[BCNnet] FW: Landmark feral cat policy passed in Florida

Fri, 6 Jun 2003 22:38:31 -0500

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.

------=_NextPart_000_001D_01C32C7C.5C243730
Content-Type: text/plain;
	charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit

BCN friends –

Here’s some good news on free-roaming cats.  To all of you who wrote in
support of this important step for bird (and other wildlife) conservation, a
sincere Thank You!

Donald R. Dann
Highland Park/Lake County

-----Original Message-----
From: Linda Winter [mailto:lwinter@abcbirds.org]
Sent: Friday, June 06, 2003 3:35 PM
To: Undisclosed-Recipient:;
Subject: Landmark feral cat policy passed in Florida

On May 30, 2003, the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission
unanimously passed a policy, . . . " to protect native wildlife from
predation, disease, and other impacts presented by feral and free-ranging
cats." The policy received broad support from conservation groups, federal
and state agencies, and wildlife rehabilitators, including American Bird
Conservancy, American Birding Association, Defenders of Wildlife, National
Audubon Society, Ornithological Council, Florida Audubon Society, Florida
Wildlife Federation, The Wildlife Society and their Florida Chapter, Natural
Areas Coalition of South Florida, Treasure Coast Wildlife Hospital, Wildlife
Rehab & Refuge Center, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Florida Animal
Control Association, Florida Department of Health, U.S.D.A. Wildlife
Services, and others.
Dr. Christine Storts, DVM of Brevard County Veterinary Association and I led
the testimony in support of the policy. Kerry Fay of Alley Cat Allies, and
Dr. Julie Levy, DVM of Operation Catnip, led the opposition. At the hearing,
opponents of the feral cat policy far outnumbered supporters. Some gave
emotional accounts of their trap/neuter/release (TNR) efforts and accused
the Commissioners of planning to round up and kill all of the state's cats.
However, the Commissioners stood firm and recognized their legal obligation
and authority to protect the state's wildlife. They also pledged that cats
would be removed from FWC lands in the most humane way possible, and the
Commissioners expressed a willingness to work with all stakeholders in this
issue. The idea of containing un-socialized stray and feral cats in outdoor
enclosures on private property rather than releasing them received a lot of
support, and several people who testified already have such enclosures on
their property.
The new policy can be found at
www.abcbirds.org/cats/states/florida_policy.htm
<http://www.abcbirds.org/cats/states/florida_policy.htm> . Please send a
brief note to the Commissioners ( Commissioners@fwc.state.fl.us
<mailto:Commissioners@fwc.state.fl.us> )in appreciation for taking this
courageous and important step in protecting migratory songbirds and
shorebirds, as well as rare native wildlife species from stray and feral
cats. They have set an example for other state wildlife agencies to follow
in dealing with wildlife impacts from domestic cats in their states.
The Commission received over 2,500 comments in support of the policy. This
show of support was extremely important. Many thanks to all of you who sent
in those letters and e-mails!
Linda Winter, Director
Cats Indoors!
American Bird Conservancy
1834 Jefferson Place, NW
Washington, DC 20036
(p) 202-452-1535, ext 201
(f) 202-452-1534
lwinter@abcbirds.org <mailto:lwinter@abcbirds.org>
www.abcbirds.org/cats <http://www.abcbirds.org/cats>

------=_NextPart_000_001D_01C32C7C.5C243730
Content-Type: text/html;
	charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<html xmlns:v=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" =
xmlns:o=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" =
xmlns:w=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" =
xmlns=3D"http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">

<head>
<META HTTP-EQUIV=3D"Content-Type" CONTENT=3D"text/html; =
charset=3Diso-8859-1">

<meta name=3DProgId content=3DWord.Document>
<meta name=3DGenerator content=3D"Microsoft Word 9">
<meta name=3DOriginator content=3D"Microsoft Word 9">
<link rel=3DFile-List href=3D"cid:filelist.xml@01C32C7C.5B55EAB0">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
 <o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
  <o:DoNotRelyOnCSS/>
 </o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
 <w:WordDocument>
  <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
  <w:DocumentKind>DocumentEmail</w:DocumentKind>
  <w:EnvelopeVis/>
  <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>5.45 =
pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
 </w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]-->
<style>
<!--
 /* Font Definitions */
@font-face
	{font-family:Tahoma;
	panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;
	mso-font-charset:0;
	mso-generic-font-family:swiss;
	mso-font-pitch:variable;
	mso-font-signature:553679495 -2147483648 8 0 66047 0;}
 /* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
	{mso-style-parent:"";
	margin:0in;
	margin-bottom:.0001pt;
	mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
	font-size:12.0pt;
	font-family:"Times New Roman";
	mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
	{color:blue;
	text-decoration:underline;
	text-underline:single;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
	{color:blue;
	text-decoration:underline;
	text-underline:single;}
p.MsoAutoSig, li.MsoAutoSig, div.MsoAutoSig
	{margin:0in;
	margin-bottom:.0001pt;
	mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
	font-size:12.0pt;
	font-family:"Times New Roman";
	mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
p
	{margin-right:0in;
	mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
	mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
	margin-left:0in;
	mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
	font-size:12.0pt;
	font-family:"Times New Roman";
	mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
span.EmailStyle18
	{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
	mso-ansi-font-size:14.0pt;
	mso-ascii-font-family:"Times New Roman";
	mso-hansi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
	mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;
	color:black;
	font-weight:normal;
	font-style:normal;}
@page Section1
	{size:8.5in 11.0in;
	margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
	mso-header-margin:.5in;
	mso-footer-margin:.5in;
	mso-vertical-page-align:middle;
	mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
	{page:Section1;}
-->
</style>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
 <o:shapedefaults v:ext=3D"edit" spidmax=3D"1027"/>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
 <o:shapelayout v:ext=3D"edit">
  <o:idmap v:ext=3D"edit" data=3D"1"/>
 </o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
</head>

