Conference misery::feline_v1

    This is a really tough problem.  The only thing that I can think
    of that might spare the lives of these poor animals, (at least for
    a while) would be to capture them and get them to a shelter.
    
    This could be expensive, I have never been able to drop off a cat
    at a shelter without giving a donation.  Obviously these animals
    are not nutered.  That is what is causing the most annoying aspects
    of their (the cats) behavior.  Is ist possible to get this neighbor
    to nuter & spay?  How about if we could offer low cost certificates?
    
    I'd be happy to make a donation if money is the problem, but it
    might take longer than friday to get the whole project accomplished.
    If your other neighbors knew that relief was in sight maybe they
    would wait before putting out poison?  Please let us know what happens,
    we care about these poor neglected animals.  I may not be close
    by but (I'm in New Hampshire) please let me know what I can do to
    help!!
    
    Feline Helpless,
    
    Sue & Panther & Spot

    I'll happily provide the applications for low cost spaying and I'll
    also make a contribution to this project.  
      The fact that these people are considering such a violent alterna-
    tive is evidence of how big an annoyance these cats are.
    
      I have another suggestion.  Since the town won't help, call the
    local chapter of the ASPCA and ask them for help.  You could even
    say that the people plan to poison the cats. That may spur them
    into action.
    
      It really infuriates me to hear stories like this because it
    usually IS the animals that suffer and not the humans who are
    the source of the problem.
      Good luck.
       Nancy DC
    

    Kidnap them and have them altered.
    

    
    re .3 once they're altered what does she do with them?
    
    I think making the suggestion of calling the ASPCA as an alternative is
    the best.  After all, she was asked to come up with an alternative by
    Friday and this is just that.  It may be that the ASPCA will do
    something and they won't have to destroy the poor cats.
    
    I hope it all works out.  Unfortunately, I'm in Mass and can't help too
    well from the distance.
    
    Good luck and keep us posted.
    Faith
    

    
    God I feel like my hands are tied.  I got the number for the SPCA in
    LA and they don't cover the Santa Monica area.  The only type of
    control available is a city shelter that I talked to.  All they
    will do is give someone a trap to catch the animal and then they
    can bring it in.  The owner then has 8 days to claim the animal
    then it's spayed/neutered and put up for adoption.  If it's not
    adopted within a few weeks, the animal is put to sleep.
    
    It doesn't sound like these guy have much of a chance in the world.
    I don't think my friend cares enough at this point to go to the
    effort of picking up the trap and then using it.  I can't believe
    they are no laws preventing this type of thing from going on.
    I wish I were still in CA so I could try to do more.
    
    Does anyone have any other suggestions?? I don't want to see these
    animals poisoned!
    
    
    Donna, T.C. and Rocco
    
    
    

    
    
    	Boy does this story sound familiar.  Trying to trap cats is not
    	so easy and it does take time.  When we had a similar problem, I
    	called The Nashua, NH Humane Society  and they were willing to
    	provide the trap ($40.00 deposit till returned) but no help 
    	in capturing the cats.  If these cats are well fed, they may
    	never want to enter a trap.
    
    	If the neighbors put out poison, ANY animal could be killed.
    	Someones beloved cat or dog and what about young children?  I
    	think it's against the law in most states to do that anyhow,
    	even though it is done and hard to prove who did it.
    
    	So where does this leave you....upset, feeling inadequate against
    	an injustice and saddened.
    
    	We never did capture the wild cats that had been abondoned and left
    	to starve.  They all just eventually disappeared.  Sad but true
    	folks....life ain't always pretty.
    
    	Sorry for the black picture, but I've helped many animals, but so
    	many more I couldn't.  We just keep trying.
    

    Are there any other animal agencies other than the SPCA out there?
    (Here we have the Humane Society, Animal Rescue League and many
    private non-profit shelters.)
    
    Once I had to call a private shelter about a stray or lost dog
    that was hanging around the store that I work part-time at and 
    they came and caught him and took him in.
    
    Or, another longshot are some of the local vets.  They might
    at least know of some shelters.  
    
    (I'd start in the yellow pages and go through the list trying 
    everyone.)
    
    Not only will these poor kitties suffer, but someone elses pet
    might get into the poisoned food as well.
    
    We'll keep our fingers crossed here on the east coast!
    
    Barbara

    re: .4
    
    She plays aunt.  Like I do with my neighbors' neglected cats.  They
    get extra food at my house and extra cuddling, and brushing, and
    flea powder when necessary, and they can shelter in the garage
    from bad weather.
    

