Ferals and Home owners Associations

Sorry I don't normally post here, but I do have this story with question(s).

I just got off the phone with my mother.

She was telling me that my father had attended their subdivision's homeowner's association. Now keep in mind that this association have rules against any sort of trailer being parked in the yard or driveway, no fences allowed, even to the point my mom said no pick up trucks are allowed. Anyway this meeting was concerning a neighbor of theirs. The H.A. wants to SUE this home owner because she's been allowing strays to stay in her garage overnight. I do not know what grounds since there apparently isn't a rule in the homeowners association that allows this. Knowing them though they probably will get it in there.

The second part of the story is concerning my mom. After Dad told her about the possible lawsuit for their neighbor, he then said to stop feeding the strays so much and not to tell anyone she does. This is because he doesn't want her [and him] to get sued. Basically my mom feeds 2 stray cats that have been coming there for a year now. One of the cats is pregnant and probably close to her delivery time.

I told my mom to claim the cats as hers. say she can't keep them inside because of allergies but that they're her cats (if asked).


Anyway can the H.A. do this?

There's always one of these people in every neighborhood. I live in a subdivision with a home owner's association and am very glad that I'm 4 doors down from the busy-body of the neighborhood. She would be the one suing if she saw the feral cats that live around my house.

I think your mom needs to claim the cats as her own. The only thing they can possible do then is to go after her for loose animal laws if they exist in their area. She might want to call the local government offices to find out the rules concerning cats that are let outside. Some areas require fenced yards or leashes on any outdoor pets. She might need to get them vetted to prove rabies vaccinations.

OK thanks! I told her what you suggested and the only issue she has is capturing the cats...I guess they're afraid of humans.

But she was saying that she wants to at least get the female fixed. I guess its the females second time getting pregnant.

Sorry this is a little off topic... but I would NEVER in my life live somewhere like that... whenever I'm looking to move, I make SURE they aren't pricks about pets.... where do they expect these stray cats to go????

Im thinking. About such intolerant people.

One way may be to ask the priests/preachers in the nearby churches to make some sermons about the good shepherd and the sheep, and especielly the great pains he makes about to find and help the lost sheep, the sheep who went astray.
This is of course a story about God and people. Or possibly a good parish-priest and his congregation.
But the Bible demands in fact a shepherd to work hard to save the astray sheeps. Tells us this is entirely given and nothing to discuss.

This must also mean other domestical animals should be saved. For example cats!

I know most cat rescuers are NOT doing this because of religiosity. They do it because of love to animals, because of their feeling of decency, because of compassion, wanting to help others etc.

But it would be a good argument against such people for whom "decency" or "compassion" are only empty words or something you can have in your garden.

They cant go against the helper as the helper is only doing what their own chrisitian (and jewish and in fact also moslem) religion demands of himher.

And who knows. Some of the real religious people will be touched and join the helpers...

I agree she should claim them as her own. It sounds as if she has adopted them in a way, anyhow.

Once she is able to trap them and do spay/neuter, they will stay closer to her home. I have a similar situation, not with my neighbors, but with 2 feral cats that are my children now .

I don't know if your mom can do this, but what have done is to create a safe hangout for the two cats in my backyard. This way they mostly stay very close to my house and I feel they are more protected from the neighbors. For the winter months I have covered an enclosed area with solar pool covers to trap the heat, and I use outdoor heating pads for animals (available at http://cozywinters.com/shop/kh-3093.html this site).

My two neighbors on either side of me are ok with the cats- I've told them the cats are a deterrent to raccoons because they are territorial (ok it is stretching things a bit lol) as well as tiny rodents like mice.

I haven't talked to my neighbors behind our house. They are not the nicest people either and I do worry. If I thought there was a problem, I might ask them what is causing the negativity and see if there is a way to work it all out. I know some people are bird lovers, others may have an indoor cat and there may be a spraying war, or maybe they are just nuts and conrol freaks LOL, who knows.

Ok this last part goes beyond the cat issue, but if the people are truely hostile your mom will need to use all her communication skills and work some magic. So I am adding this link about establishing rapport. Maybe she can find some common ground elsewhere with the neighbors. Maybe they both garden or love to cook or travel. If she can get them on the same wavelength in another way and find common ground, maybe she can then negotiate an acceptable resolution with the cats. http://www.1000ventures.com/business...s_rapport.html

Good luck. I would be interested in hearing the outcome. I have worried about this with my cats too. Your mom sounds like a saint. I am sorry to hear she is having to deal with this sad situation.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeowners_association

To answer your question about whether an association can do this, I looked it up on the internet, and it appears that these groups can just take over a town.

However the AARP does not favor them, and possibly your parents can find information through the AARP that can help them out.

Thank you for raising this issue, it taught me a lot, even though I am sorry to hear about the kitties and the problems your parents are having to face.

Yes, HOAs are awful! (Although, we DID have one volunteer who managed to get her TNR project partially-funded by hers -- yes she got on the board!).

In politics, it seems the lower the level of place you govern, the more nit-picky you become. And HOAs are about the lowest level of place that you can govern.

I would try and rally support for being compassionate toward the animals around -- and I think the idea of getting local pastors etc. to preach on the topic is MARVELOUS. Let the current fervor about the cats in the garage fade away, and THEN, come in with a couple of persuasive presentations on how the HOA could manage its stray cat problems with a TNR program. There are some videos and talking points you can find and order on the web that would help. Be sure and "let" the HOA board feel that it's their idea, they are the heros.

Until then, I would say, lie low but work toward finding out who the "friendlies" are and network with them, leaving the "nasties" out of the loop.

Best,
Linda