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Well, there is a point at which the room is just
not available for any cats, much less those with FELV. While in theory, I
support a no-kill stance, in certain areas, I know it's just not possible to
save them all. Tennessee is one of the most over-run states with unwanted
animals (Georgia is probably worse). Even many of the humane societies there
have kill policies, just because there's not enough homes or shelters for all
the unwanted pets there. I used to work at the Memphis Humane Society,
and they really tried to hold all the cats until they were adopted, but if
one stayed for more than 6 months, usually, it ended up being put down, just
because after that point, if it hadn't found a home yet, it was unlikely it ever
would, and it freed cage space for one who might have a chance. The one that was
there that long while I was working there was a biter, so that's why he never
got adopted. But they also immediately put down any sick animals with anything
more serious than a URI. Distemper kittens... killed, FELV+... killed, etc. The
fact that Tennessee has such a severe problem means that it is also,
unfortunately, prime breeding ground for unethical rescues or
hoarders.
I have NO problem with a free-roaming cat rescue,
and in fact, I LIKED the way Angel Wings was set up, with acreage and cat
fencing so they could roam freely. The problem, for me, arises when I see dead
rotting corpses and piles of filth.
Outside, the bags and trash, and junk cars, and
all that, not good, but I could live with that, and even go so far as to say,
the cats would not mind that at all, and probably would prefer that to a clean
cage life, being as you said, free to roam, and bask in the sun (and to try to
find a clean place to do it from).
BUT (and here is where the line is drawn for me),
if you look on the lost and found page, there are two lovely cats whom were sent
to this place to live out their lives. They are obviously very strongly bonded
siblings.
"Two yellow mature cats – one male, one
female. The male didn’t have any top teeth. They were siblings and found
in the wild – both feral and not used to people. Surrendered to Cats Unlimited
in Lexington, VA in spring 2004."
What if this is ONE of them, and the other had to
see this happen, and possibly sat over his dead body for days, knowing that she
was going to be next?
What if these were YOUR cats, that YOU placed
here? How can you see that and NOT feel at least some sympathy for the cats who
had to endure this place?
And that filth INSIDE the house? NO CAT should
ever have to live in those kind of conditions! "Not optimum" doesn't even begin
to describe the horrors shown in those photos.
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a really hard question to answer: should all these FeLVs have been automatically euthanized? is living longer and enjoying the sunshine for a few months what the cat would choose even if the conditions aren't optimum? i don't know..... |
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