Hello All,
I just read a thread in Caring for Strays & Ferals about a Utah MP trying to pass a law allowing the shooting, decapitation, clubbing or bow-hunting of feral/stray cats, dogs, pigeons and doves.
I'm Australian so unfortunately, I can't put my name on the petition but if you want to, you can do so here (thanks LDG): http://animals.change.org/petitions/..._feral_animals
It got my blood boiling so I thought I could share a couple of stories.
I remember a news story in rural southern Australia about a man who had filled his house with cat pelts. He had them all over his walls like trophies and I was really appalled. When interviewed whether or not he was only shooting ferals, he said that he was going to shoot any cat that got onto his property (large farm/scrub land), and dodged questions about cats that were wearing collars/ID etc, or if he was taking any precautions in making sure he wasn't killing pets (not that killing ferals is a good thing anyway!).
I don't remember what happened but I hope he got what he deserved. That happened a few years ago. After typing this I tried to find the story in news archives but nothing is coming up.
Another, slightly more recent personal experience was when I was going to the gun & archery shop (the only one around here - it's illegal to keep guns without licences, and there are certain guns that only the military & police are allowed to use/own - you can't buy bullets anywhere without a buttload of paperwork) to look at bows and arrows as I was interested in starting target archery at the range in my town (I still haven't got around to it, bows are expensive).
There was a man talking to the proprietor over the counter about what's best to get rid of a cat that kept coming into his yard. He even said that it was his next door neighbour's cat and that he was thinking of using pellet-shots/BB gun but the shop keeper said you need something bigger or the cat will just be sore. In order to kill it he would need a proper shotgun round or whatever he said. I was so infuriated I left the store straight away and I tell people about the guy all the time. I didn't say anything to him because I was afraid that the customer would get violent with me and I'm a bit of a pansy when it comes to that stuff.
I mean, if you're so annoyed by the cat getting in your yard, TALK TO YOUR NEIGHBOUR! Don't just kill the animal because it irks you. I can't believe the owner gives that kind of advice to customers. Scum of the Earth.
I've had my vent. I wish all cats & kittens the best in their lives, whether stray, domestic, wild, feral or still waiting for the right family to take them home and love them. I hope that people can realise there are better ways to deal with problems and that we can live in a world where animals are respected, no matter the cost or inconvenience.
I just read a thread in Caring for Strays & Ferals about a Utah MP trying to pass a law allowing the shooting, decapitation, clubbing or bow-hunting of feral/stray cats, dogs, pigeons and doves.
I'm Australian so unfortunately, I can't put my name on the petition but if you want to, you can do so here (thanks LDG): http://animals.change.org/petitions/..._feral_animals
It got my blood boiling so I thought I could share a couple of stories.
I remember a news story in rural southern Australia about a man who had filled his house with cat pelts. He had them all over his walls like trophies and I was really appalled. When interviewed whether or not he was only shooting ferals, he said that he was going to shoot any cat that got onto his property (large farm/scrub land), and dodged questions about cats that were wearing collars/ID etc, or if he was taking any precautions in making sure he wasn't killing pets (not that killing ferals is a good thing anyway!).
I don't remember what happened but I hope he got what he deserved. That happened a few years ago. After typing this I tried to find the story in news archives but nothing is coming up.
Another, slightly more recent personal experience was when I was going to the gun & archery shop (the only one around here - it's illegal to keep guns without licences, and there are certain guns that only the military & police are allowed to use/own - you can't buy bullets anywhere without a buttload of paperwork) to look at bows and arrows as I was interested in starting target archery at the range in my town (I still haven't got around to it, bows are expensive).
There was a man talking to the proprietor over the counter about what's best to get rid of a cat that kept coming into his yard. He even said that it was his next door neighbour's cat and that he was thinking of using pellet-shots/BB gun but the shop keeper said you need something bigger or the cat will just be sore. In order to kill it he would need a proper shotgun round or whatever he said. I was so infuriated I left the store straight away and I tell people about the guy all the time. I didn't say anything to him because I was afraid that the customer would get violent with me and I'm a bit of a pansy when it comes to that stuff.
I mean, if you're so annoyed by the cat getting in your yard, TALK TO YOUR NEIGHBOUR! Don't just kill the animal because it irks you. I can't believe the owner gives that kind of advice to customers. Scum of the Earth.
I've had my vent. I wish all cats & kittens the best in their lives, whether stray, domestic, wild, feral or still waiting for the right family to take them home and love them. I hope that people can realise there are better ways to deal with problems and that we can live in a world where animals are respected, no matter the cost or inconvenience.