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The BreedeValley SPCA is facing a major crisis. The National SPCA wants them to close their doors on the 10th of May 2013 already. Gerda Du Toit has launched a petition to stop this from happening.
The second request is to help the SPCA lower their debt. If you could find it in your heart to spare some money to help them, their bank details are:
Breedevallei DBV;. FNB, Takkode 200407; Rek 54330149913
If you know of a company (or own a company) who can perhaps sponsor a bit more, I'm sure the SPCA would be eternally greatful as will all the animals they help.
Once the Breedevallei SPCA closes its doors and there is no one to take care of all those animals and we finally realise what all they did, I don't want to be one of those people who says: "I wish someone had done something" when I can be one of those people now.
Animal testing is a cruel and barbaric practice that should be banned. Animals do not want to be tortured, locked up, neglected and abused any more than we do, so why should we do it to them?
Myth 1# "Animal testing is vital to save lives".
Animal testing actually kills more people than it saves because of the fact that animals have different bodies and genetic systems from us. Even animals that are very similar to us in terms of DNA, such as pigs and monkeys, are still too different for every result from tests on them to be entirely accurate. For instance, chimpanzees are immune to HIV, Malaria and hepatitis. Aspirin causes birth defects in most lab animals, but it doesn't do this to people. Paracetamol is toxic to cats and grapes and raisins can cause kidney damage in dogs.
In fact, most so-called "medical" experiments that are done on animals are actually done with money in mind, not people. That is one of the main reasons why these misleading experiments are still performed. If a drug is passed as safe due to animal tests, it is then often given to people. If a drug passes as dangerous and unsafe due to animal tests, it is often given to people anyway because even the drug companies often know that animals have different bodies and genetic systems from us. If a person takes it and then gets any really bad side effects, the company cannot be sued because they did do the safety tests.
Myth 2# "Lab animals are always treated kindly and looked after properly".
Although some may well be treated with kindness and cared for properly, many of them are not. In fact, during investigations, animal defenders have filmed horrifying scenes that should disgust us all. Lab animals are often shot at, held against red hot metal plates, have boiling water poured over them, force-fed dangerous chemicals, cut open, gassed, have their brains damaged with severe blows to their heads, starved, locked up and have their skin irritated by various different substances. Lab animals are also sometimes abused outside of the experiments. Laboratory workers have been filmed punching, slapping and shaking animals before.
Myth 3# "Animals do not feel pain, have emotions or help others".
This is probably one of the biggest lies/misunderstandings of the century. Animals definitely DO feel pain, have emotions and help others. Anyone who believes that animals do not feel pain should go and kick a dog and then watch what happens. If animals could not feel pain or fear, how do you think they would survive out in the wild?
Animals definitely do have emotions. When you tell a dog off, they will often cower away because they know that you are angry with them. Anyone who has ever had or even stayed with a cat before will know that cats are definitely more likely to scratch and bite at certain points in time than others. How else can this be explained other than in the fact that they have moods like people do?
Also, time and time again have dogs been known to pine for their owners after they have died. Hachiko carried on going to wait at the train station for his master's return until about ten years after his master had died and Greyfriar's Bobby waited by his master's grave for at least ten years before he himself died, apparently of the same illness that had killed his master.
Dogs have even been known to pine for their people when they have only gone to work or gone out for a little while. Dog behaviourists and experts often call this, separation anxiety, but a lot of it is really just loneliness and boredom. How else do you explain the scenario of a person leaving for a while and returning to get complaints from his or her neighbours about his or her dog's barking and howling and then finding broken items and chewed up furniture all over their home?
Even wild animals have been known to help others of their own species, even if they are not directly related to them. Lionesses have been known to adopt baby antelopes, wild birds will often try to save their mates' lives and even vampire bats have been adopt other members of their own species. Chimpanzees have been known to save ducklings and at least one baby boy has been rescued by a gorilla before.
If these animals really did not care, why do you think they did these sorts of things? Why did they bother to help out here?
