I had a run in with the city manager

This was the second encounter with this jerk! He is new here, and I contacted him back in August because someone, and I know who it was, he is a justice of the peace, yeah, a real winner, was pouring anti freeze in the ditch right where I feed my ferals, well the CM, said he couldn't see it, I had samples in jars in my trunk, he said he didn't want them, he would do a test of the stuff himself, never happened, and he threatened the cats then with animal control. I asked or pleaded , for him not to do that.
Now I think about it he probably got rid of some of them from then til now.
Here is what happened a few days ago, I was feeding one cat thru the fence,
which is on the Airport property, she is scared of the others, cause they started running her off from where I feed them. He drove upon me, and said, so rude, "What are you doing here?" very rude.... and hateful ...I said , "excuse me?" I couldn't believe this jerk was talking to me like that, I know my mouth was wide open...I said, feeding a cat, then he goes into telling me how they can't have cats on the runways...I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Yeah jerk, they are so afraid of loud noises, that they don't get near the runway! The justice of the peace can't stand it or me for that matter, he hangs out up at the airport, and had seen me out there the day before feeding "sweet love" he knows it's not against the law, but they love to harass me, or try to intimidate me! Now the CM is one of the good ole boys, and here is what I came to ask you....
I just wrote an email to the CM, I basically told him off, but in an intelligent way, I don't want it to backfire on the cats, but I cannot take this harassment anymore, but I will if you all think it is a bad idea? I have been nice for 3 yrs, I am sick of it , what would ya'll do? Please help! oh I haven't sent the email yet...I'll see if I can copy and paste it ...hang on...

Dear Mr. Cockrell,
Wished I could say that our second meeting were better than our first,(seeing how you didn't do anything you said you would at the first, beside make a threat) but the second encounter with you sir, showed me a lot about you, believe me it wasn't good! You sir are in the wrong profession, but most people are... who are followers!
As if you didn't notice sir, I am a "Lady", I know your mother taught you better than how you approached me at the airport, let alone behind SmithTex.
I know your type, and I know your buddies, but what all of you don't know is who I am, please don't mistake, I am not easily intimidated! The only harm going on around there, or this town period, is the likes of people like you.
What ashame, that is how it goes, but I can tell you this, if any more harm is done to those cats, I will call my friend from one of our local TV stations, and give them a story, I hope everyone likes publicity, cause I won't hesitate. It is not a threat sir, it is a promise!
By the way, the cats don't eat, sleep, walk, run, lay or even play on the runways! They are wild, and scared of loud noises and terrible people. Is that what you were doing out there that day sir, (a new part of your job?), "runway patrol", cause how are you or anyone else going to stop any wild animal from being on the runways, seeing how it is in the country? I'm talking about deer, raccoons, squirrels, rabbits, dogs, coyotes, etc. That sir, made you look incompetent. The cats are the least of your worries! I don't care about what you disagree with, you obviously are being manned by fools, and they are making you look the same!
I hope you have a nice day!




That is the email, you all can help me rewrite it or cut it down, or tell me I shouldn't send it, etc. I will do whatever is best. I actually wrote a 3 page letter telling him off, but I knew not to say all of that! Just need to take up for myself, but needed to see what ya'll think first? Thanks in advance...
M

Monique, I'd like to help you. First, I do think you should edit your post and remove your last name, just for security/privacy reasons.

I think you do need to communicate your concerns about harrassment, but I think I can help with the writing. I know you toned it down a lot, but it's still very confrontational. I believe I can help make it less confrontational but make the same point. I also think you ought to include information on the issue of feral cats in the community, and the benefits of TNR, explaining why you do what you do.

Can you please PM me the name of your town and your county? I would like to look up a few legal things first. I don't know the status of TNR in your area; I also believe it may have been illegal for the JOP to pour antifreeze into the ditch with the intent to poison the cats, but won't know until I know where you are and spend a little time on it.

I think sending your message is important, but that it's more important to take the time and be armed with important information.



Laurie

OMG does TX ever have the WORST animal cruelty laws! There is NO PROVISION for unowned domesticated animals - they are basically considered like wildlife and IT is not protected! I can't even repeat some of the horrors that have been committed against feral cats where charges were dismissed because they weren't owned pets. In one of the cases, the cat had a name and was cared for by a woman, but didn't live on her property or inside, so she was not deemed a pet and what happened to this poor cat with NO consequences....

Oh Monique, I was hoping we could do something with this antifreeze bit, but I'm going to have to look up the environmental side to it, because in the animal approach to it - it isn't illegal, criminally or civilly.

Laurie, you are just AWESOME! We need more people like you in this world.

Monique, you are an angel watching over these cats & protecting them. I hope you & these cats are able to get the justice that you deserve.

