Roughly 40 protesters gathered in Monessen, PA yesterday to rally against the nearly three dozen cat deaths resulting from a city ordinance.
The city of Monessen, in an effort to combat the feral cat overpopulation, has been trapping loose cats and dropping them at the local shelter, where many of then are euthanized. That alone angered the rallying group, organized by the Citizens for a Humane Monessen. To make matters worse, the private trapper hired by the city is trapping not only ferals, but outdoor pets.
When 68-year old Lorrie Cheroki fell and hurt her wrist, she spent two days in hospital. When she returned, she found her cat Chloe (pictured above in the protest sign) had been trapped and euthanized. Cheroki took Chloe in after a neighbor moved and abandoned her. She made sure she was spayed and inoculated and the kitty had lived mostly on her porch for the last 12 years.
Animal rights groups, including Alley Cat Allies, is working to convince the city to adopt a TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) policy. PETA (who opposes TNR) is currently working with the city to seek a local shelter that would be willing to take in the trapped ferals because Fallen Timber Shelter, afraid of the cat supporters, has stopped accepted the trapped felines. The mayor and other city officials say they are just responding to multiple complaints about stray cats (some injured) damaging property. Mayor Mary Jo Smith said, “I feel sorry for these cats. I have seen them with eyes and ears missing. I want to know what is humane about letting them live this way.”
Om my god. Yes, please stop it. Muy heart is hurting.
Om my god. Yes, please stop it. Muy heart is hurting.
Mayor Mary Jo Smith, are you actually that stupid? Animals live with missing limbs, ears, and eyes EVERY DAY without an issue, just like people do.
Mayor Mary Jo Smith, are you actually that stupid? Animals live with missing limbs, ears, and eyes EVERY DAY without an issue, just like people do.
“We shall require a substantially new manner of thinking if mankind is to survive.” – Albert Einstein
Now isn’t that a load of truth! I just thought it was fitting.
“We shall require a substantially new manner of thinking if mankind is to survive.” – Albert Einstein
Now isn’t that a load of truth! I just thought it was fitting.
Go Peta & Alley Cat allies … !
Ally Cat Allies….please win this one!
ACA – great group!
BOO Monessen, PA BOOOOoooooOO!
Not a place I want to visit other than to protest.
dispicable ordinance! how heartless and shameful!!!!
Just sickening I agree… So many sad situations for our feline friends
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We have a situation here in WNY- where a Maine Coon breeder had 217 in her house. Almost 1/2 were too sick to survive. They are all parceled out to vets to care for. No town ordinance to say what number a person can have before they shut them down. The SPCA had been to the house when there were 60-70 cats. The conditions weren’t bad enough at that point. Over $10K just for the first 7 days of this clean-up and there are still cats in this condemned house.
When this situation started to spiral out of control- we- fanciers, rescuers and other breeders tried to help this gal gain control of her numbers and we were the enemy. 8 years later- this was the result of both CFA and the SPCA taking the path of least resistance with this individual… Here’s the latest reports from the SPCA. We aren’t getting straight answers to how many have been euthanized. My heart breaks for ferals- but these cats couldn’t run from their situation- someone who created them to win pretty ribbons. This story has been SO buried in the media too- very frustrating.
http://www.yourspca.org/page.aspx?pid=518
Not humane!
How can PETA oppose TNR????
This town seriously needs some education about TNR programs and how to humanely deal with feral cats. So hope that the protesters will be able to change how things are done in this town, and the kitties will be allowed to live long, healthy, and safe lives. Meows, purrs, and prayers for all of them…
And don’t get me started on PETA’s policies on stray and feral animals. The hypocrisy there is incredible. Before you support PETA, learn the facts.
Alley Cat Allies, on the other hand, is a fantastic organization! I have hope that they will win this as they’ve won other battles against laziness and ignorance.