Dumping kittens....thank you to an irresponsible person

Today I got a call from one of the cat ladies that 5 kittens had been dumped in a colony she feeds on the southside. Could I come and help?  Well, after a couple of calls, I'd found some help. The kittens are about 5 weeks old and precious.  After helping with transport, I started thinking about who would take 7 (imagine that! there were a couple hiding) just weaned kittens and dump them outside? My weather widget says the temperature is 44 and there is a high wind

Of course, several of my favorite descriptors came to mind and I just gritted my teeth. The easiest solution that would have prevented this newest mess is access to low cost spay/neuter. Get your animals fixed, stopped dumping and Happy New Year!

Working together

Chatham County and Savannah have been buzzing lately with reports of a government endorsed attempt at elimination of outdoor cats, an outdoor cat contracts Rabies and suddenly is feral from a managed colony to a state agency showing interest not in the truth but what one person alleges.

It is time to put aside what was said in the past and work together to develop a set of ordinances that humanely address the cat overpopulation by setting the following goals: Spay/Neuter and Vaccinate free-roaming cats, manage the colonies through registration with a sponsor, track progress with semi-annual reports to the Chatham County.  This will result in less intakes at NGO animal rescues and shelters and reduce intake/euthanasia at the Animal Control Facility.  Cats in managed colonies are healthier, monitored for injuries that are addressed and the likelihood of Rabies contraction is minimal because cats are vaccinated and receive updated vaccinations, and provided sustenance on a daily basis.

For the last 20 or so years, the practice of Trap/Kill has been used to address problem areas in our County.  It's been ineffective and only providing a very short-term fix.  At a cost of approximately $150 to trap and kill each cat, the costs to the County's coffers add up quickly.  With TNR used, $150 could fix several cats thus resulting in a long term solution to reproduction which is almost constantly adding to the size of the colony. 

Working together seems to be answer - there is no way any one group can develop an ordinance that addresses this problem and I encourage all involved agencies, Commissioners and individuals to do some research.  Don't believe everything you hear - check it out.  Maybe even start with Alley Cat Allies (alleycat.org).

Poisonings -

Over the last several weeks I've learned of lots of cats being poisoned on Tybee, the Southside and Wilmington Island. Are people that poison cats thinking it's good thing REALLY that single minded?  If a squirrel, cat or dog eats the poison they die; the body decomposes; animals like buzzards, hawks, eagles, and in marsh areas crabs and other wildlife consume the poison left behind.  So what happens then?

Community cat colonies cannot be removed, relocated, or poisoned away. Humans created this problem by not spaying/neutering then releasing, dumping or abandoning their cats.  Numbers of cats trapped by county removal services continue to rise. The current economic climate suggests that counties get the most out of tax dollars. Current costs for trap/remove can be as high as $150 PER CAT!!!! 

Trying something new may not be the worst idea.  TNR works with commitment from caretakers.  Let us try - trap/remove, poisoning or moving has not worked.  Let's work together which means smarter not harder.

Miltons first domestic adoption of 2012

While getting dinner Tues night at my favorite hamburger joint off I16, I found kitties with tipped ears and a very friendly orange tabby. Peaches did figure eights thru my legs, purring and literally begging to be taken to her forever home.

A ride in a trap (the only carrier I had in the car) to the shed was the best bet for this obviously domestic cat.  After a great meal and sleeping in a warm bed, we headed to the Humane Society for Greater Savannah for testing and placement.  She tested negative, had her ear mites treated and will be fixed next week.  Then to adoption where she will find a loving family.

Dumping cats is illegal but with little chance of being caught people continue to do it. My usual response is thanks, you ass. Why do people think their cat who has lived inside their entire life would like outside in a strange place?  They dont, and usually they are unaltered contributing to larger colonies and more expenses for the caretaker.  Utilizing resources like the Humane Society or Save a Life to not add to the community cat problem.