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Letter to the editor

Today's Letters: Tarpon managing cats humanely

Re: Attention turns to strays,story, Feb. 1

Finally! One city in Pinellas is trying to do what Pinellas County will not: Allow these feral/stray cats to live.

Tarpon Springs has a large number of stray and feral cats and it seems fitting that Tarpon Springs be the first city in Pinellas County to buck Pinellas County Animal Service's trap and "remove" policy. I am still on the fence regarding Trap-Neuter-Return programs, but I believe that something needs to be done to address the issue of feral cats rather than simply rounding them up and euthanizing them.

Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) is a generally accepted program across the nation and in many other countries. While an unmanaged feral colony does pose risks for the cats and humans, a managed colony limits those risks.

In a managed colony, the cats are sterilized, checked for feline leukemia and feline AIDS, given vaccines (including rabies) and receive an ear "tip."

The caretaker bears the responsibilities for feeding and getting medical care for the cats in his/her colony. These folks also watch for new cats joining the colony so that they, too, can be spayed or neutered. Finally, the caretakers pull and adopt out socialized (stray) cats and kittens.

Trap-and-remove methods have certainly proved ineffective in Tarpon Springs. Despite the loss of feral cats to predators, disease and cars, the problem continues to worsen, not improve. No matter how many cats succumb to these dangers, other cats move in to take their place.

Finally, while cats do prey on unsuspecting wildlife, they are opportunistic eaters that will scavenge through trash and attack rats rather than birds (rats are easier to catch). One study in San Francisco attributed the bird population decline to loss of habitat, pollution and weather rather than to the feral cats.

Once again, my congratulations to the enlightened city of Tarpon Springs for addressing this issue in a humane way.

Karen Severiens,Dunedin

Re: Attention turns to strays,story, Feb. 1

Proper program would solve issue

While I appreciate this coverage, I would like to clarify and add what I think are important issues that were overlooked. While I am not an expert, I have attended seminars dealing with the Trap-Neuter-Return/Release approach.

Tarpon Springs Commissioner Robin Saenger and I have been speaking about this problem for some time. When I first approached her, I didn't realize that Tarpon Springs is under the county umbrella and therefore must follow their ordinance, which clearly states that cats must be kept inside or be on a leash.

While this makes sense to some, it doesn't solve the current problem. What can solve the problem, or help solve it, is a properly run program that involves trap, neuter and return, or TNR.

One very important item that was left out of this story is that there must be a caretaker involved. In other words, you have a person feeding cats. They are willing to continue feeding them once they are captured, spayed or neutered and then released. There is a systematic approach, and I do believe that it works.

1) The cats are identified by markings and sex.

2) They are then trapped and delivered to a vet. Obviously, some may need to be humanely euthanized if they are very sick.

3) The cats are kept in their traps or crates while they recover.

4) They are immunized.

5) Their ears are snipped to identify that they have been fixed.

6) They are returned to their colony and caretaker.

It is not the intention of this program to just randomly trap a cat, neuter or spay, then throw it back into the wild.

Once these cats are neutered or spayed, it is amazing to watch their health return as they stop fighting, they are not chasing females and they begin to take better care of themselves.

If the county does not want to change the ordinance, perhaps it could consider exempting feral colonies that are controlled from the anti-roaming law. This would enable caretakers to continue on without the threat of being fined and the cats seized. Due to natural attrition and the fact that the cats can no longer reproduce, the colonies will reduce in size.

Yes, cats sometimes kill other animals. Why is that? Humans have bird feeders and birdbaths, which do make animals an easy target. I do have a feeder, however, I have dogs, so cats never venture into my yard. If I had a problem I would remove the feeder.

As I said in the article, they are out there anyway, why not try and solve a problem with a bit of compassion and ingenuity rather than automatically euthanize an animal just because it doesn't have an indoor home?

Nancy Dively, Tarpon Springs

Re: Attention turns to strays,story, Feb. 1

Cats not natives? Neither are we

Regarding stray cats, the assistant director of veterinary services for Pinellas Animal Services says that "cats are not native to the Florida ecosystem and thus don't belong in it." Stray cats, he says hurt "other species they hunt, such as birds."

Two points.

First, humans are not native to the Florida ecosystem. They also, for example, kill birds - an eagle was shot recently - and animals - a llama was beaten to death at Gaither High School. These are two recent egregious examples of humans hurting other species.

Second, please tell us how an animal becomes "native" to Florida. Is it some kind of intelligent design resulting in spontaneous creation?