Myth 4# "There is no alternative to animal testing."
There are, nowadays, so many alternatives to animal testing that it need not be used any longer. Fake skin and organs, donated cells and body parts, studies of living people and computer models can all now be used, and these can produce results that are far more relevant and useful than those optioned through animal tests.
3. Pet theft in Australia - Tougher penalties to deter 
To introduce a Pet Theft Law.
We want stronger and tougher pet theft legislation to increase the punishment to those involved in the theft of a dog, cat, rabbit, reptile, ferret, bird or horse.
We want pets and horses to be legally regarded as living members of the family and not as objects or property.
We want to see pet theft punishment set somewhere between kidnapping and the theft of property or an object. The personal value of a pet is much higher than its saleable value and the law needs to reflect this.
We want a mandatory prison sentence punishment for anyone who steals pets with the purpose of extracting a ransom, or seeking reward for the safe return of those animals, or with the intention of harming it or with the intention of not returning it to its rightful owner.
We want police and courts to have tougher and stronger powers and to prioritise the theft of pets over the theft of objects.
4. Bring the focus back on the animals, Animal Planet!
Recently, or perhaps a little longer than that by now, Animal Planet has been taking the focus off of the animals and onto people, using "surprisingly human" as their slogan. In many of these shows, animals have been displaced out of the spot light and become co-stars to humans, which doesn't sound like much of an 'animal planet' to me.
Literally every other channel in existence is about humans, animal planet is suppose to be the one place we can do to, to see something different.
I want the Animal Planet of my childhood back!
5. Fast Eddie needs a forever Mommy
Fast Eddie, an orange former tomcat, was brought in to Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Center approximately 3 years ago as a resident blood donor. He lived in a room with just a cat tower until VESC made him a fancy cat room.
Ed used to be able to go on vacations with a certain person who loves and adores him, but that had to end after an incident with another potential blood donor kitten that was beeing groomed for a blood donor.
He loves his new condo and even gets to go in his 'office' for human interaction occasionally, and for 'coffee' -a trick he was taught-. The daytime ER doc and daytime PCA have loved on him and he has learned many tricks. He is very handsome and loves to be loved, although he hates our vet techs (no offense).
He is alone in his condo (really is pretty crazy), without company, unless someone brings him out for attention and exercise. He has gained a lot of wait since he doesn't get out of his condo very often, and even when he doesn't get dinner at night (by accident when the ER Hospital staff is swamped.) He is a huge pain when they need to draw blood (turns into a cougar) and really needs to be retired.
Fast Eddie does not like other dogs or cats and needs to be in an only child household. Someone loves him and has that situation to provide a loving forever home!!
6. Support the opening of PawPrints Animal Medical Centre!
PawPrints Animal Medical Centre PC is a new state of the art Animal Medical Centre. This Animal Medical Centre has two treatment rooms, complete with digital radiography suite, surgical suite, an isolation ward, post operative recovery room, critical and emergent care ward, complete laboratory, library, two exam rooms and vast retail available. This Animal Medical Centre has been ready to open for almost 8 months.
At this point, we are meeting RESISTANCE in opening our doors. What is required to legally open at this point is the issuance of a CERTIFICATE of COMPLETION by the New York City Buildings Department. This will allow the Animal Medical Centre to open and be able to serve the Rockaway Community...that it has so patiently awaited.
Please support our efforts in bringing a much needed service to the community of the Rockaways, Broad Channel and Howard Beach by signing the petition!
7. Stop killing feral cats in Switzerland
Killing feral cats is not only cruel but also useless. Other cats will take the place. Cats are useful animals, regulating the mouse population etc.
Too little is said about cats being beneficial to human health, in particular regulating blood pressure and heart problems in general.
Feral cats can become friendly with people and end up becoming house cats. Why do we have feral cats? Because of irresponsible humans, abandoning them!
8. Reople LPSO!
Hasbro closed LPSO a while ago, at December 1st. And we all want LPSO reopened!
