Originally Posted by LDG
As Edmund Burke said, "All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.".
Originally Posted by LDG
As Edmund Burke said, "All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.".
My point was that most county shelters aren't equipped to handle large rescues, so they work in concert with the humane organizations. This is how in the largest cat rescue ever (just this past summer, in Gainesville, FL), approximately 700 cats were removed from a facility, and 550 were put up for adoption. Yes, a lot of cats that might have been able to survive in another situation were put to sleep. But it saved the lives of at least 550 cats, and who knows how many future cats.Originally Posted by Callista
I'm in Ohio... who would I contact, who would know how to make sure that the cats wouldn't just be dumped into a county shelter where, like you said, they wouldn't have the resources to handle them all?
HSUS doesn't actually run shelters (well, they do run a few sanctuaries. Usually for larger animals) or support shelters. Local Humane Societies are not affiliated with HSUS at all.Originally Posted by LDG
Many places contract out to the HSUS.
AW hun..... this kitten doesn't look particularly healthy to me at all. And it is sitting very oddlyOriginally Posted by Callista
This is the photo that got me so worried--
It's not the cat, particularly; he looks healthy despite the stained fur; it's that the carpet in the background is so dirty... it just makes me worry that things are getting out of hand.
Originally Posted by LDG
If there IS a problem, yes, unfortunately some cats that under normal circumstances could be saved may end up being put down. But no more cats will be put into a situation that isn't healthy for them. It's like spaying and neutering. Yes, trapping the cats and taking them to the vet is traumatic. Some may :YEdie under anesthesia. That's rare, but it happens. Do we avoid traumatizing the cats or risking death under anesthesia? Or do we worry about preventing more homeless cats?
It's a question of priorities.
Right, sorry, misspoke! Many communities contract out to local humane society type shelters. Some are no kill, others are not, and whether kill shelters are high kill depends upon the extent of the homeless animal problem in the community.Originally Posted by Willowy
HSUS doesn't actually run shelters (well, they do run a few sanctuaries. Usually for larger animals) or support shelters. Local Humane Societies are not affiliated with HSUS at all.
While people with a lot of cats are stigmatized, I think this situation is technically a shelter. Also, I'm not sure why you think they'd be looking for excuses to take away your cats and kill them. While there are certainly places with kill-happy animal control officers/policies, they definitely do not all fall into that category. For instance, we've seen plenty of people in the ferals forum contact animal control only to find out they were supportive of TNR efforts. I wouldn't let anyone in our home without a warrant, but only because that's the law and that's my right.Originally Posted by Willowy
Hmm, this is a hard situation. I personally would not allow any animal control/law enforcement people into my home at all (they'd have to get a warrant and even then they'd have a real fight on their hands), only because I know that people with a lot of cats are frequently stigmatized, and they would be looking for excuses to take away my cats and kill them.
Unless her residence is a registered as a shelter.Originally Posted by Willowy
So even if you do call an animal control agency, there's a possibility she wouldn't be cooperative (for good reason), and if they didn't have probable cause to get a warrant, nothing could be done.
Also an excellent suggestion.Originally Posted by Willowy
Can you call her? Ask how things are going? Maybe see if you can round up some volunteers to help her get things cleaned up, hopefully find a few who could help her out on a regular basis. The main difference between a rescuer who is in over her head and a well-run rescue operation is the number of volunteers. . .
Even when the AC people are supportive of TNR, this doesn't mean that cats have much chance of getting out of the shelter alive. The reason they're supportive of TNR is because it keeps cats out of the shelter (where they'll be killed).Originally Posted by LDG
While people with a lot of cats are stigmatized, I think this situation is technically a shelter. Also, I'm not sure why you think they'd be looking for excuses to take away your cats and kill them. While there are certainly places with kill-happy animal control officers/policies, they definitely do not all fall into that category. For instance, we've seen plenty of people in the ferals forum contact animal control only to find out they were supportive of TNR efforts. I wouldn't let anyone in our home without a warrant, but only because that's the law and that's my right.
Originally Posted by CatMom2Wires
Callista, you know in your heart what you need to do. I am done with this thread at this point. If you choose to continue to rationalize this situation, that is your choice. It would be a lot easier (and the right thing to do) just to call someone who can go and objectively examine the situation.
for the "rescued" kitties....