Save Delta, Colorado Feral Cats
The City of Delta, Colorado has given Melissa Heinzen until May 4, 2008 to stop feeding a feral cat colony in Confluence Park. Animal Control Officer Tammy Holden has given Ms. Heinzen until then to relocate the cats. The city intends to trap and kill the remaining cats.
Ms. Heinzen has been managing this colony for more than 6 years. With help from other residents, she has fed the cats and also trapped and had the cats spayed/neutered and then returned to the colony. A retired veterinarian provides the spay/neuter services. One year the veterinarian spayed/neutered 300 cats.
Ms. Heinzen describes that before she began trap, neuter and return, "cats were everywhere". Now the colony has only about 10 feral cats. 2 more cats are domesticated and which she is placing in homes. "Trap neuter return is working, " says Ms. Heinzen. Â
A nearby tourist attraction, a fort, relies on 3-4 of the cats to keep down the mouse population.Â
So what's the harm in letting trap neuter return continue to work to keep down the feral cat population in town?
After all, says Ms. Heinzen, "If it is illegal to feed [the cats], then they are going to kill birds. They are going to get into people's garbage. It's also cruel not to feed them. They would starve to death." Â Typically, contrary to popular myths, feral cats do not eat birds in great numbers; they are more likely to scavenge for food.Â
Ms. Heinzen has appeared at a city council meeting to urge the town to adopt a feral cat ordinance recognizing trap neuter return. Â Killing the cats, she says, "just means more cats will come."Â Trap neuter return actually reduces the population of feral cats.
For now the city considers Ms. Heinzen and any feral cat giver an owner of these cats. The city ordinances make it illegal to keep or maintain more than 4 cats. It is also illegal to keep or maintain "wild" animals. The city has said caregivers who trap neuter and return the cats to colonies could also be charged with abandonment.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
There is not much time. Please fax, call or email the mayor and city council members listed below and ask them (be polite!) to allow Melissa Heinzen to continue to manage this successful, small feral cat colony in Confluence Park and also adopt a feral cat ordinance. The city should at least give Ms. Heinzen more time to relocate the remaining cats.Â
Mayor Pro Tem Mary Cooper   jollymothe@aol.com
Mayor Pro Tem Bill Seuell       doggone@rmi.net
Guy Pfalzgraff                         mary@montrose.net
Kay Carlquist                          kay.carlquist@delta-co.gov
Robert Jurca                           robert.jurca@delta-co.gov
The new police chief is:
Robert Thomas         robert.thomas@delta-co.gov
Phone mayor or city council members at: 970-874-7566 ext. 206
Fax: 970-874-8776
Click here for more information on Trap Neuter Return of feral cats and also visit Alley Cat Allies at www.alleycat.org
Delta Ferril cats
I am not surprised by this! My deceased mother lived in Delta for years, and also loved cats. She feed a few local strays that would come around and would even take them to the vet. All 7 of her cats that she took in over the years, were stray or abandoned. She told me about Delta and Tammy from the human society there. How cruel and ignorant she was the times she had to deal with her. A lot of those people over there need to get out of the dark ages and have some compassion and stop thinking of animals only for sport hunting. Thank you to the people that care and are unselfish. I am also an animal lover and conerned with strays at my place of work. I am sending my E-mails right now! Best of luck!
Sterling, Co. is doing it to me too
I've been getting local feral cats spayed, neutered, and shots for about a year now. I've relocated about ten, and adopted out the same number. All at my own expense.
There are about ten cats that I allow to stay in my yard and garage, and I feed them, while I find them new homes. Now, the city of Sterling is telling me I have to get rid of them. I'm telling the city that's exactly what I'm trying to do, but humanely.
I've gone to Logan County Animal Control many times for help in relocating and am refused any help at all.
It's both sad and frustrating. I want to do the right thing by these animals, but the government just wants them dead or starving and living diseased lives on the streets. I just don't get how a municipality can get away with demanding animal cruelty. When citizens (rightfully so) are charged every day for starving their animals.
A local government can starve animals to death ... and they wonder why we hold them is such low regard!
The more of this I read, the
The more of this I read, the angrier I become with some of the human race-or should I say (inhuman race).
Cats
Trap and kill that is the most creul thing to do... that doesn't seem enough time to relocate that many cats. Even if they are feral.
feral cat program in mobile al
40 years of trap and kill has not worked, TNR is the way to go!!I am bringing it to Mobile AL. it is wonderfull www.azaleacitycats.org