SPEAK OUT: Other solutions for Milton's feral cat problem

Here are featured comments from our Speak Out hotline, discussions on www.srpressgazette.com and its sister websites.

RESOLVE COURTHOUSE ISSUE NOW

I've been watching this fiasco for twenty years and I'm tired of the commission continuing to string me along. Enough is enough.

We put these people on the board to make decisions on our behalf. They need to stop being afraid of the voters and make a decision and get this done now.

If they continue to side-step this issue, we need to replace them with people who aren't afraid to make the difficult decisions.

Bill Hayden            

TIME FOR A CAT ROUNDUP

Who is going to pay to neuter (Milton’s feral cats)? Vets will not do it for free. Because if they did, it would probably have been done by the owners before they dumped them.

Cat roundup and be done!

Jason Hays

VETERINARIANS COULD VOLUNTEER

Grand Rapids, Michigan has a program that offers free spay, neuter for ferals. The vets offer their services as a charitable contribution. The residents catch and later release the ferals.

Rose Schleinz

EUTHANIZE FERAL CATS             

To get people to stop dumping cats, government has to put its big-girl panties on and act like a big bully. They have to euthanize the cats … even though some people love to get wrapped up in the drama of their plight and all.

Duff Smith

‘EASY DEATH’ IS LOVE

They acknowledge the public health dangers from (feline) feces, then propose to turn loose unwanted homeless cats to continue to soil and pollute their neighbors and parks, and will probably never have that important second rabies shot.

They admit that cats will continue to maim and kill wildlife, but claim TNR (trap, neuter, release) is humane.

They claim to love the cats … and then perform major surgery and re-abandon them the next day, not knowing or caring if sutures fail or become infected.

They never have to see the cats die of trauma, disease, predation or human cruelty.

… Throwing an introduced non-native predator out on the streets is not love. Euthanasia, Greek for "easy death," is love.

Sophie Williams

COUNTY SHOULD START CAT PROGRAM

Spay and neuter is definitely the answer. Funding is what is needed. There are lots of dedicated volunteers who give tirelessly to help theses cats and control the population. Often times, paying out of their own pockets, which are already thin.

If we could somehow find funding for a countywide program, I know there are people willing to put in the labor. I know occasionally there is a grant available, but that is usually (for) low-income county residents.

We could benefit from one specifically for feral cats. Now to find those funds?

Connie Pinto

NEUTER-RELEASE DOESN’T GET RESULTS

The fastest and most cost-effective control of feral cats is removal with either euthanasia or, if socialized, re-homing to an indoor or “catio”-provided forever home.

It costs $2 to $5 to euthanize a feral cat, which also prevents further predation and reproduction by that cat.

Neuter-release programs actually result in little or no impact, sometimes increasing feral cat numbers as people dump more cats in the area, or the intact cats that are trap-smart eat the food offered and continue to reproduce.

Marian Brown       

WILL SUPPORT MHS CRAWFISH FESTIVAL

I think this is a great fundraiser. I do not, personally, eat mud puppies, but my wife, and lots of others, love them. It will cost the city nothing, and benefit the band students and the talented future entertainers. I will be there to support this!

Will Wilson

APPRECIATE CITY COUNCIL’S SUPPORT

It is nice to see our city leaders showing support for our students. The band program at Milton High School benefits not only the students, but so many others in our community.

This type of support helps ensure the future success of the program and our kids.

Tony Pietsch

We welcome Santa Rosa County residents’ comments on local issues. Call 623-5887 to “Speak Out,” and your comment could appear in the print edition and on srpgressgazette.com. Or comment on srpressgazette.com. Say what’s on your mind, but please be civil.

This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: SPEAK OUT: Other solutions for Milton's feral cat problem