Please help me get enough signatures!
9. The US Needs a Hello Kitty Magazine
Many countries and regions other than the US have Hello Kitty magazines and we feel that the US could use one.
10. Boycott American Airlines for Jack
Jack, a family cat was lost by American Airlines in August of 2011 and is still missing to this day...
The following is a short excerpt from the NY Daily News August 30, 2011. To read the entire article go to
http://articles.nydailynews.com/2011-08-30/local/30111227_1_facebook-page-hurricane-irene-preparations-jack
*****
American Airlines launched an all-out hunt yesterday for a cat it lost at Kennedy Airport in the chaos of preparing for Hurricane Irene.
The airline issued a public apology to pet owner Karen Pascoe after animal lovers bombarded its Facebook page demanding it look for her cat.
"He's a member of my family," Pascoe told the Daily News. "I just want my cat. I want whatever it takes to get my cat."
*****
When American Airlines responded with very little enthusiasm, hiring a public relations expert to try to put a positive "spin" on the situation, a boycott was instituted. To this day, Jack Remains lost and his guardian remains heartbroken, as do all the thousands following Jack's story with great concern.
Recently there have been a small number of news articles to revisit Jack's loss at the hands of American Airlines. It is in this same spirit that we repost this and other pledges to boycott American Airlines, American Eagle, and all subsidiaries of AMR Corporation, American Airlines parent corporation located in Fort Worth Texas, USA.
We understand the problem of loss or death of companion animals at the hands of airlines is not limited to this one even and Jack. We understand that very few, if any airlines are innocent of harming animals in their care. But this is where we are making our stand! We stand for Jack against American Airlines.
Since American Airlines is a multinational corporation, doing business in countries all over the world, we ask everyone from ANY country in the world to please sign the petition pledge to boycott American Airlines. We thank you for your signature and Jack thanks you.
Volunteers in the New York city area are always welcome in the ground search for Jack.
http://www.facebook.com/notes/jack-the-cat-is-lost-in-aa-baggage-at-jfk/how-everyone-can-help/150571421699484
http://www.care2.com/news/member/160802723/2922385
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jack-The-Cat-is-Lost-in-AA-Baggage-at-JFK/143108332445793
11. Introduce legislation to control urban foxes
The issue of urban foxes needs to be addressed sensibly, not sentimentally. Urban foxes have no control predator, so their numbers and the nuisance associated with them has increased steadily over the last decade or two.
A 27-pound, 4-foot-long fox was recently killed in one town after killing a cat. Some 34,000 urban foxes live in Britain, foxes often carry fleas and can easily pass on diseases such as distemper, mange and scabies.
12:01AM GMT 06 Feb 2005
Urban foxes are attacking and killing pet cats because they are struggling to find enough food to eat in British towns and cities. Cat owners have reported an increasing number of attacks and pest control specialists say that the use of wheelie bins, rather than bin bags, for rubbish disposal is partly to blame because it has deprived many foxes of an easy source of food.
Gordon Manson, a pest controller from Balerno, near Edinburgh, says that the number of fox-related calls he receives has doubled. "The population has got out of hand and because of wheelie bins they are no longer able to find their regular supply of food," he said.
"Now they are moving on to pets. I have done jobs where I have turned up to find a cat's head in the garden. I've had about 40 to 60 calls from people bothered by foxes over the past year and usually it is more like 20 to 30."
Janet MacPhail, a 57-year-old nurse from Edinburgh, was recently woken in the night by screams coming from her garden. "We found a pack of six foxes attacking our cat, Clover. We managed to chase the foxes away, but she was badly mauled and had one eye missing, so we were forced to put her down.
"We feel that foxes are a pest and steps should be taken to keep them under control, but we spoke with the our local council who told us they had no policy on controlling urban foxes," she said.
Mike Hall, a veterinary surgeon at the Braid Veterinary Hospital where Clover was put down, said that he was dealing with a growing number of cats with fox-related injuries. "We have been seeing more examples of cats with fox bites recently, whereas 10 years ago it was unheard of," he said.
