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.

Where does time go?

A friend pointed out that she had read my blog.  I thought what blog? Then remembered when I made lots more time for computer stuff I had written a couple of posts.  Then you know what happened.......cats needing to be trapped and craziness and mayhem ensued.

The Community Cats of Savannah are still getting spayed and neutered to control reproduction.  We ended this year's SNAC pickups with 28.  They were both domestics and ferals.  The Tybee trapper had been out making sure traps had cats in them!  Thank you Marie and caretakers.  We finished up (maybe a couple of stragglers) this year strong and are looking to an even more successful 2012.

Rain Rain

Well last night, the rain won and I only caught one cat. But it was one from one of my colonies that was a visitor and hung out on the edge of the group - only coming up to eat after I had left the area. I had decided to try if I saw him - well as I pulled into the drive of the complex, I spotted him. Called the other ones with their usual Meow - here they come hungry and as usual Tiger (the original Fat Boy) is leading the pack - talking and explaining how I should feed him hourly. LOL

As I set up the trap - the gang of 6 watched with that look of OH NO You're not getting me again. I set the trap on the path he uses and baited with some sardines. Well of course that got everyone's interest - all checked it out even walking a couple of steps in but not getting anywhere near the trip plate. Well, here he comes, checks out the smell - tastes some of the "snackies" I had left as a bread crumb trail. He checked out the entire outside of the trap, then slowly made his way in. He set the trap and was totally unaware he was caught - food was keeping all of his attention. I walked up and he was not HAPPY. Hissing and slapping at me before I could cover the trap. I set him beside the truck in the shade - I could hear him rocking the trap while I fed the others. Transported him to the holding area and checked on him periodically to make sure he was doing ok. All is well - he will be neutered by SNAC (Spay/Neuter Alliance and Clinic in Ridgeland, SC) and released Tuesday evening.

With the storms around Savannah and lots of lightining, there were not many cats willing to be trapped. I was trying for several at 3-4 different locations - the stragglers that are really trap shy.

A couple of the other trappers caught several. So we're definitely going to break the 200 mark this week, which is the half-way point to our goal of 400 ferals spayed and neutered for 2007.

Remember Spaying and Neutering really does save lives.