[BCNnet] FW: Pilot TNR program in McHenry County

[Donald R. Dann]

BCN friends -

Although this is an issue you may have acted on before it would be extremely
helpful if you could write or call one more time.  Linda Winter, director of
the Cats Indoors program for the American Bird Conservancy sent the
following email, which is self explanatory.

Please contact the McHenry County Board members before February 3rd.  Many
thanks,

Donnie

Donald R. Dann
Highland Park/Lake County

-----Original Message-----
From: Linda Winter [mailto:lwinter@abcbirds.org]
Sent: Wednesday, January 28, 2004 4:27 PM
To: Undisclosed-Recipient:;
Subject: Pilot TNR program in McHenry County

Dear Cats Indoors! Campaign Supporter:  I am writing to you because on Feb 3
the McHenry County Board will be voting on a pilot Trap, Neuter, Release
program, which would allow a government-sanctioned free-roaming feral cat
colony to be established.  The following excellent letter is from Sally
Joosten, a local activist, who has been fighting this proposal.  Even if you
do not live in the county, please contact each McHenry County Board member
to express your strong condemnation of this proposal, and tell them of your
own experiences with free-roaming cats.  If a pilot TNR program is
established in McHenry County, your county officials could be pressured to
do the same thing. Their phone numbers and email addresses (under bio) can
be found here:   http://www.co.mchenry.il.us/CountyBrd/default.asp
ABC strongly opposes TNR for many reasons, and more information can be found
on our Web site at www.abcbirds.org/cats.   Please send an email or call
BEFORE FEB 3RD.  Thanks!  Linda Winter, Director, Cats Indoors! Campaign
-------------------------------------------------------

  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