Conference misery::feline

    
    Speaking of the power of the pen....someone wrote into our town paper
    accusing the animal control officer of not performing his job.
    The continuing saga of accusations/rebuttals makes for interesting
    reading....... 

    
    
    I hope that the animal control officer was doing their job, and most
    likey was.  These people are usually over-worked and underpaid,
    probably only part-timers as well.  Many towns do not have ANY animal
    control officers.  (Cx. previous FELINE entry regarding town animal
    control officers).
    
    People's forums are always very interesting to read, and a lot of heat
    can be generated on various subjects.  I am often tempted to respond in
    writing to my local town and city newspaper regarding several issues,
    however, I limit my self to just speaking out for animals.  Our city
    newspaper restricts the number of times one person can submit a letter.
    This prevents the forum from becoming a soapbox.
    
    My city newspaper is very good at publishing stories about animals,
    particulary those in distress from being abandoned.  So, these articles
    do raise public consciousness.  This past New England winter was a
    horrible one in terms of cold and snow.  I am sure that thousands of
    cats and dogs perished.  There was one particularly sad story of a
    mother dog that was abandonned in a cardboard box with her week-old
    litter (there was about a dozen or so pups).  This occured during
    record below zero cold weather.  Fortunately the story had a happy
    ending and the mother and pups were discovered before being frozen
    to death.  
    Many more cats are abandoned than dogs, and so many cats are homeless.  
    I can't see how any strays survived this winter.  I almost dread the
    spring because more kittens will be born only to be abandoned.  So,
    perhaps if I can submit a letter or two to my local newspaper, this
    effort may help.  Many people do not know that there are low cost
    spay/neuter programs.  So lets get the word out.  I know that many
    cat shelters (and dog shelters,too) are very active in this area, but
    the more 'press' the better.
    
    Thanks for listening,
           
    Eleanor
    
    

    I am an old feliner - Carol Weston.  I am presently contracting at
    AKO1.  I know this note is old, but I believe it has to do alot with
    what my husband and I went through this weekened.
    
    Some background:
    
    We have been cleaning up our neighborhood, a dead-end road in Berlin in
    the woods, over the last 7 years.  We have placed privately, also with
    the Lancaster Humane Society, The Pat Broady Shelter, buried and have
    adopted and some, never returned.......over 60 cats and kittens.  Maybe
    some of you read in the FELINERS news paper, our story to Scruffy which
    listed our past kitties.
    
    Presently we have two pets left, Smuckey and Dot two neutered males.  I
    have been taking care of one female outside and of course, like many
    others couldn't get her fixed for several reasons and she had a litter
    this past March.  Well I've been taking care of them also, 4, 3 females
    and one male.  Last week, I spotted 3 more little ones, my heart broke,
    for we also had this all cleared up.  I couldn't believe she had more,
    she is so skinny and is probably sick and plan on bringing her to the
    vets, if I can catch her soon.....
    
    I caught her 4 oldest, they are sociable with all my attention, this
    past Saturday---my dear hubby, who is not a cat lover, but has learned
    to be....(somewhat), brought them to the Lancaster Humane Society to
    place them or put them down.  They would not take them nor put them
    down.  The vet their said he was starting a new practice in Fitcburg in
    a couple of weeks and he'd spay and neuter them then.  But we'd have to
    take them back.  With the past winter, I would have to build a housing
    for them.  I can't bring them in.....the vet said he'd try to help
    place them...
    
    I just don't understand why it is inhumane to put them down, not that I
    want too.......... but it's O.K. for them to run around outside, right
    now and for the past 5 months, in bad weather -- disease and so forth?
    That doesn't sound right.  We are trying to do the right thing.  I feel
    totally responsible for them being born, but I can't costantly put out
    all this money.
    
    I guess I'm just letting off steam.  I did have someone stop by last
    nite, who visits their mom in our neighborhood.  I believe they are
    interested in one or two of these.....hope so.
    
    Thanks for listening...
    
    Carol Weston