Conference misery::feline_v1

Until you can find homes for them, why don't you and your roommate (since 
they're her parents!) take the cats.  At least this way, you know they'll be out 
of that awful environment!  Since you relayed all the information to all of us, 
someone can still anonymously call the SPCA or animal officer.  The parents 
wouldn't necessarily know that it was you, after all, they have other friends,
don't they?  If you can't take the cats even temporarily, and decide this
should be reported, which I think should be done, give more information, i.e.
people's name, address, etc., and I'm sure one of us fellow noters will call.
Please do something soon!

Regards,
J.

    
    
    	Re: .1
    
    	As far as reporting them, I'm not afraid to do it.  I mean I
    	can always play innocent.  In fact, I probably wouldn't even
    	tell my roomate in case her parents put the pressure on her
    	to admit my guilt.  But I am almost positive that they would
    	figure it out to be me.  After all, I'm not really her parents
    	friend, and she thinks that her daughter and I are malicious,
    	drunken sluts (no kidding either).  I mean, this lady is nasty
    	and also jealous of her daughter.  I just don't want to create
    	any more problems for the kid because she has enough right now
    	without worsening the situation with her mother which is O.K.
    	right at the moment.
                            
    	And as far as taking the cats right now...  well, I just got
    	a kitten and I live in a no pets allowed apartment.  I am
    	having a hard enough time keeping him out of sight.  But in
    	another month I'll be moving into my Condo so its a possibility
    	later.  I just couldn't keep them because I will have my mothers
    	cat for the winter, plus my kitten.  And two other cats, especially
    	an older one make me nervous because I'm going to be quite broke
    	due to this condo and couldn't possibly afford vet bills.
    	
    	Karen
    
    	P.S.  Keep the ideas coming....
                                       

    
    
    
    If you anonomously report yourself as a "neighbor" and don't say
    anything to your roommate, and especially never admit to doing it, I
    really doubt that they could ever be certain it was you.  A white lie
    in this case is 100% justified!!!  Of course, you shouldn't get
    involved in your roommates problems with her mother, but I don't think
    this is related.  You were witness to animal abuse, and you have a
    responsibility to report it (in my book, anyway).  It's hard enough for
    me to sit and just imagine all the abuse that occurs every day without
    my knowledge, but to know and have seen abusive treatment is even worse
    to live with. 
    
    I think there MUST be a way to report this without tipping them
    off that it was you!  I would also be willing to make the call so
    that you could honestly say it wasn't you...
    
    Good luck, and let us know how it turns out... There aren't enough
    people like you (and all of us) who care so deeply about animals,
    so they need us even more desperately to act on their behalf.  Chances
    are, no one else will!
                      
    Amy.
    

    I vote for turning them in....
    
    Even though I understand the 'politics' of the situation, I think
    that animal molesters belong in the same class as child molesters,
    preferrably not allowed near either.
    
    Dave

    
    
    	Please report these people - just imagine how those poor cats
    must feel, locked up in that filthy room, day after day, `starving
    for attention', as you put it. This could definitely lead to serious
    health problems for them. You never know - maybe the woman would
    actually be relieved to get them off her hands. Please consider
    it.
    

    
    	Well, the situation seems to have changed.  When my roomate
    talked to her mother the other day her mother told her that the
    cats were now out of the room and they were keeping them in the
    indoor glassed in porch.  This in certainly better and they use
    that room often so I don't think it will get  to be too much of
    a mess.  I think her parents caught wind of how I felt about the
    situation and decided to do something before I did.  I told her
    mother that I was going to advertise to find the two cats homes
    and she just walked away from me saying whatever.  Now she tells
    her daughter that she wants to keep them.  I am definately going
    to keep an eye on things though and check out the cats new living
    situation.  And if things don't look better I will report them.
     But if I report them now, there may be no evidence to back up my
    claims if that bathroom has been cleaned up.  Thats really all I
    can do right now.
    
    	But, if anyone is interested in adopting one of the cats, let
    me know because she might very well agree to giving up one or both
    cats.  
    
    	Karen
    

    
   It's really too bad that such a person has any animal in her care
    such as Karen's roommate's mother.  From the sound of it, she probably
    shouldn't have had children in her care either.
    
   Karen, if you hear of any further abuse, please do report it to the
    authorities and also, for the cats' sake, opt to give them a home
    even if you have to take them to a shelter.  A shelter is a better
    place (and a better chance) for them than where they are now.
    
    Continue checking.
    

    Unless the animal shelter is a "no-kill", and most of
    them are NOT, rest assured that perfectly healthly,
    friendly cats and dogs are put to sleep regularly.
    
    I don't mean to burst your bubble, but it's important
    to know the reality of the pet overpopulation problem.
    
    Donna

    
    Gee, don't be so defensive, .9 was just trying to
    point out a few facts.
    
    Katie