Conference misery::feline_v1

    thank god none of the cats got out, were stolen or GOT SHOT BY SOME
    FIEND!
    
    

>    thank god none of the cats got out, were stolen or GOT SHOT BY SOME
>    FIEND!
    
as much as I would like to believe these folks are "fiends", they are
usually nice "boys", raised to "hunt", and living in an urban area where
they have nothing legal to "hunt"...add the "gift" of 
a cross-bow (an incident in a nearby community a few months ago where a 
young boy was shooting cats with his crossbow) or a shotgun or BB gun and 
you have cats being "hunted".  Cats are hunted because they are out there
running around....the leash laws for dogs are enforced so they aren't as
common.  In rare cases, the boys are taught to "hate" cats, but usually
it isn't that at all.  It's just because the cats are available to hunt.
Laci was very easy to hit because she was not used to "outside" and had
no instinct to run. 

I'm sure the parents/relatives of these boys don't mean to cause any harm,
but they give the boys weapons and the boys use them.

How much saner it would be if our society had values in tune with the 
realities of our lives today where what we do, what we teach our children,
and what we allow our children or pets to do has a direct affect on our
neighbors.

    re: .2 - I'm sure that even if a dog were available the cat would
    be the chosen target.  Violence towards cats is sanctioned in
    this society.  GRRRRRRRR.........

    .2
    
    I know in my heart you are right...and we shouldn't blame these
    kids for doing what they do, but boy I would love to shoot the
    parents.  There are really some sick people in this world and
    these sick people are teaching their kids "How to be sicker".
                                         
    
    

	It's true that it's the parents' fault, but I have a hard time not
	blaming the kids as well.  They're usually not little - most I've
	seen have been anywhere from 10-15 years old.  Several years ago,
	I had to sit and watch a beautiful black-backed gull die miserably
	over the course of about three days.  He had been shot in the wing
	by one of these 'children'.  We tried to get close to him, but he
	would run into the water (this was on a riverbank).  I tried 
	calling the animal control officer, but he was away for the weekend,
	hunting (can you believe it?).

	<sigh>

    I have to agree with the comment that children are not being
    taught to "respect" animals, i.e that they are living creatures,
    who feel hunger, thirst, cold & pain.  I was at my hubby's
    family reunion yesterday, and it happened to be at a park with
    animals.  Ponies, goats, chickens, bunnies, etc. We were within
    feet of the animal enclosures.  I turned around and happened to 
    look at the rabbit cage, and there was one of the boys poking the 
    rabbit with a stick.  I snarled at him (Yes, that was snarled) to
    "lose the stick".   The guilt was all over his face.
    He also watched me the rest of the day. (and I watched him)  Later on,
    I turned around later, to see a girl POKING THE RABBIT with a stick.
    All it took was one of those "looks", and the stick was dropped.
    I'd say the kids were about 10 or 11.  Old enough to have been taught
    that abusing animals is wrong.  But, obviously they hadn't been
    taught.  And the parents gabbing away, oblivious to the antics of
    their children.   I kept an eye out as best I could to make sure
    no rocks were thrown, any more poking, etc. of any animals was
    happening.
    
    My hubby wants to have the reunion at our place next year.  He wants
    to give pony rides, and let the kids play with the animals.  I told
    him only if we can board out rabbits, cats, horse & ME! away from the
    house that day!!!!
                                                
    I may be tempted to strangle any child caught abusing my pets.
    
    GRRRRRRRRRRR!
    
    L-
    

    Getting back to the break in.  Worry about cats escaping under such
    a situation not to mention fires or other natural disasters keeps
    my wife and I from wanting to travel anywhere for very long. We've
    issued breakaway collars and tags for all 8 incase there is an 
    escape thinking at least the cat could be id'd if found. But they
    don't stay on the cats very long since they pull them off playing
    or whatever. Nancy's not gives me thought about securing my slider
    and windows!

    re: identifying animals - sort of brings us back to the idea of
    tatooing our pets or having one of those chips implanted.
    
    re: blaming the kids - I sure DO hold the children responsible
    as well as their parents.  I have some trouble with the idea that
    external circumstances are 100% responsible for someone's actions.
    I think its dangerous any time we give people a way to blame their
    actions on something else.  Its their little brains that are sending
    the instructions to their little hands - NO ONE else can do that.
    I do believe in mitigating circumstances and understanding, don't
    get me wrong, but people should always know that what they do or
    do not do is ultimately their responsibility.
      
    Nancy DC

    Learning to respect animals begins at home with the parents!
    
