Grandma in TX arrested for feeding ferals....

Does anyone else get the Feral Power Action Alerts from Alley Cat Allies? I got this today in an email.

On Monday, March 13th, Caroline, a feral cat caregiver and grandmother in Grand Saline, Texas was arrested for feeding cats. She was booked, photographed, and cited with two violations. Luckily, she was able to post bail and is now safe at home fighting for the right to feed the outdoor colony of cats she has taken care of for several years.



After more than 150 letters sent to the Mayor Terry Tolar over the last two weeks by Alley Cat Allies supporters in Texas, three phone messages, and a letter from Alley Cat Allies, we have still received no reply. We need your help now! Tell the mayor that caregivers will not be frightened out of feeding the cityâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s outdoor cats and trap-remove schemes will not solve the outdoor cat issue. Only Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) will reduce the population and decrease unwanted behavior and complaint calls.



The city of Grand Saline, Texas passed a feeding ban several months ago. Since that time, the city has made it clear to feral cat caregivers that they are no longer allowed to feed outdoor cats - going as far as putting a feeder into handcuffs in an incident before Caroline was jailed. The city's enforcement of the measure has caused fear amongst caregivers and concern for the cats living within the city. The city plans to trap, hold briefly, and then kill feral cats, but is telling the public a different story - that they are looking for a rescue group to relocate all of the cats outside of the city.




Are you an attorney in Texas who can help Caroline pro bono
or do you know someone who can help?
[email protected] us.




Take action now to stop the trapping and killing of healthy outdoor cats and help Grand Saline create a Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program. Tell Mayor Tolar to stop wasting taxpayer money arresting the good Samaritans of Grand Saline and help honestly protect the cats.

http://action.alleycat.org/c.mmL3KgN...N3LzH&b=806667

What an APPALLING thing to happen Maybe you could contact ALDF (Animal League Defense Fund) http://aldf.org. I know that they have an 800 emergency help line, too. I checked out the Texas Bar Association to see if there was a Legal Aid section, but apparently the poor people of that state aren't much better off than the cats. I'm sure that in Houston, or one of the more cosmopolitan cities, there will be some attorneys who don't have such biases against cats!!

good grief... what is this world coming too? can you keep us updated Katie if you find out any thing else about this? its just appalling that this is happening.

GooooD Grief is right. i wish they would act so quickly to protect the animals.
Yes please keep us updated. Im going over to send my letter now.

they are looking for a rescue group to relocate all of the cats outside of the city.

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Oh, like that makes any sense! What kind of idiots would believe they can trap all of the feral cats in the city? And then what kind of fool would think they could find a rescue that has enough room for all of the cats (assuming they could even trap them all)? And, who would be dumb enough to believe that once those cats were gone (as if they really could trap them all), no new cats would move in?

Clearly, we don't need to do any IQ testing of the magistrates in that town!

I think that stinks,

Here in the u.k if a cat is trapped neutered and released a caregiver takes on the responsibility of care and has to keep the ferals fed and healthy,that is the law.

If a cat is released back with no caregiver it is considered abandonment and legally a person can be prosecuted.

It is a shame there is no law like this in texas or is there?

I pray for the cats health and welfare and wish this lady all the luck in fighting an unjust law.

Can she just claim that they all belong to her?
Or is there some weird law about that too?
If she trapped neutered and released them she could say they are hers and she is responsible for them since as far as anyone knows, she paid for their vet care?
Or could that be turned around on her and she would get in trouble too for letting her "pets" raom free?

Originally Posted by Jen

Can she just claim that they all belong to her?
Or is there some weird law about that too?
If she trapped neutered and released them she could say they are hers and she is responsible for them since as far as anyone knows, she paid for their vet care?
Or could that be turned around on her and she would get in trouble too for letting her "pets" raom free?

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Jen, that depends on what their pet limit and licensing laws are. If she claims them as hers, she may still be cited for going over the pet limit, for abandonment and/or neglect as they may not have "adequate" shelter, for not keeping them up to date on licensing fees and/or rabies vaccinations. It really depends on their local ordinances on pets.

yea Katie...there isn't much anybody can do unless a large, wealthy animal rights group becomes involved. Money talks and most of us are financially strapped because we spend all our money on caring for the cats we were able to save.
If this kind soul had her story posted in the local newspaper maybe one out of a hundred readers felt admiration for why she was arrested. So she was taken away for caring for animals in need and the animals she cares for at home suffered the loss of losing her during her time in jail.
How could that be considered justice and don't we pay law enforcement officials' wages to protect and serve?
That's an embarrassment to Texas and almost laughable compared to the real crime going on that was ignored in favor of arresting her.
Sick, sad world...

-kiki