Comments on: Burns council tangles with feral cat problem http://burnstimesherald.info/2012/08/29/burns-council-tangles-with-feral-cat-problem/ Covering Harney County Like The Sagebrush Thu, 16 May 2013 23:33:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: C. Temple http://burnstimesherald.info/2012/08/29/burns-council-tangles-with-feral-cat-problem/#comment-100056 C. Temple Wed, 05 Sep 2012 03:47:05 +0000 http://burnstimesherald.info/?p=5865#comment-100056 I find it ironic (and perhaps mostly sad) that Harney County has gone from cattle wars to "cat" wars. Instead of working together and becoming part of the solution, neighbors are constantly at each other's throats, bickering over cats. While I agree that unwanted pets, especially cats, are a huge problem, I do believe that TNR is the only humane way to control this. For anyone who wishes to do their homework, TNR has worked in countless larger cities and there is no reason it cannot work in Harney County. Check out a couple of examples: http://www.feralcat.com/ and http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/City_Manager/Animal_Shelter/Feral_Cats_and_Public_Safety.aspx for starters. However, the real problem is NOT the cats themselves but the people who take home that cute little kitten....and then never spays or neuters that cute little kitten. I know that one person's rights end where another's begin but I do wonder if things are going a little too far. There are so many other things that are much more important and could actually do some good for this community instead of tearing it apart. I just find it very sad that so much time, energy, and resources are going into something like this. I do believe Save-A-Stray is to be commended for the work that they do and for the restraint that has been shown in this on-going battle. I, for one, will be extremely grateful when this is over and Harney County can move on to bigger, better things...because frankly, I am sick of the "cat war." I find it ironic (and perhaps mostly sad) that Harney County has gone from cattle wars to “cat” wars. Instead of working together and becoming part of the solution, neighbors are constantly at each other’s throats, bickering over cats. While I agree that unwanted pets, especially cats, are a huge problem, I do believe that TNR is the only humane way to control this. For anyone who wishes to do their homework, TNR has worked in countless larger cities and there is no reason it cannot work in Harney County. Check out a couple of examples: http://www.feralcat.com/ and http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/City_Manager/Animal_Shelter/Feral_Cats_and_Public_Safety.aspx for starters. However, the real problem is NOT the cats themselves but the people who take home that cute little kitten….and then never spays or neuters that cute little kitten.

I know that one person’s rights end where another’s begin but I do wonder if things are going a little too far. There are so many other things that are much more important and could actually do some good for this community instead of tearing it apart. I just find it very sad that so much time, energy, and resources are going into something like this. I do believe Save-A-Stray is to be commended for the work that they do and for the restraint that has been shown in this on-going battle.

I, for one, will be extremely grateful when this is over and Harney County can move on to bigger, better things…because frankly, I am sick of the “cat war.”

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