stray away or stray for good?

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when it comes to helping stray felines i

Poll ended at Mon May 19, 2003 1:10 pm

feed them occationally
0
No votes
provide medical treatment (either pay or use a pet rescue)
1
14%
do as much as i can afford and spend time doing (best to help some than not at all)
4
57%
buy a larger house because they are sooo cute
1
14%
pet them and move along, they made it this far without me and i already have a zoo to take care of at home
1
14%
have not decided yet
0
No votes
 
Total votes: 7

jason
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stray away or stray for good?

Post by jason »

Tina B's pic post got me thinking about strays in general.

i always wonder if it's a good idea to feed strays or just leave them alone if i do not plan on caring for them beyond el-cheap-o cat food.

i'll run a poll here and hopefully get some response.

my typical negatives include
  • attracting felines with problems to areas near my cats
  • building an unhealthy dependancy (what if i can't afford it later?)
  • being known as catman (just kidding)
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Tina B and crew
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Post by Tina B and crew »

jason...it is such a dilemma isn't it. I can't turn a blind eye...I just can't. I will usually try to work with one of the rescue organizations in our area when it comes to strays. We've managed to place 3 strays from our office so far, one was taken to a no kill shelter, on adopted by a client and one adopted through an ad in the paper I places with "found cat" The strays are work get fed and vet care....all are altered now. I just don't like them being out there...however better they be there, be fed and get vet care than risk being euthanized at a shelter or not being taken care of at all. I have to constantly tell myself when I see cats on the street..."Tina...you can't save them all...you can't save them all" It's tough though. I would save them all if I had a bigger place!
Tina B and "what a crew!"

How we behave towards cats here below determines our status in heaven ~Robert A. Heinlein
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Traci
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Post by Traci »

Don't know if you're going somewhere with this, but TNR has really made differences in the lives of ferals the world over. Ignoring the problem only escalates the problem.

So, I....feed, medicate, vet, house, maintain.
..........Traci
jason
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Post by jason »

Traci wrote:Don't know if you're going somewhere with this, but TNR has really made differences in the lives of ferals the world over.
not going anywhere i shouldn't ;)

"tnr" from this post was the first i have heard of the acronym....the folks around here that handle the rescue shelter seem rather difficult to work with (from the phones at least) so i haven't had good experiences on trying to help strays thus far.

the idea of tnr seems appropiate and the statistics that i have read indicate a strong effectiveness for reducing the stray population in a relative humane way.
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Mary Plummer
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Both our cat and our dog are former strays, so I guess...msg

Post by Mary Plummer »

...my choice had to be get a bigger/more expensive place that allowed pets :D When we first took our Carmel cat in, we had to move because our apartment didn't allow any pets, but she was too adorable to refuse. Then, of course, a few years later we met up with our then-stray Blue dog, and had to do the same thing again. Since we've bought our own house, we haven't met up with any strays. I've promised my hubby I won't go to the humane society to adopt another, but he knows that, if I meet up with an animal that needs some help, we will end up with another.
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oconnorjoy
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Post by oconnorjoy »

I usually take them in and contact the SPCA to let them know they are here. So far we have found the owners or new homes.
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Traci
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Post by Traci »

jason wrote:"tnr" from this post was the first i have heard of the acronym....the folks around here that handle the rescue shelter seem rather difficult to work with (from the phones at least) so i haven't had good experiences on trying to help strays thus far.
That's not unusual, it's really difficult to deal with people in that regard. Shelter people have the worst attitudes, rescuers sometimes try to be martyrs, and people or organizations who could or should be helping choose rather to ignore the situation. But, there is sometimes light at the end of the tunnel. Rather than deal directly with the shelter or humane society in your area, try contacting private people instead, your vet may even be able to get you in touch with folks who are working behind the scenes but don't advertise their involvement. I've found those types so much easier to deal with, usually, there is a network available for foster parents, folks willing to donate time or veterinary expenses, and others willing to direct you to other resources. Chances are, some of those people are your vet's clients :)
the idea of tnr seems appropiate and the statistics that i have read indicate a strong effectiveness for reducing the stray population in a relative humane way.
Absolutely! Even if it is simply donating food or donating a shelter (an insulated dog house), or helping to trap a feral for spay/neuter, educating someone, etc, every little thing is a worthwhile effort. So much to be done, so few people to do it, but progress is being made :)
..........Traci
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Tina B and crew
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Post by Tina B and crew »

I've noticed the same thing about rescuers....very difficult to work with...and I've dealt with a few who could literally be referred to as that "crazy cat person" because they really don't seem to have all their marbles firmly intact. I understand that they are overwhelmed. We are fortunate that we have at least one rescue organization here that is fairly easy to deal with, but I can't help but wonder if it is only because they use the vet I foster for and know me through them.

Now we are going through another tough issue with the feral/stray population here...the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is looking at policy changes that they hope will curb the feral population...but I don't know if there approach will be pro-cat :cry: Here's a link to the article if you are interested

http://tampatrib.com/floridametronews/MGAAORDYBFD.html
Tina B and "what a crew!"

How we behave towards cats here below determines our status in heaven ~Robert A. Heinlein
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