[BCNnet] SUPPORT PROPOSED RULE PROHIBITING RELEASE OF DOMESTIC CATS!

Wed, 24 Sep 2003 15:02:45 -0500

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Dear BCN Friends -

The huge loss of birds and small mammals to free-roaming cats is well
documented.  Increasingly, states and wildlife agencies are recognizing this
and adopting rules prohibiting organized cat colonies as well as
discouraging cat owners to abandon their cats.  Now the State of
Pennsylvania is taking it one step further, and is proposing to prohibit the
release of domestic cats.  See the following from the American Bird
Conservancy, and please send an email response as requested.  To emphasize,
you don't have to be a Pennsylvania resident to comment.

Thanks,

Donald R. Dann
Highland Park/Lake County

Subject: FW: ACTION ALERT! SUPPORT PROPOSED RULE PROHIBITING RELEASE OF
DOMESTIC CATS!
Importance: High

ACTION ALERT! SUPPORT PENNSYLVANIA'S PROPOSED RULE PROHIBITING RELEASE OF
DOMESTIC CATS!

The domestic cat is not native to the United States, yet millions of pet,
stray and feral cats roam the country, killing native songbirds and small
mammals, and transmitting diseases and parasites such as rabies,
toxoplasmosis, and cat-scratch fever to wildlife and humans. The state of
Pennsylvania is attempting to address this problem but is facing opposition
from well-meaning but misguided people. Pennsylvania needs your help to push
through a proposed rule prohibiting the release of domestic cats into the
wild. YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE A RESIDENT OF PENNSYLVANIA TO SUPPORT THIS
IMPORTANT NEW PROPOSAL.

Some people feed stray and feral cats in so-called "managed" colonies,
mistakenly believing they are helping the cats. Called Trap/Neuter/Release
or TNR, the cats are trapped, spayed or neutered, and then released back at
the trap site, often within important wildlife habitat. Volunteers continue
to feed the cats for as long as they stay in the colony, which could be a
day, a month, or even years.

American Bird Conservancy (ABC), and many other conservation and animal
welfare groups, strongly oppose TNR for many reasons, including the fact
that cats in colonies, even if well-fed, still kill birds and other
wildlife. Not all of the cats can be trapped, the cat food attracts more
cats, and the colonies often become dumping grounds for unwanted pets. Thus,
cat colonies are not eliminated, but perpetuated. Cats in colonies still
face all the hazards of living outdoors, including disease, getting hit by
cars, and attacks from other animals. TNR is not humane, and may be illegal
under wildlife and animal welfare laws.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) has proposed a Rule to make the
release of domestic dogs or cats into the wild unlawful. The text of the
Rule amending 58 PA. Code CH. 137 can be found at:
http://www.pabulletin.com/secure/data/vol33/33_38/1838.html
<http://www.pabulletin.com/secure/data/vol33/33-38/1838.html> .
Unfortunately, this proposed rule is under strong attack by TNR advocates.

EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT A PA RESIDENT, please send an email in support of this
Proposed Rule to: pgccomments@state.pa.us <mailto:pgccomments@state.pa.us> ,
or by mail to: Director, Information and Education, Game Commission, 2001
Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg, PA 17110-9797 by October 3. The PGC will hold a
public hearing on October 6 starting at 8:30 at 2001 Elmerton Ave.,
Harrisburg, PA. If you can attend, please sign in and you will have 5
minutes to speak.

If the PGC adopts this Rule, release of domestic cats and dogs into the wild
would be legal. It would also serve as a model for other state wildlife
agencies to follow when dealing with the tremendous toll that domestic cats
have on wildlife across the country. For more information on the many
problems with TNR, click on the Managed Cat Colonies button at
www.abcbirds.org/cats. <http://www.abcbirds.org/cats.> Thank you for your
support.

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>

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<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle180><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt'>Dear
BCN Friends &#8211;<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle180><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=3DEmailStyle180><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt'>The
huge loss of birds and small mammals to free-roaming cats is well
documented.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Increasingly, =
states
and wildlife agencies are recognizing this and adopting rules =
prohibiting organized
cat colonies as well as discouraging cat owners to abandon their =
cats.<span
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Now the State of Pennsylvania =
is taking
it one step further, and is proposing to prohibit the release of =
domestic
cats.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>See the following =
from the
American Bird Conservancy, and please send an email response as =
requested.<span
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>To emphasize, you don&#8217;t =
have to be a
Pennsylvania resident to comment.<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle180><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=3DEmailStyle180><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt'>Thanks,<span
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; =
</span><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle180><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=3DEmailStyle180><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=3DEmailStyle180><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><span
style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
yes">&nbsp;</span><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span class=3DEmailStyle180><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>

