Depends on what your shelter's policies are regarding feral cats, usually open admission shelters kill feral cats right away. Check out www.alleycat.org for information on Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) and the humane and viable solution to controlling the feral cat population. Alley Cat Allies and animal welfare advocate Nathan Winograd (www.nokilladvocacycenter.org) recommend shelters not accept feral cats into the shelter since they cannot be adopted and recommend trap-neuter-return.
> Date: Wed, 8 Aug 2007 22:18:00 -0700> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: OT: > Exactly what are my rights here?> To: [email protected]> > Hello > everyone,> Several of you here know my story about trapping an> orange and > white cat , whom I named Marmalade. The cat> was trapped this last Sunday > night in my personal> trap. The cat was then transported to our local> > shelter by a policeman. When the cat was turned over,> he became the property > of the county shelter...He was> trapped at my friend's house, together we > decided to> call the officer...> The shelter decided Monday morning he was a> > wild"feral" cat and told me he was put in with the> wild kitties and would > have to be put down. They did> say they would wait 3-days to see if anyone > came> forward to claim him. I went in Monday morning to see> the kitty and > get my trap back...I was told I could> not see him. I asked if I could take > him to be> tested.After some discussion, I was told I could. I> made the > appt. for that Monday. I was then told I> could not test him until Thursday, > after the 3-day> waiting period. I went to the shelter yesterday> morning to > visit the kitty. I just wanted to see him ,> see if he might talk back to me, > show some sign of> wanting me to work with him. I was told by a worker> > ,because he was in the wild kitty section, I was not> allowed to see him...I > was told the reason being they> were worried about liability...I tried to > understand> their point and did not want to be too much of a thorn> in their > behind, because at least they had given me> permission to have the cat tested > on Thursday morning.> I had an appt. for 9:15 am. The shelter opens at> > 9:00am. I was using the same vet they use...> Last night I was heading down > to the shelter after> work and had decided to bring up some points about if> > this kitty tested negative for the FeLV and FIV and I> decided to neuter this > cat...after all I already had> an investment in the cat and if the cat were> > young...looked under three years old...was there maybe> someone who might > enjoy the challenge of working with> a feral...if indeed this cat was a > feral...Things like> that...I called my friend on the way home and decided> > one more day would not hurt that much and at least> after the test I'd have > one important plus to work> with if the cat tested clean...Us cat people do > tend> to rattle people enough as it is...> Well, I got home tonight and there > was a message on my> phone from the director of our shelter...It was: Hi> > Glenda, I have some good and bad news for you. If you> get this before 7:00pm > give me a call @....Otherwise> call me in the morning...I got the message > after > 9:00pm.> Well guys, nothing like suspense...I hate to jump to> > conclusions , but I bet they put the cat down...and> they will tell me he > tested neg. > I will be on the computer to tell everyone the rest of> the > story in the morning...> The fact the beginning of the story is a story in> > itself, should hold everyone until morning...I> seriously wonder what the > wild cat area is like??? I'd> like to know what they do with ferals after > they are> caught here...? I am going to be talking to feral cat> people in > other neighboring areas to see what type of> programs they have...Thanks for > reading this.> Glenda> > > > ____________________________________________________________________________________> > Fussy? Opinionated? Impossible to please? Perfect. Join Yahoo!'s user panel > and lay it on us. http://surveylink.yahoo.com/gmrs/yahoo_panel_invite.asp?a=7 > > > _________________________________________________________________ Messenger Café — open for fun 24/7. Hot games, cool activities served daily. Visit now. http://cafemessenger.com?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_AugWLtagline