"I had one client who woke early one morning to find a fox chasing her cat around the dining room, having got in through the catflap. Foxes are becoming braver in what they will look for as prey."
Bob Drinkwater, a community centre manager from Stamford Hill, north London, recently saved Mica, his tabby cat, from a vicious fox attack. "Luckily I managed to frighten the fox off, but it had taken a large bite out of Mica's back legs, for which she needed stitches and anti-biotics. I had always heard that foxes don't attack cats, but clearly they do and need to be kept under control."Kevin Stanley, a chef from Bexleyheath in Kent, who saw his cat being killed by two foxes, called for a cull. "Urban foxes should be exterminated and I would support any humane way of getting rid of them.
It won't be long before a tragedy involving a child occurs because foxes are so daring now," he said. The Countryside Alliance also called for stricter controls on the fox population. A spokesman said: "Now the fox is also an urban force, more must be done to ensure the population does not spiral out of control, because the impact on pets would be severe."
A spokesman for the Cats Protection League said its members were increasingly concerned about fox attacks on their pets. "While we still consider cars to be a greater threat, we are taking more calls from members who are worried about fox attacks," she said. "Our advice is to make sure cats are kept indoors at night."Out of a total fox population of 240,000, approximately 35,000 animals are urban foxes.
Attacks on humans:
• On 26 June 2002, a fox attacked a 14-week-old boy in Dartford, Kent, UK, grabbing the child's head and attempting to drag him outside before being chased off by the boy's parents.
• In June 2010, an urban fox entered a family home in London, UK, and attacked twin baby girls, who were sleeping in their cots.
• In October 2010, it was alleged in the press that a fox bit off the nose and 2½ fingers of a comatose 37-year-old man in Inveresk, East Lothian, UK.
Foxes are canids and one of their behaviours is to catch, kill and store food In recent years the Urban Fox population has spiralled out of control. Their numbers have increased because of the amount of food readily available to them: fast food thrown on the street, people feeding them, rubbish left out, etc. They breed rapidly because of the amount of food available and many more cubs survive to grow up and breed. More and more reports from vets say that cats and small dogs are also being attacked by foxes.
Foxes have become increasingly vicious, fearless and aggressive and are no longer scared of dogs. They are now a common sight in broad daylight. In almost any city or town all over the country you see foxes running up and down the pavements all day and night long.
In many towns and cities, especially London, it has been estimated that there are between 20 and 30 foxes per square mile. In the country, a single fox might have a territory of at least 2 square miles.
I want to bring back the uk Saturday morning show SMTV live, aimed mainly at children, and hosted by Ant & Dec, Cat Deeley, which was axed in 2003.
We want to have decent Saturday morning television in England.
A petition to support the continuation of jumps racing in South Australia and Victoria.
14. Stop the censorship of the AIDS Committee of Durham Region Youth Awareness Campaign
The AIDS Committee of Durham Region (ACDR) launched a new awareness campaign directed and designed by youth. The Cover your C**%K, Protect your P*&%$Y campaign was launched in January 2010. The safer sex campaign contained valuable information surrounding youth and HIV/AIDS.
In November 2010, The Durham District School Board (DDSB) banned any material containing the image of a Cat and Rooster which appeared on the campaign from entering their schools.
This has resulted in Durham Region youth being unable to receive this proven effective safer sex messaging and education on behalf of the ACDR at DDSB locations and events.
15. For the unrestricted movement of animals between EU countries
It is not fear to let people travel all over the Europe without any restriction and not let to do so to their animals. It is crazy to think that we could keep at home sick animal and do not treat it.
We must take pets together because only we know how to treat them best and only we love them most. How can we be happy traveling without our family friends.
Let's get EU attention and make this crazy system stop working. Our pets are like our kids to us, how can they restrict their movements, as we are free in EU.