Your letter is a bit confrontational... I would try wording it kind of neutrally. The tone shouldn't be mad or happy. Just state the facts and try to leave the emotional aspect of it out. Though I must admit that it does sound like that guy needs a good strangling for trying to poision your cats!

OK, I heard back from the State EPA Dept. I'm also really uneducated about the structure of municipal government, so had to look up the City Manager form of government. It turns out that a City Manager is appointed by the City Council. This is GREAT - he's like the CEO of a Company that is appointed by the Board of Directors. I think your best bet is to actually address your letter to the Mayor and the City Council (who are elected). The website for your town is not current - it lists the Council members - but the site hasn't been updated since 2008 when (most) of their terms expired. If you can contact City Hall or something to get the names of the Mayor and the five council members, address the letter to them. Unfortunately, that does mean it needs to be printed out and mailed - but it's just six copies that you need to print, sign, and mail.

This is what I came up with:

October XX, 2010



Mayor XXXXXXXXX
Councilman(woman) Name (Use Councilman if it's a man, Councilwoman if a woman)
Councilman(woman) Name
Councilman(woman) Name
Councilman(woman) Name
Councilman(woman) Name
City of XXXX, TX
Address (I'll PM you the address)

Dear Mayor and City Council:

This letter is regarding several complaints about the City Manager, Mr. Cockrell. As the City Manager is appointed by the Mayor and City Council, I felt strongly that you needed to be informed of the extremely rude and unprofessional manner in which I have been treated by Mr. Cockrell on more than one occasion. Further, Mr. Cockrell has not responded to my concern regarding improper disposition of antifreeze, something that affects the entire community. In Texas, it is illegal to dispose of antifreeze by pouring it on the ground. Doing so is a violation of 30 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Section 330.15 (which applies to nonhazardous wastes, including antifreeze, produced by non-industrial generators) or 30 TAC Section 335.4 (which applies to wastes, including antifreeze, that are either a hazardous waste or are a nonhazardous waste produced by industrial generators).

We live in a small city and may not always agree on how to handle every problem, but we should certainly treat each other with respect. As a representative of the City Government, the City Manager should arguably be held to higher standards.

Mr. Cockrell has been very antagonistic to me. I believe this is because I provide care to “community cats.” I understand that community cats are usually considered a nuisance and are frequently treated like vermin by many. Regardless of our feelings for the feral animals, the fact is that they are not homeless by choice. They exist because pet owners do not spay or neuter their animals and allow their pets to roam. As unowned animals, community cats are not protected under Texas Animal Cruelty Law, and community cats are a problem frequently overlooked by many municipalities. I believe I provide a service to our community and its unowned cats by spending my own time and money to trap, spay or neuter, vaccinate (and get other medical treatment if necessary) and release (Trap-Neuter-Release, or “TNR”) them so they cannot procreate. This method of controlling the population of feral cats is endorsed by the National Animal Control Association and also represents Best Practices of animal welfare as endorsed by The Humane Society of the United States and the ASPCA. Trap-Neuter-Return as a method of feral cat control has been embraced by cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Diego, Baltimore, Miami Beach, Washington D.C., Atlantic City, NJ, and literally thousands of smaller cities and municipalities across the U.S.

Mr. Cockrell has confronted me while I was caring for the cats on more than one occasion, and his manner was less than respectful to say the least. Apart from being confrontational, disrespectful, and argumentative, he is clearly not well informed as to the many issues surrounding the management of feral animals. That may not be a part of his job… but then I am at a loss to explain why he would bother confronting me in a manner that I consider bordering on harassment. In the end, his disrespectful manner is of little consequence to anyone but me (though as a City Representative you should be aware of how he comports himself). But his opinion of the service I provide to the community and the cats should not interfere with the execution of his job.

To that end, I reported to him my concern that antifreeze had been dumped in a specific location in August of this year. I am sure you are aware of the many dangers of antifreeze when improperly disposed of. More importantly, as I indicated earlier and I am sure you are aware, it is illegal to dispose of antifreeze by simply pouring it onto the ground. I contacted Mr. Cockrell to voice my concern that antifreeze had been released into the environment. Mr. Cockrell kindly met me at the location. He said he was unable to see it. I had taken samples that were available in jars in the trunk of my car. He said he did not need the samples, he would take samples and have them tested himself. To my knowledge, no follow-up has been conducted.

I believe it would be in the city’s best interest to pursue the person releasing harmful chemicals in an unlawful manner as opposed to harassing me. If the city would like further information on Trap-Neuter-Release programs and their role in animal control, or the potential benefit of low-cost spay/neuter programs to the city budget (and the city’s feral animal population), I will happily provide this information. In the meantime, I would very much appreciate it if the City Representative would be asked to treat me with respect in any future encounter. I further hope that the feral animals will not be harmed, as they are in a managed program to reduce their population humanely.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely yours,



Your Name
Your e-mail address or your address (so they can contact you).

