Thursday, January 04, 2007

North Coast Critter News

I had to wonder about that story in today's Times- Standard about the people feeding the feral cats living in the Balloon Tract. It said they would often capture their wild kittens and try and find homes for them.

I had to ask myself, wouldn't be a better idea to trap the cats themselves and have them neutered, thus not having to worry about the kittens in the first place?

It didn't say so in the story but today's T-S editorial mentions that they do often try to trap the cats to get them spayed and neutered. How successful they are in that endeavor, I don't know.

But, that's good to know. I was just wondering.
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Yet another supposed animal horror story in the Eureka Reporter this morning. This time a dozen or so animals being taken from some property near the Safeway out near Redwood Acres in Eureka.

It's kind of hard to make heads or tails out of this one. The animal rescue activists, like Shannon Miranda and company, say the conditions the animals were kept in were "disgusting", three dead animals being found on the scene.

Sheriff's Lieutenant, Steve Knight, said the animals weren't in really all that bad of shape, at least not bad enough for him to intervene.

Who does one believe?

I suspect it's probably a little of both. The animal rescue folks most likely to see the animals in the more dire of circumstances, naturally having more of an emotional viewpoint. Steve Knight probably having more of an objective look at the issue more in line with what the law provides for.

No word yet on who the owner of the animals is and what he had to say about it. Still, I can't help but wonder if any of the animal rescue folks came to our house, would they have a problem with the way we take care of our two and a half cats?

Ahhh...probably not. But you never know.

12 Comments:

At 9:50 AM, Blogger Derchoadus said...

Maybe it's at 50% dead that the Sheriff's Lieutenant will do something.....Not just a few animals dead.

 
At 12:43 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Low cost spay and neuter is the only answer.

 
At 2:02 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Doesn't it seem wrong that homeless domestic animals are given more consideration by the stewards of the property than are similar situated people?

 
At 2:31 PM, Blogger Jeff Kelley said...

What 2:02, you think we should spay and neuter the people too?

 
At 3:24 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Small, furry, eating out of garbage cans. The tales of Mayor Groves as a toddler never fail to amuse me.

 
At 12:16 AM, Blogger Heraldo Riviera said...

Glad to see people like Shannon Miranda getting character assassinated for caring about animal welfare. Only Jesus-christened human beings deserve a second thought. Let the rest of 'em starve.

Where's my Twinkie...

 
At 12:32 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Many animal rescue groups participate in TNR (trap neuter release) with the feral cats in Old Town and other places in Humboldt County where feral colonies exist. You can never get all the ferals as people continue to drop cats off in existing colonies. As long as there are irresponsible people who are hellbent on "natural" things like letting their animals have a first litter or having their children "experience the miracle of life" by letting their animals breed and then abandoning the offspring we will have feral colonies. Work with feral cats is very admirable and very difficult.

Steve and the Sheriff's office are overwhelmed with the huge amount of neglect in this county. If they were to take in every neglected animal they would have to raise the shelter's kill rate considerably. Everyone is looking to point a finger when neglect and abuse cases hit the media and Steve is the easy target. He did not create this problem. Steve and the Sheriff's Office cannot tackle this huge issue as it is so widespread and each case is so subjective. They have to operate within the confines of the law and can only do what they can do. Of course Shannon was there, he loves a good chance to smile for the camera and collect some more money. Have you seen the dogs down at Miranda's? Many are underweight-and these are not nre arrivals I'm talking about- and they slog around in mud all day. But again, everyone can only do what they can do.

 
At 1:17 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Humboldt county is pretty much wilderness. Therefore there will always be feral cats roaming around, many are eaten by other local wildlife such as coons, dogs, etc.

People who claim themselves to be animal activists (like Barbara schults often create non profits as a source of revenue and do relatively little in regards to animals. Animal activists can always claim they've done SOMETHING becaus the average citizen has no idea of the true numbers of homeless cats and dogs.

Also take into account that when animal activist demand money they do it under the guise of "Don't you want to help the po wittle kitty who has no place to go". Most people are then overcome by a needless feeling of guilt or a fear of being seen as cold hearted if they don't give the animal activist money regardless of how shady, deranged, etc the animal activist is.

 
At 11:50 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wilderness or not, feral cats and feral cat colonies are usually the result of dumped cats and kittens. Dogs aren't part of the "wildlife" in the county, there are very few feral dogs. Have you ever seen a "wild" dog in your Humboldt County "wilderness"? In all my years of rescue I have seen few wild dogs and the are caught and euthanized pretty quickly. Most feral cat colonies don't exist in the "wilderness" as there is nothing for them to live off of there, you most commonly see them in populated areas where they can find our leftovers for food. Don't try to explain away the feral cat problem as something "natural" that we shouldn't do anything about. I don't work with ferals but I send in some money to feral groups when I can and I think people who work to improve their lives and get them altered are amazing, it is difficult and often thankless work.

Barbara isn't really an animal activist (she doesn't do anything active other than talk, name drop, and tell people all about things they should be doing while she sits around doing nothing) and she gives us all a bad name. Some nonprofits do a lot of good work and most of them can't stand Babs. Animal rescue is expensive and donations are always needed, people should look into any organizations before donating. No need to feel guilty about not giving derranged people money. I accept a lot of donations, am not derranged and am always happy to provide people with literature about our rescue as well as information about how much money we take in and where it all goes. A fair amount of the literature is devoted to "Po widdle kitty" and often Po widdle pitty with no place to go. Through our efforts we get all the vet work done and find a place for kitty and pitty to go. Lots of people in rescue do a lot to help animals, it may seem like a drop in the bucket BUT for each animal and the families they are adopted by it means a lot.

 
At 11:45 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

The above postings have been done by ACLU Board Member, Charles Douglas and satanic worshipper. Charles Douglas office is located at 917 3rd Street, Ste E in Eureka CA. He claims to be a journlist however the media/political/and business community see him as malicious and mentally ill.

 
At 1:14 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

No, both of the above longwinded postings were done by my young female college student self. I am located in my freezing bedroom in a house in a bad neighborhood in Eureka. I don't claim to be a journalist although I had a few poems published once in a college compilation book. I don't worship the devil either, though I did go through a gothic Betty Page phase a few years ago in my late teens. Funny that you'd think I was someone so different than I am.

 
At 1:16 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I could be a little mentally ill though...

 

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