Tamara, I also do understand what you are
saying – there are just not enough of us who care about ferals –
everywhere I go, I see problems, and I am stretched out so thin –
physically, and financially. I rescued
all the cats I encountered for the past few years – and I have now over
50, but I see more, and I want to save them all, but I know I can’t –
it’s very frustrating to me and very painful to me.
-----Original Message-----
From:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of tamara stickler
Sent: Monday, March 14, 2005 12:02
PM
To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org
Subject: RE: OT:Tonya - killing
ferals
Ok, I'm going to play devil's advocate:
I have been active in the animal rescue field for most
of my life. I have walked into alleyways in crack neighborhoods, by
myself, to feed ferals and do rescues. I have spent more money than any
"sane" person should on strays, and even have driven across several
states to place the "unadoptable" because of all I've seen, I HAD TO
SEE THE HOME FOR MYSELF, because I DO know first hand, that there ARE
places worse than death. Situations worse than death. "Loving,
forever homes" sponsored by legit rescues and good people...worse than
death.
I'm not advocating the killing of ferals, by any
means! But I can understand the "reality" behind the
decision.
Not everyone will go to the end of the world for a cat
or dog that they didn't specifically choose......We (I am including everyone of
you on this list) few are the exception....and as you all know...there's just
not enough of us to go around.
I've worked in shelters. I've volunteered at
no-kills. There have been animals at both where even I have
voiced..."Enough." NOT because they weren't worth the
trouble...but because there are so few who would take the trouble.
As for ferals, we do need to understand that many just
don't choose to deal with humans...either because of past experiences or for
their own reasons. But, they are intelligent, whole beings with their own
needs and desires and should be treated respecting this....
I'm not certain there is an absolute right answer
here...I'm not pretending to know.
Would I actively support the killing of ferals?
NO. Is it possible for me understand why some do?...unfortunately, when
you've seen what I've seen ...yes.
But faced with the matter first hand, I'd still prob.
go into the poor house first...but I won't condemn those who draw the line
either.
Tamara
"MacKenzie, Kerry
N." <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
I think it's conflicting
and difficult enough to make a decision to euthanize when an animal is
terminally ill and suffering---one is torn between desperately not wanting the
animal in our care to suffer any more, and making this momentous and irreversible decision on the part of
another living and helpless creature.
So, we have absolutely
no business taking the perfectly content lives of animals into our
own hands because of what
may happen to them in the future.
Re PETA, I am very
disappointed in that organization--it seems to have become confused
in its old age.
PETA will not be
getting $$$ from me.
-----Original Message-----
From:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Nina
Sent: Monday, March 14, 2005 11:59
AM
To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org
Subject: Re: OT:Tonya - killing
ferals
Tonya,
I can't believe you would advocate killing ferals as a way to help their
plight! Yes, their life is dangerous and they do sometimes suffer, but
that doesn't mean they should be put to death. We humans are so
conditioned to our relative safety that we sometimes forget how hard life can
be on wild animals, on all wild animals. How many opossums, racoons and
squirrels are killed each day on our highways, or poisoned from insecticides?
Would you advocate systematically terminating any species not under our direct
protection? I maintain a small feral colony and have cats that are
healthy, happy and content in their circumstances. Even if all we can do
is trap, neuter, administer one round of vaccines, and release them, they are
still better off than if we turn our backs on them all together. Cats
that are neutered are much less likely to fight and spread disease among
themselves, if they are lucky enough to have a caretaker put out food for them
they will live in harmony. They can and do, live, full, rich, happy
lives. How arrogant it is to assume that only when they are in our houses
and under our direct care are they able to be happy to be alive. Humans
are the direct cause of these cats circumstances, the least we can do is step
up and accept the responsibility of helping to maintain their numbers.
Believe me, I understand the discomfort of thinking about these cats suffering
and dieing out there alone, but killing them before their time is not the
answer.
Nina
catatonya wrote:
Unless you can find a VERY safe place for the ferals
and be sure there's someone to take care of them, I tend to agree with
PETA. Even if the ferals have someone 'watching out' for them, I'm sure
many of them are killed by dogs, hit by cars, shot, etc.... I think it's a very
rough life for most ferals and in many cases it would have been better to put
them to sleep. I see their point of view.
I can not believe PETA!!!!!!! They used to be known as the
most radical animal rights group around (at the time that I did belong to
them). This is welfarism at its very, very worst. How can a group
that says it is an animal rights group advocate catching and killing animals?
Isn't the right to live out your life without being killed the most basic of
rights? Without that right, what good is any other? They are insane. I
stopped contributing to them years ago based on other stances they took that I
thought were crazy, but their position on ferals tops the cake.
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