Wow LDG, that's a phenomenal letter that politely tells the city's government to sit up and pay attention. Gets all of carwashcats points across in a lucid manner that offers no way to dismiss her as "one of those crazy animal rights people."

If I were the mayor I'd sure pay attention <grin & wink>

Great letter and I would email a copy to Alley Cats

I'd also want to find any local reporters that have written stories on animals (from a friendly perspective), and maybe involve a local TV station.

It may be an area with a "good ole boys" network, and I am sure that includes the Mayor and City Council. And while most communities have plenty of people that hate the feral cats - very few people actually want them to suffer an agonizing death by antifreeze poisoning. The OP may not be able to prove it is a JOP that was pouring the antifreeze, but something like this would get plenty of people up in arms. It's also a vehicle - if the media get involved - to bring the issue of how to manage the community cats to people's attention. Sure, lots of people just want them dead - but there are always plenty that want to see them managed humanely.

Laurie

WOW... And I now know who to go to for letters

OMG!!! Laurie, you are the "BOMB" letter writer! I knew my letters were confrontational! I am too emotional about my cats! and I am alone in my crusade! You took what I was mad about and made it into an intelligent,
to the point, take notice letter! I simply couldnt have done that!!!
How can I ever thank you enough!!??? It feels good to have someone take the reins and help me out like you have! I LOVE YOU GIRL!!!
I am just blown away! I wished I could do that, the more I wrote, which was 3 , 4 page letters, I was so angry and sick of the treatment!
You know what? I'm not even mad anymore... I'M PUMPED about it now!
You my friend brought back to me the spark, that they (the enemy) have just smouldered out! THANK YOU .... THANK YOU ....THANK YOU!!!!

Oh here is some good news...a dear friend of mine, just moved back to town,
she took the job as publisher of our local paper! She is also a good client of mine, everytime I cut her hair, she leaves a nice tip, (donation) for the kitties', she says. She is an animal lover! She will appreciate this well written letter, and would gladly put it in the paper. I do believe!
Laurie, I will PM you with some questions....

Thx
Mo

Here is Babagirl...she was my precious doll, feral, totally adorable who met her demise, I found the poison in the ditch, while I was searching for this love! I cried so much over her! what a shame!

Originally Posted by minouloveblue

Great letter and I would email a copy to Alley Cats

Click to expand...

Hi minouloveblue, I agree, and probably will do that, but you know I tried to get them to help me 2 yrs ago. I called and called and called. They were very unresponsive, and when they did answer the phone, I got the receptionist,
who I don't think she even gave my messages to anyone! I was so disappointed. Heck they could have at least listened to me, better than that they could of come here and tore it up! I thought that is what they did, and I know they do, and I also know they are busy! but they are not all that!
Although that is how I learned about TNR, or feral cats for that matter!
I owe all of my education to them, I have ordered their materials,and have passed them out to all of our local government, and not any one even took the time to read it! My vet had never even heard of TNR until I told him about it! I also told the mayor, CM, and the police chief Alleycatallies.net
website to educate themselves. The CM response was well that change won't be happening this year, whenever I was telling him about the program, and how we sure do need to try to change the way the management of feral cats in our community. But I believe I will send them a copy also! thanks for that reminder! I will let you all know what their response will be!

Monique, Alley Cat Allies does lobby, but they tend to actively get involved in two types of situations:

1) Cases of animal hoarding that are on a scale that is beyond the local community to manage; and
2) Proposed legal changes by a State that would make TNR illegal in that state (whatever wording is used to hide it).

Otherwise they've got their hands full with their own programs.

Same things with Best Friends (the other national organization), which adds rescuing animals on large scales due to emergency situations (like the gulf oil spill, Hurricane Katrina, etc.).

Otherwise.... Alley Cats is there to educate individuals about how to get the community involved, how to lobby for TNR as a form of animal control in the community, how to start a program, etc. Sadly, that's where you are - on your own.

Thank GOODNESS for your friend! That will be REALLY helpful - if she can print that and highlight some of the problems you've had on your own, it may pull some volunteers out of it! At the very least, because people find it easier to donate money than time, it may help you find some resources to help you.

I do have other advocacy materials that are different from those of Alley Cat Allies or Best Friends. If you PM me your address, I can send you the information. Your friend may be able to use some GREAT statistics for her article on just how much communities save by moving from an animal control program of catch-and-kill to a program that funds low-cost spay/neuter and TNR. Happy to e-mail them to you.

Originally Posted by sharky

Laurie

WOW... And I now know who to go to for letters

Click to expand...

Jen, it's what I do and why a number of us on TCS started http://www.straypetadvocacy.org

With Gary's health the way it is, we're not nearly as active in TNRing cats in the community as we were, but advocating for cats can be done online.