<body bgcolor=3Dwhite lang=3DEN-US link=3Dblue vlink=3Dblue =
style=3D'tab-interval:.5in'>

<div class=3DSection1>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle18><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt'>BCN
friends &#8211;<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle18><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt'><![if =
!supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle18><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt'>Here&#8217;s
some good news on free-roaming cats.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
yes">&nbsp;
</span>To all of you who wrote in support of this important step for =
bird (and
other wildlife) conservation, a sincere Thank =
You!<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle18><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt'><![if =
!supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle18><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt'>Donald
R. Dann<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle18><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt'>Highland
Park/Lake County<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; =
</span><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle18><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt'><![if =
!supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DTahoma><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;color:black'>-----Original Message-----<br>
<b><span style=3D'font-weight:bold'>From:</span></b> Linda Winter
[mailto:lwinter@abcbirds.org]<br>
<b><span style=3D'font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Friday, June 06, =
2003 3:35
PM<br>
<b><span style=3D'font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> =
Undisclosed-Recipient:;<br>
<b><span style=3D'font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> Landmark feral =
cat policy
passed in Florida</span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'><![if =
!supportEmptyParas]>&nbsp;<![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

On May 30, 2003, the Florida Fish =
&amp;
Wildlife Conservation Commission unanimously passed a policy, . . . =
&quot; to
protect native wildlife from predation, disease, and other impacts =
presented by
feral and free-ranging cats.&quot; The policy received broad support =
from
conservation groups, federal and state agencies, and wildlife =
rehabilitators,
including American Bird Conservancy, American Birding Association, =
Defenders of
Wildlife, National Audubon Society, Ornithological Council, Florida =
Audubon
Society, Florida Wildlife Federation, The Wildlife Society and their =
Florida
Chapter, Natural Areas Coalition of South Florida, Treasure Coast =
Wildlife
Hospital, Wildlife Rehab &amp; Refuge Center, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Florida Animal Control Association, Florida Department of =
Health,
U.S.D.A. Wildlife Services, and others.<o:p></o:p>

Dr. Christine Storts, DVM of Brevard =
County
Veterinary Association and I led the testimony in support of the policy. =
Kerry
Fay of Alley Cat Allies, and Dr. Julie Levy, DVM of Operation Catnip, =
led the
opposition. At the hearing, opponents of the feral cat policy far =
outnumbered
supporters. Some gave emotional accounts of their trap/neuter/release =
(TNR)
efforts and accused the Commissioners of planning to round up and kill =
all of
the state's cats. However, the Commissioners stood firm and recognized =
their
legal obligation and authority to protect the state's wildlife. They =
also
pledged that cats would be removed from FWC lands in the most humane way
possible, and the Commissioners expressed a willingness to work with all
stakeholders in this issue. The idea of containing un-socialized stray =
and
feral cats in outdoor enclosures on private property rather than =
releasing them
received a lot of support, and several people who testified already have =
such
enclosures on their property.<o:p></o:p>

The new policy can be found at <a
href=3D"http://www.abcbirds.org/cats/states/florida_policy.htm">www.abcbi=
rds.org/cats/states/florida_policy.htm</a>.
Please send a brief note to the Commissioners (<a =
href=3D"mailto:Commissioners@fwc.state.fl.us">Commissioners@fwc.state.fl.=
us</a>&nbsp;)in appreciation for taking this courageous and =
important
step in protecting migratory songbirds and shorebirds, as well as rare =
native
wildlife species from stray and feral cats. They have set an example for =
other
state wildlife agencies to follow in dealing with wildlife impacts from
domestic cats in their states. <o:p></o:p>

The Commission received over 2,500 =
comments in
support of the policy. This show of support was extremely important. =
Many
thanks to all of you who sent in those letters and e-mails! =
<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Linda Winter, Director<br>
Cats Indoors!<br>
American Bird Conservancy<br>
1834 Jefferson Place, NW<br>
Washington, DC&nbsp; 20036<br>
(p) 202-452-1535, ext 201<br>
(f) 202-452-1534<br>
<a href=3D"mailto:lwinter@abcbirds.org">lwinter@abcbirds.org</a><br>
<a =
href=3D"http://www.abcbirds.org/cats">www.abcbirds.org/cats</a></span></f=
ont><font
color=3Dblack><span =
style=3D'color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font><=
/p>

</div>

</body>

</html>

------=_NextPart_000_001D_01C32C7C.5C243730--