    A few weeks ago, our condo development had a block party.  It took
    place on the common grounds right next to my unit.  Late in the day
    when the crowd was thinning out I took Murdock and Kelsey out on their
    runs.  Murdock saw a circle of people sitting around and there was an
    empty chair in the group.  One of the women had a small baby.  Murdock 
    sauntered over, with me in tow, and joined the circle on the empty chair. 
    Everyone thought it was cute but the woman with the baby had an
    absolute fit!  She hated cats, and to top it off, Murdock was sitting
    on HER chair.  Her child was thrilled with the opportunity to see
    "kitty" and it is sad that she might never have the pleasure of owning
    and loving a cat due to her mom's influence.  People have all sorts of
    pre-conceived ideas about cats and their "purpose" and unfortunately,
    they pass these beliefs onto their children, some of whom grow up to be
    abusers simply because they were taught that cats are evil.
    
    I am glad none of the cats in .0 escaped.  Nancy told me that story a
    few weeks ago and it was very frightening.
    

    I also had an experience with a 4 year old who's father hates all
    animals.  This little 4 year old boy was chasing my cat and he
    was screaming...I stopped him and asked what he was doing...and
    he stated ""trying to pat the kitty".   I went on and lectured him
    for about 15 minutes on how if he was nice to kitties and didn't chase
    them,,,,maybe they would become friends and he could pat them. 
    
    I then went and got one of my kitties and let this little boy pat
    him...the smile on his face was gleaming (he looked so thrilled)
    and was real nice to the kitty. With a dad like he has...I truly
    do not believe this little boy knew he was doing anything wrong.           
        
    I believe I got through to him on that day...but now what happens
    when he goes back to his nasty father.  It's not a lesson I can
    keep teaching him...even though I will try when he comes to visit.
                                                                     
    Sandy (Tamba, Poco, and Barkley)
    
    

We cannot completely override the parental training, but our communities could
do a great deal if they had the humane society visit every class, every year,
several times a year, with animals to be touched, discussed, and about which
myths could be dispelled.  It is something I intend to write to my local
school board about and I urge you to do so as well.  If we don't insist that
the children learn that animals feel pain, and that abusing an animal is
a CRIME, we cannot expect them to know these things...look how poorly the
parents of this world train their children about SEX - a necessary, integral
part of their lives....how can we expect these incompetents to train their 
children about ethical treatment of all animals, including those that they 
may choose to eat.    

    Reading this note & all your replies makes me very sad. I
    know there are people in the UK who ill-treat animals, we
    wouldn't have the RSPCA or the Cats Protection League if they
    didn't. However, I can let my two boys roam freely without any fear
    of what might happen to them. They are only really at risk from passing
    cars & as we live in a quiet close with speed bumps to slow the cars
    down & they always run from cars (except mine which they run towards!)
    theres not much danger there either.
    
    When we moved in 2 years ago there were no cats in the street. Domino
    soon took over. Now he "owns" several families, especially those with
    children. The two little boys across the road idolise him & pet him at
    every opportunity. Their mother came to ask if it was OK for them to
    feed him sometimes. Next doors 2 children love him too - even though
    they know he ate one of their guinea pigs! Their parents (both
    teachers) explained that they were wrong to let the guinea pig out of
    its run & that animals need careful attention. A lesson well learnt.
    Those kids have learnt a lot from the guinea pigs - not least how come
    every so often there seems to be more of them!
    
    I think most schools keep animals - they certainly did when I was a
    child. Not cats or dogs but guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils (& even
    locusts - much to the horror of my mother when it was my turn to bring
    them home in the holidays). That certainly helps. I wonder why some
    people dislike animals so much? Perhaps they feel threatened  by
    soemthing they don't understand?
    
    Our local Cats Protection League had a stall outside my local
    supermarket on Saturday. They were asking people to buy cat food &
    donate it to them because they currently have over 100 strays they are
    trying to feed. They have a couple of kittens only a week old who were
    left without their mother & so they are hand rearing them. Eventually
    they hope to find homes for all these cats - but more keep coming in.
    
    I'm glad all 10 cats in the original story are safe. I think the human
    race would be much worse off without the benefit of animals.
    
    Feeling grateful
    
    Rosemary, Pip & Domino 
    

    I couldn't *live* if I lost any of my *babies* !!!!!!!!!!  I am so
    glad that all 10 were found.  As to children abusing pets.  We feliners
    and caniners can do something about it.  If a child is *afraid* of an
    animal or *abuses* an animal due to parental teaching, we can *show*
    the child a new way of *seeing* animals.  The children next door were
    terrified of dogs because their mother is.  My dog *Storm* has shown
    them that dogs are nice if they are nice to them.  They also come over
    to see Black Thunder my kitty. Something taught incorrectly can be
    turned around.......
    
    Sandi, mom to Thunder, Lightning, DejaVu, Patches and Storm