March 20, 2012
To the Editor:
In “Village Takes up Issue of Feral Cats” (July 21, 2011), you reported on a proposal by Mayor Coyne to work with the Canine Sanctuary in New Windsor to reduce the number of feral cats in the village. The Canine Sanctuary would use trap-neuter-release (TNR) to trap, spay or neuter, and vaccinate the cats, then release them, at no cost to the village.
According to your article, the idea met with a “mixed response” from the board. James Kane was receptive, saying “What do we have to lose, it’s at no cost to us,” but Barbara Gosda and Andrew Argenio were not. Mrs. Gosda said that “the board should first look into stopping village residents from feeding the cats.” Why would anyone oppose TNR, which is effective and humane, in favor of criminalizing village residents?
For those of us who feed homeless cats, allowing them to starve is not an option.
These are companion animals who are homeless/feral and overpopulated solely because of human irresponsibility. Many of us who feed are also able, at our own expense, to use TNR in order to slow the exponential increase in homeless cats. This, additionally, provides a community service.
Just in the past two weeks, with the help of Precious Paws and T.A.R.A., my husband and I have used the TNR method to spay and vaccinate two females. Another female and two males who visit our feeding station are scheduled next.
Not only would Mrs. Gosda’s stated position on this issue allow these animals to starve, it would also criminalize her neighbors. This is both wrong-headed and mean-spirited. I have voted for Barbara Gosda in the past. I will not vote for her again.
Diana Mathews
Cornwall-on-Hudson
Comments:
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Thanks.
posted by Vishwa Chaudhry on 03/20/12 at 4:11 PM
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