which can be a good thing)
So, among the other rescue things she has going on, this is her goal for the year...get this town to realize that TNR (not relocation) is the best solution.
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Lots of luck to your Mom! TNR is the best solution, thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteGood for you, Jeanne! We actually have the NYC Mayor in on feral cat protection here in NYC: http://www.nycferalcat.org/ . I can also give you the name of a friend who started a local feral cats spay/neuter/placement program in my neighborhood and now does outreach for the ASPCA--she can probably advise you and maybe help with some ASPCA muscle. Email me at cgblayer at gmail.com and I will send you her contact info.
ReplyDeleteGood for you! Check out Alley Cat Allies, as they have excellent TNR resource materials.
ReplyDeletewow, how weird that the animal control lady in that town is so dumb! Don't they make animal control people take some sort of class about ANIMALS? We are glad your Mom and Kelly are trying to change the way things are handled there.
ReplyDeleteYay for your mom!! She is so right!! TNR is the way to go!! Good luck to her!!
ReplyDeleteWe need to protect the ferals, they have rights, too! Your mom's special for working so hard for them.
ReplyDeleteHooray for your mum! Nathan Winograd has done some great work with various animal controls and shelters, his website might have some advice, too. It could even be worth contacting him.
ReplyDeleteOur mum was shocked to find out it is illegal in Victoria, where we now live, to look after feral colonies. TNR is illegal. It is pathetic! And for a state that mandates shelters adopt or permanently foster out animals within 28 days of arriving at a facility or euthanise, you can imagine what the kill rates are like. SIGH!
You guys are great for working to help the ferals... I hope that you are successful!
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