Tell your friend that poisoning any animal is against the laws and carries
very heavy fines in most cities...some cities also require jail time...in
California.  This is not the answer - if more people know about the plans,
then someone is bound to tell the police about it when the killings are
reported to the police...after all, if the animals are fed the owners
are probably going to report the poisonings....any other animal that gets
near the poisoned food will also die which makes it more likely that
the poisonings will become a police matter.  The potential threat to
children is real and taken seriously in this state.  Your friend should
have a letter written (by a lawyer - or at least on official looking
stationary) stating the damage caused by the cats and warning the owners
that they will be held responsible IN COURT for any additional damage in
the future.  The threat of legal action might do more good than simple
appeals.  I would encourage your friend to warn the owners of the cats
that the cats will be trapped and taken to the animal shelter where they
will be forced to pay for the neutering of the animals before the owners
can get the cats back...if they have dreams of breeding these cats, it
may make them keep their cats restrained after that.  If not, I would
strongly urge your friend to trap the cats and deliver them to a shelter.
Your friend might also call the local newspaper and get their city
reporter to help in gaining assistance from the local shelter....bad
press is always an incentive to do a little more.  Last, remind your
friend that poison is a particularly hideous way to die....no animal
deserves that.

    ditto to .9
    
    "No animal deserves to die that way .... "
    
    
    What also concerns me is that you mention your friend is planning
    to go along with this scheme .... has anyone told the owner just
    what might be in store for her "family" if she doesn't do something?
    Perhaps she feels the neighbors are complainers and has no real
    idea of just how serious they are. Instead of threats and complaints
    has anyone offered the owner any help? The low-cost certificates
    are a great idea!
    
    Poison is just not an acceptable solution! Why have these neighbors
    put up with this for 2 years and NOW imposed a deadline of one week?
    
    I too am in Massachusetts but am willing to help out financially,
    or any other way that I can. Please let us know what we can do ....
    
    Heidi - Tiggr & Mouse
    

    Yes, please warn the owner.  Imagine how any of us would
    feel to have our cats poisoned.
    

    re: .11 - Or children.  When I was a child my mother used to
    have to chase me out of the dog's dish!  
      Nancy DC
    

    
    Regarding previous replys: fixing the animals is not really the issue.
    The spraying is just one of the many nuisances.  I'm getting absolutely
    no help from Santa Monica shelters and my friend will not go through
    the time or expense of trapping the cats.
    
    I'm going to call her later and point out all of the problems and
    dangers associated with poisoning the cats.  I don't honestly think
    I could ever look her in the face again if she did that.  I'm also
    going to ask for the owner's phone number so I can try to call 
    and see if I can do any good.  I just wish I were in CA so I
    wouldn't feel like my hands are so tied.
    
    Thanks for all the support and suggestions.  I'll keep this updated.
    
    Donna
    
    p
    
    

   >     I'm going to call her later and point out all of the problems and
   > dangers associated with poisoning the cats.  I don't honestly think
   > I could ever look her in the face again if she did that.  

    
      I'm glad you said it first because I sure was thinking it.  There
    are very few things in this world that would make me write off a
    friend - but this is one of 'em.  
      And it sure must be painful for you!  Keep us posted and let us
    know if there is anything we can do.
       Nancy DC
    

    
    Good (better news)
    
    Talked with my friend last night and she is completely talked out
    of the poison idea!  I also spent a lot of time on the phone once
    again to shelters and a couple city departments in Santa Monica.
    I found a number she and the neighbors can call to lodge a
    complaint.  Turns out there is a leash law in Santa Monica which
    also applies to cats.  The city will go talk to the owner and she will
    have to comply with the leash law.  If she doesn't, the cats will
    be taken away and put up for adoption.  The shelter will euthanize
    the cats after a few weeks if not adopted, but I was relieved to
    hear that Santa Monica has an extremely high adoption rate even
    for adult cats.  I guess they very rarely end up putting animals
    to sleep. 
    
    The cats are the ones who are going to suffer by this, but in the
    long run hopefully they'll all have good new homes with people who
    love them and treat them better.
    
    
    Donna, T.C. and Rocco

    
    Donna,
    
    	That's good news.....especially for the weekend.  Once the
    cats end up at the shelter (if they do), maybe some of the west coast
    feliners can help find homes or whatever.
    
    Faith
    

    It is unfortunate that its usually the animal that suffers from
    human neglect but I think their suffering will be alot less than
    the alternative of poison.  I'm really glad to hear that they've
    decided against that route.  You did a good job.  Thanks for
    putting all that effort in.
      Nancy DC