16. Tokyo mew mew a la mode episodes
Okay well i started this petition so that Tokyo mew mew a la mode episodes can be made. I love Tokyo mew mew ad i have seen the episodes and i want more. I want to urge people to join my petition so that a second season can be made.
I mean who does not love Tokyo Mew Mew it is just so awesome. Tokyo mew mew is about 5 girls who get their dna mixed with rare species of animals. Google it if you do not know what it means.
We would like to make a secondary school for the academically gifted teenagers who qualify for CTYI and CAT courses.
Most will have enjoyed the summer courses and felt very comfortable and accepted and would love to attend it as a year round school.
18. Make it law to report hitting or running over a cat whilst driving
I believe if you hit a cat whilst driving you should at the very least call the police, local council animal control or local vet and stay until they arrive if the cat is injured or even dead.
It would help us pet owners to know for certain what has happened to our beloved pets instead of wondering and worrying for years.
Cats are not feral if they live among a family who love them very much.
Most responsible owners have their cat micro chipped, which allows whoever has been informed about the injured/dead cat to notify the owners, also many cats have collars on with name, phone number or address .
Tsukiyomi Ikuto is a talented (and hot) violin player. He is from the story Shugo Chara!, created by Peach-Pit, and is one of the many love interests for the main character: Hinamori Amu. He has lots of fans from (as far as I know) all around the world... or most of it.
20. Δεν θα αγοράσω ποτέ ζώο από pet shop ούτε και άλλα είδη από αυτούς που εμπορεύονται ζώα
Σκοπός είναι να πείσουμε τους ιδιοκτήτες των pet shop που εμπορεύονται ζώα, να σταματήσουν το εμπόριο ζώων γιατί τα ζώα μας τα αγοράζουμε αποκλειστικά από εκτροφείς ή υιοθετούμε αδέσποτα.
Στόχος: 1.000.000 υπογραφές μέχρι τον Σεπτέμβριο 2010.
It has been reported that 350 animals, cats and dogs, have been infected with ringworm. According to studies, ringworm is curable. There are many methods to cure ringworm, but may take a several months.
According to the Canadian Press Article
(http://news.ca.msn.com/canada/cp-article.aspx?cp-documentid=24206729) , OSPCA has decided that euthanization is the best solution because it will take several months to cure ringworm and have no time nor money for this treatment. It has been discovered that the outbreak was caused by human error. Protocols for identifying ringworm in the animals were not followed.
OSPCA should find an alternative, for example, raising money for treatment and taking time to treat the animals oppose to terminating them. There are many alternatives, they should find the best one. An animal should not loose their life because of a human error- it was not their fault, it was human error.
Sign your name, Save a Life.
22. Build a New Pflugerville Animal Shelter
1. The current animal shelter is too small and filled to capacity with animals much of the time. There is no outside run attached to the dog shelter so the dogs are unable to get fresh air during the day.
2. The cages for the cats and smaller dogs are very small which leaves the animals very little room to move around and to get proper ventilation.
3. The animal shelter lacks central heating and air conditioning. Even with the use of wall fans, the temperatures in the shelter have reached 95 to 100 degrees. In the winter, since the quarantine-side outside wall is made up of a chain-link fence, a plastic tarp is placed over it to keep the cold air out.
4. The Pflugerville Animal Shelter is not located in a very visible location. It’s behind a subdivision and as a result many citizens and animal rescue groups aren’t aware that it exists.
23. Make Pasadena Humane Society a NO KILL Shelter
The “No Kill” movement ensures all healthy and adoptable animals are given the opportunity to find a home. The Pasadena Humane Society and SPCA (“PHS”), despite having extensive resources of over $5.57 million in revenue in 2008, continues to be a kill shelter.
Many other shelters in the area and all over the country are “No Kill” and have less funding, such as San Gabriel and Glendale Humane Societies, as well as the cities of New York and San Francisco. Adoptable animals are being senselessly killed at PHS because of “space,” despite the extensive financial, volunteer and community resources of Pasadena and its surrounding areas.