Subject: FW: ACTION =
ALERT! SUPPORT
PROPOSED RULE PROHIBITING RELEASE OF DOMESTIC CATS! 
Importance: =
High

<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>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><b><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;font-weight:bold'=
>ACTION
ALERT! SUPPORT PENNSYLVANIA&#8217;S PROPOSED RULE PROHIBITING RELEASE OF =
DOMESTIC
CATS! </span></font></b><font color=3Dblack><span =
style=3D'color:black;mso-color-alt:
windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 color=3Dblack face=3D"Times New =
Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>&nbsp;</span></font><font =
color=3Dblack><span
style=3D'color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font><=
/p>

The domestic cat is not native to =
the
United States, yet millions of pet, stray and feral cats roam the =
country,
killing native songbirds and small mammals, and transmitting diseases =
and
parasites such as rabies, toxoplasmosis, and cat-scratch fever to =
wildlife and
humans. The state of Pennsylvania is attempting to address this problem =
but is
facing opposition from well-meaning but misguided =
people.&nbsp;Pennsylvania
needs your help to push through a proposed rule prohibiting the release =
of
domestic cats into the wild. YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE A RESIDENT OF =
PENNSYLVANIA
TO SUPPORT THIS IMPORTANT NEW PROPOSAL.<o:p></o:p><=
/p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 color=3Dblack face=3D"Times New =
Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>&nbsp;</span></font><font =
color=3Dblack><span
style=3D'color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font><=
/p>

Some&nbsp;people&nbsp;feed stray =
and
feral cats in so-called &quot;managed&quot; colonies, mistakenly =
believing they
are helping the cats.&nbsp;Called Trap/Neuter/Release or TNR, the cats =
are
trapped, spayed or neutered, and then released back at the trap site, =
often
within important wildlife habitat. Volunteers continue to feed the cats =
for as
long as they stay in the colony, which could be a day, a month, or even =
years. <o:p></o:p><=
/p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 color=3Dblack face=3D"Times New =
Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>&nbsp;</span></font><font =
color=3Dblack><span
style=3D'color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font><=
/p>

American Bird Conservancy (ABC), =
and many
other conservation and animal welfare groups, strongly oppose TNR for =
many
reasons, including the fact that cats in&nbsp;colonies, even if =
well-fed, still
kill birds and other wildlife. Not all of the cats can be trapped, the =
cat food
attracts more cats, and the colonies often become dumping grounds for =
unwanted
pets. Thus, cat colonies are not eliminated, but perpetuated. Cats in =
colonies
still face all the hazards of living outdoors, including disease, =
getting hit
by cars, and attacks from other animals. TNR is not humane, and may be =
illegal
under wildlife and animal welfare laws. <o:p></o:p><=
/p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 color=3Dblack face=3D"Times New =
Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>&nbsp;</span></font><font =
color=3Dblack><span
style=3D'color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font><=
/p>

The Pennsylvania Game Commission =
(PGC)
has proposed a Rule to make the release of domestic dogs or cats into =
the wild
unlawful. The text of the Rule amending 58 PA. Code CH. 137 can be found =
at: <a
href=3D"http://www.pabulletin.com/secure/data/vol33/33-38/1838.html">http=
://www.pabulletin.com/secure/data/vol33/33_38/1838.html</a>
. Unfortunately, this proposed rule is under strong attack by TNR =
advocates.<o:p></o:p><=
/p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 color=3Dblack face=3D"Times New =
Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>&nbsp;</span></font><font =
color=3Dblack><span
style=3D'color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font><=
/p>

EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT A PA RESIDENT, =
please
send an email in support of this Proposed Rule to: <a
href=3D"mailto:pgccomments@state.pa.us">pgccomments@state.pa.us</a>, or =
by mail
to: Director, Information and Education, Game Commission, 2001 Elmerton =
Ave.,
Harrisburg, PA 17110-9797 by October =
3.
The PGC will hold a public hearing on October 6 starting at 8:30 at =
2001
Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg, PA. If you can attend, please sign in and =
you
will have 5 minutes to speak. <o:p></o:p><=
/p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 color=3Dblack face=3D"Times New =
Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>&nbsp;</span></font><font =
color=3Dblack><span
style=3D'color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font><=
/p>

If the PGC adopts this Rule, =
release of
domestic cats and dogs into the wild would be legal. It would also serve =
as a
model for other state wildlife agencies to follow when dealing with the
tremendous toll that domestic cats have on wildlife across the country. =
For
more information on the many problems with TNR, click on the Managed Cat
Colonies button at <a =
href=3D"http://www.abcbirds.org/cats.">www.abcbirds.org/cats.</a>&nbsp;&n=
bsp;
Thank you for your support.<o:p></o:p><=
/p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 color=3Dblack face=3D"Times New =
Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>&nbsp;</span></font><font =
color=3Dblack><span
style=3D'color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font><=
/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>

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