[BCNnet] TNR pilot program

[Donald R Dann]

BCN friend:

Once again, it's decision time for the McHenry County Board.  They will
shortly vote on a pilot Trap, Neuter, Release program, which would 
allow a pilot free-roaming feral cat colony to be established in
McHenry County.  The following excellent letter is from Sally Joosten,
a local activist, who has been fighting this proposal.  I urge you to
contact each McHenry County Board member to express your strong
condemnation of this proposal.  Their phone numbers and email addresses
(under bio can be found here:
http://www.co.mchenry.il.us/CountyBrd/default.asp   

Please help.  

Thanks,

Donnie 

Donald R. Dann
Highland Park, IL/Lake County 



 Sally Joosten <salten@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> From: "Sally Joosten" <salten@sbcglobal.net>
> To: "Donald R. Dann" <donniebird@yahoo.com>
> Subject: Fw: TNR pilot program
> Date: Fri, 2 Jan 2004 20:15:01 -0600
> 
> 
> 
> Donnie,
> 
> Here is a copy of my letter to the county board members.  Feel free
> to share it with whomever you like, especially Linda.
> 
> Sally
> 
> 
> Dear County Board Members,
> 
> As a long time resident of McHenry County, I would like to tell you
> about some issues and concerns I have regarding the Trap, Neuter,
> Release (TNR) Program of feral cats that that the McHenry County
> Board is considering as a pilot program.
> 
> The majority of the counties in the country that allow these TNR
> programs have no leash laws or ordinances on cats.  McHenry County
> does, and has for many years!  I wonder how the cat owners of this
> county will feel about having two separate laws on cats?  One law
> will apply to them which says their cat must stay on their property
> and is not allowed to run at large and they can be fined if it does. 
> This law will not apply to TNR caretakers.
> 
> McHenry County cat owners are held responsible if their cat bites or
> scratches someone or causes property damage.  The TNR advocates do
> not feel they should be responsible if a feral cat bites or causes
> damage.  This is outrageous!  The same law that applies to the
> general public should also apply to caretakers of TNR cats.  If you
> feed it, it's yours and you are responsible!
> 
> I am all for the Animal Outreach Society (AOS) to trap, neuter and
> adopt out the feral cats and kittens that are "adoptable."  But
> releasing the un-adoptable cats to the wild is doing an injustice to
> our environment!  Cats are not native wildlife!  It is a well known
> documented fact that free roaming cats kill an unbelievable number of
> songbirds and other wildlife every year.  Supplemental feeding of
> feral cats does not stop them from killing.  It only makes them more
> proficient at killing.  Our wildlife face enough obstacles in today's
> world.  With the alarming loss of habitat, there has been a decline
> in many species.  Allowing TNR will only compound the problem.
> 
> Releasing these cats to the wild is not beneficial for them either. 
> They are more susceptible to disease, abscesses, eye infections,
> parasites (internal and external), dog attacks, and being hit by
> cars.  Many will freeze to death or suffer frost bite due to
> inadequate shelters.  Is this what we call quality of life?
> 
> Free roaming cats are notorious for defecating in gardens and flower
> beds as well as children's sandboxes adding greater potential for
> disease.  They also spray (or mark) patios, decks, garages, etc.
> creating a foul odor that is extremely difficult to get rid of.
> 
> It is also a well known fact that once a feral cat has been live
> trapped they will seldom enter another trap.  This makes it extremely
> difficult to catch a cat that may be diseased, injured, exhibiting
> signs of unusual behavior, or heaven forbid, a human bite.
> 
> Frankly, I resent the fact that the citizens of McHenry County who
> are opposed to the feral cat programs have no say at all if a TNR
> colony is established in their neighborhood.  This simply is not
> right!
> 
> Before voting on this pilot program, I ask the Board to please take
> these feral cat issues into consideration as well as possible
> liability issues.  Someone needs to be liable for these feral cats
> especially if a human is bitten or scratched.  In this "sue happy"
> society we live in today, is it possible that someone may consider
> the County Board members liable for approving the TNR program in the
> first place?
> 
> 
> 
> Respectfully,
> 
> Sally Joosten
> Woodstock, Illinois