Recently PHS won the licensing for the city of Glendale and consequently an even larger number of animals’ lives are at risk. By becoming “No Kill” PHS could potentially save the lives of many adoptable animals.
24. Stop Beastiality Being Allowed Online And Offline
I'm writing this petition against human beings that sexually abuse animals.
How can there be people doing this to our animals? We as human beings have the ability to express ourselves, but our animals dont have a voice.
Everyday more and more websites are created catering for beastiality. Beastiality is wrong and should not be practiced, the animals dont have a choice, they can't tell you they are being abused. They can't express themselves to you in a way that you could possibly understand how they're being used and abused everyday to beasteality.
The people who run those kind of websites should not profit from torturing the animals, and the users viewing the sites should seek help if this is the kind that gets them off. We have the right to say no to any kind of sexual advance, but animals do not, they are at our mercy.
Beastiality is not normal, is not natural, its just wrong, sick and disturbing.
25. Петиция против отстрела бездомных собак
Внимание! Всем, кому не безразличная судьба уличных животных! Впервые в интернете: перевод петиции на русском языке.
26. End to Fur Farming of Animals Skinned Alive
Since 1997, The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has investigated and documented the international trade in dog and cat fur and skins. This undercover investigation has spanned the globe from source countries in China, the Philippines, & Thailand to retailers and wholesalers in the United States, Russia, and the European Union.
Over two million dogs and cats are slaughtered each year for their furs and skins, mostly in China and other Asian countries. Investigators documented 50,000 to 100,000 cat pelts stockpiled at animal byproduct factories in China. At least ten dogs are slaughtered to make a single coat, more if puppies are used. Up to 24 cats are slaughtered to make one fur coat. Dog and cat fur is used in trims, linings, hats, decorative figurines, and folk remedies. Skins are used in dog chew toys and shoe leather.
The slaughter of these animals is violent and pitiless.Cats are strangled inside their cages as other cats look on. Dogs are noosed about the neck by metal wires, and then slashed across the groin. The wire noose cuts into their throats as they struggle in pain before finally losing consciousness. In Harbin China, HSUS investigators documented a German shepherd still blinking and conscious as he was being skinned. At a dog farm several hours north of Harbin, investigators documented dead dogs hanging from hooks as others, still alive, awaited their fate outside the same cold, dismal room.
An investigator from Swiss Animals Protection/East International said:"Conditions on Chinese fur farms make a mockery of the most elementary animal welfare standards...In their lives and their unspeakable deaths, these animals have been denied even the simplest acts of kindness."
- Information taken from http://www.antifursociety.org/
Photo: caption: First ever Dr. Dog visit in 1991
"Our Dr Dogs are spreading their special brand of canine love to thousands of people throughout Asia. They are ambassadors for all dogs, our loyal friends who won't judge us for the way we look. They accept us regardless of class, race, age or disability."
Find out more! at http://www.animalsasia.org/index.php?UID=P8CBGJH5KOH8
Act now! sign and spread the word to others, give these animals hope and support programs like Dr Dog ... Thank you from all the voiceless animals!
27. Support For The Savannah Cat Breed in Australia
Recently deliberate and misleading information has been circulated to media outlets, Government Departments and others condemning the Savannah Cat Breed. This information has been malicious, unfounded, misleading and is a deliberate act to create fear in members of the Australian public. The main focus has been that of scaremongering.
There is no supporting evidence to support these unfounded allegations.
The Savannah Cat is a pedigree domestic Feline and is recognised by TICA (The International Cat Association). TICA is the leading authority on feline breeds. A Savannah Cat has a sweet outgoing personality and is said to be more dog like in their character. The temperament of a Savannah is predictable. A Savannah is the perfect choice for a family with other pets and children.
For further information and true facts of the Savannah breed, please visit the following website.
www.savannahcats.com.au
Savannah Cats Australia are registered breeders of the pedigree Savannah Cats. One of Savannah Cats Australia’s main achievements is their commitment to responsible pet ownership. Savannah Cats Australia strives to be part of a solution, not part of the problem.
