THESE CATS NEED HELP NOW

[Guest guest]

>

> Lynnda [Lynnda]

> Saturday, August 19, 2000 5:54 PM

> lynnmik

> THESE CATS NEED HELP NOW

>

>

> Received " Teresa Casella " <tcasella

>

>

> THESE CATS NEED HELP ASAP

>

> Please read this, write e-mails and letters, if you

> can, and cross post

> to your friends and any lists you belong to. These

> cats need help....and

> fast!!!!

>

> Thanks.....e

>

> ********************************************

> Immediate faxes and e-mails are needed to save a

> feral cat population,

> whose home for decades has been the Navy shipyard in

> Portsmouth.

>

> BACKGROUND:

>

> On July 14, 2000, Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) in

> Portsmouth, Virginia

> instituted a feeding ban and an eradication program

> for the feral cat

> population on its property. Despite offers of help

> from local and

> national humane organizations to set-up an

> effective, nonlethal control

> program for the feral cats at NNSY at no cost to

> taxpayers, the shipyard

> will begin trapping in earnest this week.

>

> Bans on feeding outdoor cats are cruel, inhumane,

> and ineffective. The

> free-roaming cat population at the Shipyard will not

> go away simply

> because compassionate individuals are no longer

> allowed to feed them.

> Feeding bans are counterproductive to solving the

> issue of unsterilized

> feral cats, as they tend to worsen nuisance behavior

> and increase

> complaints from citizens.

>

> Eradication methods do not work. When cats are

> removed from an area, a

> biological phenomenon called the " vacuum effect "

> occurs. More cats move

> into the area and quickly breed back up to previous

> levels. Eradication

> does nothing to solve the problem, and also goes

> against what the public

> wants. We have already heard reports from

> individuals that the health of

> the cats is declining.

>

> Preventing people from feeding the cats when the

> cats have no access to

> food may be construed as cruelty to animals. Even

> more shocking, the

> Shipyard is going ahead with their eradication plan

> at a time of year

> when there are kittens and lactating mothers. If a

> lactating cat is

> trapped and removed, the kittens will die from

> exposure or starve to

> death.

>

> For the past five years, a concerned employee at

> NNSY has been caring

> for the Shipyard cats. Last month, the Shipyard

> ordered her to stop.

> This compassionate individual has made repeated

> attempts to present a

> formal proposal to the Shipyard Commander about her

> nonlethal project,

> but was denied the opportunity.

>

> The Shipyard's plan is going forward in spite of

> proposed military

> recommendations for the humane treatment of feral

> cats on military

> grounds. Please visit the Defense Link for the U.S.

> Department of

> Defense at http://www.defenselink.mil/specials/cats/

> DefenseLINK - Official

> Web Site of

> the U.S. Department of Defense

> ACA and other concerned individuals and humane

> organizations have made

> repeated attempts to contact Shipyard officials to

> discuss with them a

> nonlethal management approach that would cost NNSY

> and the taxpayers

> nothing. We have received no response. NNSY is in

> the midst of a Change

> of Command.

>

> During this critical time, it would be to the

> commanders' great

> disadvantage to support the inhumane treatment of

> the feral cat

> population at the Shipyard.

>

> WHAT YOU CAN DO:

>

> Write polite letters to:

> Captain Timothy E. Scheib

> Commander, Norfolk Naval Shipyard

> Portsmouth, VA 23709

> Scheibte

>

> Copy your letters to:

> Captain Mark A. Hugel

> Code 300, Building 1505

> 2nd Floor

> Norfolk Naval Shipyard

> Portsmouth, VA 23709

> Hugelma

> Steven B. Milner, Public Affairs Officer Code 1160,

> Building 1500

> 2nd Floor

> Norfolk Naval Shipyard

> Portsmouth, VA 23709

> Fax: (757) 396-8005

> milnersb

> James K. Strickland, Executive Director

> Code 1100, Building 1500

> 6th Floor, Norfolk Naval Shipyard

> Portsmouth, VA 23709

> Fax: (757) 396-8104

> stricklandjk.

>

> In your letters, stress that feeding bans are cruel

> and are not a

> solution. Tell them that individuals and

> organizations want to work with

> them to solve the problem in an effective, humane

> manner at no cost to

> taxpayers. Mention the possibility of a

> Congressional Hearing into the

> Command.

>

> SAMPLE LETTER: (please personalize!)

> I am very concerned about your stance against

> feeding stray cats who

> have lived for decades in the Navy shipyard in

> Portsmouth. I understand

> that your plan to eradicate the cat population has

> gone into effect in

> spite of the fact that their are kittens and

> lactating mothers. I'm sure

> you are aware that if you kill a mother but have not

> found where she

> keeps her kittens you are leaving the kittens to die

> a very slow,

> painful death. I'm also sure you are aware of

> proposed military

> recommendations for the humane treatment of feral

> cats on military

> grounds.

> As a feral cat rescuer for over 15 years, I can

> confidently say that

> feeding bans and " trap & kill " plans do not work.

> The cost to trap and

> kill is the same, if not more, than the cost of

> spaying and neutering.

> Refusing food to starving cats can be constituted as

> cruelty to animals

> and I'm sure most concerned and compassionate

> citizens will view it that

> way.

> You have organizations and volunteers who are ready,

> able, and willing

> to help trap, vaccinate, spay/neuter, feed, and help

> with adopting the

> cats. I do not understand why you would choose a

> cruel plan such as

> starvation and murder over a humane, effective one

> which will be no cost

> to the taxpayers of this country.

> I will watch the outcome of these events very

> carefully, as will all

> people concerned about the welfare and humane

> treatment of animals.

> Sincerely,

>

> *******************************************

>

>

>

> ----------

>

> Sharif's Sundown

> http://sharif.com

>

>

>

>

>

 

 

 

 

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