ACLU Stands Up for First Amendment Rights of Animal Advocates in Baltimore County

The troubled Baltimore Co pound in MD has banned the public from photographing pets in the facility and the ACLU has written to county officials condemning the ban: The American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland says Baltimore County officials violated free-speech rights by banning photography at the county-run animal shelter, a move the ACLU describes … Continue reading ACLU Stands Up for First Amendment Rights of Animal Advocates in Baltimore County

TZI Recommends Shelter Should Not Let You Have Your Lost Cat Back

In August 2013, the Maddie's Fund Shelter Medicine Program issued a summary of recommendations to the Hillsborough Co pound in FL following a consultation.  The recommendation regarding stray cats was particularly troubling to me since it threatened the bond between people and their lost pets.  From the report: Eliminate the required hold period for stray … Continue reading TZI Recommends Shelter Should Not Let You Have Your Lost Cat Back

NJ County Threatens Caretaker and Her Colony of Cats

A compassionate person in Gloucester Co, NJ has been feeding community cats on her own property for years.  Sandra Leady has caught many of the cats and had them vaccinated and neutered at her own expense, since the Gloucester Co pound doesn't do anything for free living cats except kill them.  There are an estimated … Continue reading NJ County Threatens Caretaker and Her Colony of Cats

Federal Agency Attempts to Scare Escambia Co Commissioners Out of TNR

Reform at the long troubled pound in Escambia Co Florida is getting some support from county commissioners.  Specifically, the commissioners had planned to discuss the implementation of a TNR program for the community's feral cats at its July 24 public meeting.  But on July 23, the US Fish and Wildlife Service sent a nastygram to the commissioners, … Continue reading Federal Agency Attempts to Scare Escambia Co Commissioners Out of TNR

Hawaiian Island on Path to Exterminate 20,000 Cats

The county of Kauai, one of the Hawaiian islands, assembled a nine member Feral Cat Task Force to make recommendations regarding the management of the community cat population.  The county paid $30,000 for the report, issued in March 2014.  The task force excluded the president of Kauai Ferals and was primarily comprised of individuals wishing to exterminate … Continue reading Hawaiian Island on Path to Exterminate 20,000 Cats

One Less Vet in the World Willing to Take in a Homeless Cat and Treat Him for Free

An all too familiar story in the animal welfare world has ended in needless tragedy. In August 2013, a Good Samaritan found a sickly cat in a park in the Bronx and took him to Gentle Hands vet clinic. The clinic's owner, Dr. Shirley Koshi, took him in and nursed him back to health. Several … Continue reading One Less Vet in the World Willing to Take in a Homeless Cat and Treat Him for Free

“Compromised Feline Welfare” at Hillsborough Co Pound

It sucks being a cat at the Hillsborough Co pound in Florida.  Way. Although the pound's TNR program was officially sanctioned by local politicians on May 1, not one action has been taken to implement the program: “I'm not [a] patient person,” said Sherry Silk, director of the Humane Society of Tampa Bay. “Come on; … Continue reading “Compromised Feline Welfare” at Hillsborough Co Pound