| While most domestic cats are NOT a problem, there are those who allow
their animals to abuse the system just like many dog owners do.
The State of Michigan just NARROWLY defeated legislation in their
congress to have a state-wide Leash Law imposed on cats. About 25-30
communities DO have such laws. Unfortunately, in many cases where these
laws are imposed, the abusers won't pay any attention to them anyway.
I'll see if I can find an article that I recently read about a city
where the Animal Control officer was ordered to begin rounding up and
euthanizing feral cats. After some folks loudly complained that he had
picked up their pets, a city-wide licensing andleash restraint law went
into effect.
Out of an estimated 8500 cats, only 79 were licenses were purchased.
What those who dd NOT purchase licenses are doing is placing their
animals in serious jeopardy...for without the license, the cat can be
picked up and euthanized. If indoors, the owner is subject to a stiff
fine, and if found to be harboring an unlicensed cat the second tie,
the animal may be confiscated and destroyed...and a stiffer fine
imposed.
I personally think that cat owners should be responsible pet owners
just like dog owners should be. I really do not enjoy it very much when
my neighbors cat sneaks up and kills one of the mourning doves,
grossbeaks, housefinches, chicadees, titmice or cardinals that I feed
at my bird feeder. I believe that these birds should be in a SAFE place
when they are being fed on my property. My 4 cats like to sit in the
window and WATCH them, but none of my cats have ever exhibited any
desire to get out there and kill them...
JM
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| I, too, get discouraged feeding the birds. While my cats "sit and
watch" from our screened in porch, my neighbors cat is killing my
birds. My husband and I get alot of enjoyment from watching the birds
(pigeons, morning doves, cardinals, chickadees, finches, crows, black
birds, blue jays, mocking birds, etc) and squirrels who eat and drink
at our bird feeders/bird bath. (I realize that wildlife should not be
fed because they depend on it, but these are "city life" and need the
extra food in order to survive - but that's a whole other note.)
Also, we *love* our rock and flower gardens and we are finding it very
difficult to keep *again* our neighbors cat from using our dirt as a
litter box. This stuff kills plants and *smells* in the heat of the
summer.
I would like to see some ordinace passed that people have control over
their feline much like the canines. Being responsible for your pet is
much like being responsible for your children. It comes with the
territory.
This was a good note.
Regards,
Anna/Zildjian/Spunks
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| Unfortunately, I see this as another example of the animal suffering
for the ignorance of the human!
While intellectually I understand the need for such legislation and
I do not oppose such, emotionally I am having trouble with the idea
of killing an animal for doing what comes instinctively. And you
folks know I'm a big indoor only advocate.
Nancy
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