PETA writes in a letter to the Prince George’s Co Council in MD, dated September 28, 2010:
We have been contacted by concerned Prince George’s County-
area citizens about a push by a small group of citizens to legislatively legitimize their hobby of feeding feral cats, without regard for the health and welfare of other animals or taxpayers in the community.
A fringe group of crazy cat ladies who will be the death of us all…
We strongly support the current law in Prince George’s County, which rightfully cites citizens who fail to properly care and house animals in their custody.
Where are the tens of thousands of citations for PETA then, pursuant to their failure to care for pets in their custody?
We receive countless reports of incidents in which cats—“managed” or not—suffer and die horrible deaths because they must fend for themselves outdoors. Having witnessed firsthand the gruesome things that can happen to feral cats, we cannot in good conscience oppose euthanasia as a humane alternative for dealing with overpopulation. Please know that this stance is based solely on what we believe to be the most humane option for these animals.
Yes we know PETA believes killing pets is “the most humane option”. PETA makes that clear year after year by killing thousands and thousands of homeless pets without even trying to find homes for them.
PETA supports the efforts of animal control agencies when they rescue cats from the streets, even if a quick and painless end is the best that can be offered.
I notice they don’t reference any alternatives (such as cat sanctuary) that don’t involve death.
Communities that wish to effectively address animal overpopulation and its attendant public health and safety concerns can make serious headway by implementing ordinances that require citizens to spay and neuter their own animals, forbid the sale and trade of intact animals without a costly permit, and require local animal shelters to remain accessible and user-friendly by accepting all animals at all times without fees or reservations.
Oh do tell us how to run a successful shelter PETA – what size walk-in freezer do you find works best for storing the bodies? And by the way, mandatory spay-neuter laws do NOT help pets and there is no such thing as “animal overpopulation”. But don’t let the absence of truth slow you down.
Food left out by citizens who insist on feeding feral cats[…]
God damn them to hell!
[…]and leaving the animals homeless to fend for themselves attract a variety of other animals, including those who are considered “pests” and are common rabies vector species (raccoons, foxes, etc.).
So we’re all going to get rabies tomorrow if we help feral cats to live? It’s a miracle we’ve survived as long as we have!
A response, all facty-like, from Prince George’s Feral Friends, dated October 11, can be read here. The group has filed a lawsuit against the county for “imputing ownership of feral cats by virtue of feeding them”.