Friday, August 5, 2005

[Today's Feral Cat Blog! Word:
Lame -- pathetically lacking in force or effectiveness]


World Unprepared for "Bird Flu" Pandemic, Experts Say
National Geographic, D.C.
... pandemic is H5N1, a strain of avian influenza, or "bird flu." The virus is found primarily in domestic and wild birds but also in mammals such as cats and pigs ...

"Bird Flu" Could Be Slowed at the Source, Study Says
National Geographic, D.C.
... H5N1 is found primarily in domestic and wild birds but also in mammals, such as cats and pigs. The virus has yet to become easily transferable between humans. ...

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[...a Feral Cat Blog! ~Paws Up & Purrs~:]
City OKs trapping, neutering feral cats
Auburn Citizen - Auburn,NY,USA
... Feral Cat Friends group in Auburn, said even with the organization's efforts, it will be at least 10 years before the city starts seeing a decrease in cats. ...
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Cats and Birds
Local bird researcher studies the effect of cats on sea bird populations
GTWeekly.com, Santa Cruz, California
[Excerpts]
According to Achterberg, even if euthanizing cats is necessary on islands, it isn’t currently helping much in the United States. “We’ve been trapping and putting cats to sleep for decades, and it hasn’t curbed the problem,” she says. She cites habitat loss and development as the primary threat to bird populations. People hang bird feeders where cats can reach, use non-organic fertilizers that kill the bugs birds eat, and replace shrubs where baby birds hide with manicured lawns. “We are not on an island,” she says, “cats aren’t driving birds extinct in Santa Cruz. People are.”
Dr. Stanley Temple, a professor of wildlife ecology at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, agrees that habitat loss is the biggest threat to bird populations. But on a global scale, he says cats are threatening a number of endemic and endangered species—including lizards and marsupials—within their remaining habitat. “The status of many bird populations is affected by predation from free-ranging stray, feral and pet cats,” he says. In addition, unlike native predators, non-native cats don’t stop hunting even when they are well fed.

Shelter makes room for influx of seized cats
Duluth News Tribune, MN
... And in March 1996, building inspectors condemned a West Duluth house after finding more than 100 cats, dogs and birds inside. Golen ...

Cats are terrific kitten-makers: Spay, neuter them!
The Free Lance-Star, VA
Did you know that kittens can be spayed or neutered as early as eight weeks of age? The ideal age is 12-16 weeks, unless they are ...

Abandoned Cats
KTXL, CA
[Sacramento, Stockton, Modesto - Sacramento County]
... sleep. "If the public would just spay and neuter the animals... We would not be forced to euthanize all the cats," Claerbout said. ...
[Feral Cat Blog! Comment: I parroted these same words (that animal agencies and organizations were 'forced to euthanize') for a very brief period when I first began learning about the magnitude of the "pet kill crisis" (thanks, Neuteress of the Night from Neuter Neuter Land for that term, I believe!). .....For a very brief period -- because I quickly researched in depth. I was amazed to find that, even with knowledge and best practices for programs of prevention and solution available for some years, many of those pledging to protect animals were still killing and justifying. If the public is not spaying and neutering or keeping pets for life, find ways to accomplish that. Educate and engage your governments. Reallocate funds to prevention and non-lethal solutions. No one and no thing can force you to kill. There is a choice. Same is true for wildlife management.]

State holds on to cash so budgets add up
Lawmakers' budget-boosting strategy means money meant for 911, pets doesn't get spent
Austin American-Statesman (subscription), TX
[Excerpt]
Texans pay 50 cents on their phone bills each month to operate 911 programs throughout the state. Thousands pay $30 a year for "Animal Friendly" license plates that fund programs to spay and neuter animals.
But not all of that money will be used for those purposes anytime soon. Instead, the dollars will sit unspent in state coffers.
[Excerpt]
The Legislature also uses the practice when there's less money at stake, which Ogden said is mostly an exercise in caution.
According to the comptroller's office, there is now about $1 million in an account funded by the sale of the Animal Friendly license plates. Texans who choose these plates, which feature a dog and cat, pay $30 extra, $22 of which goes into an account that is sent to organizations throughout the state to spay and neuter animals.
The comptroller's office estimates that the state will collect $894,000 through the program over the next two years. But the Legislature approved spending only $500,000 of that money.

Plates won't pay for Austin spay/neuter programs
KVUE (subscription), TX
... The Town Lake Animal Center received $71,000 over the last three years from the state, and used it to set up the mobile spay/neuter clinic. ...

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Wamsley calls for cat registration
Sydney Morning Herald (subscription), Australia
... protect native animals. He says large numbers of the animals are killed each year by domestic and feral cats. "Twenty years ago ...

Feral Cat Blog! Note: For those unfamiliar with Wamsley:

[Excerpt]
"His hatred of cats is renowned and he has drawn our attention to the importance of cats as predators of our native animals," Mr Holmes said.
Wamsley walks away from Earth Sanctuaries
March 2005

Earth Sanctuaries Ltd has recently completed an exciting merger with ES Link Pty Ltd to create a diversified environmental sustainability group.

Earth Sanctuaries Foundation is now
FOUNDATION FOR AUSTRALIA’S MOST ENDANGERED SPECIES (FAME!)
The new name says exactly what we do: give “Australia’s Most Endangered Species” what they need to survive. We’re starting at the top, focussing where the need is greatest. Broadening our vision to include any feasible project that benefits Australian species most at risk; looking for opportunities to make the difference between extinction and survival for endangered wildlife.

Warrawong Earth Sanctuary
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Woman, 89, Evicted for Keeping Stray Cats
Newsday, NY
STOCKHOLM, Sweden -- An 89-year-old Swedish woman was evicted from her apartment of 25 years after dozens of stray cats she kept in the flat ruined the floor ...

Woman who had dozens of cats misses hearing
The Express Times, PA
... can call her at 908-689-6657, while those who want to make donations to help cover the cost of getting them spayed and neutered can call Feline Urban Rescue ...

Fluffy proves to be friend to birds
News-Leader.com, MO
... I do know that millions of birds are killed each year by stray or feral cats, which are dependent upon their hunting skills for survival. ...

Delta: Residents angered by loose cats
Toledo Blade, OH... Committee members could look into whether cats should be licensed, he said. Delta has a stray cat ordinance, but requirements are difficult to meet, such as ...

Rabid bat bites Barron County resident
Rice Lake Chronotype, WI
... current for all dogs, cats and ferrets, keeping cats and ferrets inside and dogs under direct supervision, calling animal control to remove stray animals from ...

Animal abandonment definition of inhumanity
Stoney Creek News, Canada
... The cat is now is at the SPCA ñ who knows what the fate of this beautiful cat is now! I have already taken in five cats in that area. ...