Bill Hodges,Tarpon Springs

Re: Attention turns to strays,story, Feb. 1

Studies support strays program

Kudos to Tarpon Springs Commissioner Robin Saenger for her bold approach to what has heretofore been an intractable and ongoing problem. Pinellas County Animal Control's solution of trapping and euthanizing has not been successful, as evidenced by the proliferation of cats everywhere.

You can't wipe out the presence of feral cats in an area in which new, unneutered cats are constantly being abandoned or lost and then reproducing. Only Trap-Neuter-Return, through sterilization and colony management, can reduce the numbers, which is why it is supported by every major humane organization in the country.

The killing is senseless and not cost effective. It is estimated that 25 percent of animal control budgets go into nuisance cat calls, trapping, sheltering and euthanasia. This money can be better spent through a Trap-Neuter-Return program that has been demonstrated to work - contrary to the misinformed assertion by Welch Agnew, assistant director of veterinary services for Pinellas Animal Services, that he has "never seen a scientific study proving the efficiency of such a program in controlling cat population." He can check San Diego, CA, and Maricopa County, AZ.

In 1992, the San Diego Department of Animal Control euthanized 15,525 cats at a cost of $121 per cat. That year, Feral Cat Coalition San Diego, a private volunteer organization, began aggressive spay/neuter programs. By 1998, the number of animals killed each year dropped more than 45 percent, with a tax savings of $859,221.

Maricopa County spends $61 to trap, hold and euthanize one feral cat, versus $22.50 to spay or neuter and return a cat. Maricopa County Animal Care and Control encourages communities to adopt TNR by passing associated costs along to them.

Google "feral cat TNR studies" and one will find documented study after study on the proven results of TNR.

Marilyn Weaver,Tarpon Springs

Largo must step up and honor Dr. King

Good morning, Largo residents. How many of you are aware that February is Black History Month? While I don't mean to offend anyone, wouldn't it be a perfect time to, at long last, get your act together and memorialize the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.?

With a chance of a lifetime being made by nationally recognized sculptor Ed Dwight to create a bronze relief of King for Largo Central Park, this is no time to fall apart at the seams. It sounds perfect to me. And an offer like this one doesn't come along often.

Personally, I think it's pitiful that the city of Largo has been dragging its heels for years and nothing has been accomplished. I hate to say it, but if King had been a white man the money probably would have been plentiful to build a memorial decades ago.

The ball is being pitched to Largo officials. Please don't strike out again. It's time to save face.

JoAnn Lee Frank,Clearwater

Food bank thankful for continued support

I would like to offer my appreciation to all the members of the community who provided assistance to the RCS Food Bank during this past holiday season. Because of the many wonderful people in this community who opened their hearts and pocketbooks with donations of food, money and toys, we were able to provide food - including hams, chickens and turkeys - to an average of 98 families a day during November and to 107 families a day and toys for 976 children during the month of December.

This past year, the RCS Food Bank experienced an unprecedented number of people coming for assistance, with an average of 10 to 20 new families a day. As many of us have struggled to adjust budgets around rising costs, families who live on the edge financially have little room to adjust, and so they seek ways to supplement their resources. Accordingly, the RCS Food Bank has struggled to expand our resources to meet the growing demands of those most vulnerable in our community and, at times, our supplies have been dangerously low.

As word has gotten out into the community, however, the response has been heartwarming, especially during the holiday season. The constant outpouring of donations helped to restock the shelves in our warehouse so that we have some reserves to meet the growing demand.

I truly appreciate your support, even as I remind you that there are hungry people all year round, and their needs do not stop when the holiday season ends. Once again, thank you for all your support. I am very proud to be a part of a community that cares so much about those who are experiencing special need in their lives.

Kathi Trautwein,director, RCS Food Bank, Clearwater

Slow down, please; cemetery can wait

To the person who ran the red light Friday morning, Jan. 25, at Enterprise Road and Countryside Boulevard in Clearwater: Slow down. We're all going to the same place. In case you don't know, it's called the cemetery. I'm not in that big of a hurry.

George Pappas,Clearwater

Your voice counts: You may submit a letter to the editor for possible publication through our Web site at www.tampabay.com/letters, or by faxing it to (727) 445-4119, or by mailing it to Letters, 710 Court St., Clearwater, FL 33756. You must include your name, address and phone number. Letters may be edited for clarity, taste and length.

Your voice counts

You may submit a letter to the editor for possible publication through our Web site at www.tampabay.com/letters, or by faxing it to (727) 445-4119, or by mailing it to Letters, 710 Court St., Clearwater, FL 33756. You must include your name, address and phone number. Letters may be edited for clarity, taste and length.

[Last modified February 5, 2008, 22:17:45]