Being responsible breeders, Savannah Cats Australia de-sex and microchip all kittens prior to them going to their new homes. On top of this all new potential owners are subjected to a vigorous qualification process to be an owner of a Savannah Cat. To own and care for any animal is a privilege, it is not a right. Further to this, potential owners must then sign a legally binding contract which contains strict conditions.
The Savannah Cat is being singled out for personal gains by individuals that cannot address the real problems that Australia faces with the already problematic feral cat population. It is said that some are intent on having legislation changed to outlaw the innocent Savannah Cat when their energy could be utilised to address the real problem at hand. How sad and pathetic this is, today it is so easy to take the easy road instead of a challenge that would require serious commitment and hard work.
Don’t let the Savannah Cat be used as a scape goat for the gains of personal individuals, have your say and stop the Federal government from changing the current legislation. The Savannah Cat is not the problem.
28. Review the importation and breeding of Savannah cats in Australia
Savannahs are considered one of the larger breeds of domesticated cats. They are a crossbreed of a Serval (a wild African predator) and domestic cat.
Servals prey on hares, ground squirrels, hyraxes, snakes, lizards, mole rats, frogs, insects, birds (quails, flamingoes, quelea, and teal). They have been known to take domestic poultry.
Larger animals such as vlei rats and even small antelopes are preferred, if they can be easily taken. Savannahs are obviously smaller and unlikely to take on larger prey, but there is the suggestion that they could attack Koalas (who have, up until now, had no natural climbing predator.
These animals pose a high potential of risk to our natural eco-system.
29. Stop 24-hour Cat Confinement for Nillumbik
Nillumbik Shire Council is recommending 24 hour cat confinement to be enforced within the next 2 years in its current draft Domestic Animal Management Plan. We agree with responsible cat ownership including the dusk to dawn curfew, however we believe compulsory 24 hour cat confinement will lead to stress and suffering for both cats and people.
• This law will lead to some cats living in unacceptable conditions. People who make the choice to confine their cats often also choose to spend the $2000 - $5000 plus on outdoor cat enclosures. Many people will not be able or willing to spend this sort of money and just confine their cats indoors denying them access to grass, sunshine and entertainment. Containing a cat that is used to freedom is very stressful on all members of the household as the cat gets more and more distressed.
• For some cat owners imprisoning these freedom loving animals is unacceptable. Those who have no intention of containing their cats then have the anxiety and stress of their cat being impounded with potential fines and loss of the cat for repeat offences.
• Cats provide companionship, reduce depression, and encourage responsibility and care in children. This law will make cat ownership so expensive and stressful that people just won’t be willing to take on the responsibility no matter how good cats are for our wellbeing.
• An increased number of cats will be surrendered to shelters and loved pets euthanized unnecessarily.
• The effect of cats on wildlife is always a concern however we need to balance the needs of the environment, and the needs of Council to manage issues between neighbours, against the benefits of cat ownership.
• The Council conducted a survey of 355 people, of whom 53% said Council should enforce 24 hour cat confinement. The population of Nillumbik is 60,000. The opinion of 188 people out of 60,000 (.3%) cannot be considered representative of the population and does not give the Council a mandate to enforce this law.
If you are a resident of Nillumbik PLEASE PUT YOUR SUBURB UNDER CITY/TOWN so that Council can see that residents don't want this law. The petition was submitted to Council on 13 June 2008 but we are still accepting signatures as we will be making further presentations to Council in July.
30. Save the dogs & cats of Puerto Rico
Animals in Puerto Rico are treated horribly. There are strays running everywhere and "sweeps" are often done to get rid of the dogs.
Instead of being medically treated and rehomed, the dogs are euthanized. The lack of spay / neuter programs as well as minimal penalties for animal cruelty do nothing to help the situation.
These animals have no voice of their own and someone must speak for them, as the way they are treated is unacceptable.