Comment

Comment by Heidi on September 24, 2009 at 11:33pm

Let's try to meet soon and keep this conversational momentum going!

Comment by Kira Barnes on September 24, 2009 at 8:05pm

I have a PowerPoint presentation I put together about the work that the Caring Hearts for RIT Campus Cats do and why TNR is the way to go, if that would be useful in persuading anyone in government.

As for a meeting, I'm open to meeting at Boulder any time after 5:30 p.m. any night but Wednesdays, or on a Sunday afternoon. (My Saturdays are pretty booked for a while.)

Comment by Marian Boutet on September 24, 2009 at 5:32pm

Let's definitely get together. (Boulder is indeed perfect!) My availability is very flexible.

Our hurdles really amount to two things - education and funding. The financial aspect is exacerbated by the recession of course, both on a personal basis and in looking for financial assistance from City or County governments. I think we could benefit from a problem-solving session in a business-like setting. I've had experience as a facilitator and would be happy to pull it together. Let's discuss further at the next get-together.

Comment by Margy Meath on September 24, 2009 at 10:41am

Alice-
I think that we could start by posting to this group and the "yahoo" group and ask people to 'spread the word' and invite others.
In terms of a meeting, Boulder would be great. In terms of a date/time, Kristi and I would prefer an early evening time - and sometime after 10/15.

Heidi- in terms of your question re: low cost spay/neuter, it would be wonderful if a group such as ours could access that service even though we don't meet income requirements. Here on Marlborough, we're financing a fair amount of care out of pocket- food, vet co-pays, building cat houses, etc -we have had some generous neighbors donate time and cat food which has been a great help. Given that our collective efforts are actually HELPING the city reduce costs (i.e. shelter/animal control) it might make sense for us to advocate that the low cost spay/neuter program provides a 'waiver' to city groups trying to address the feral cat problem. I'd vote to limit this to TRUE feral intervention as I believe that the problem we're dealing with is- in large part- because some people withOUT the means to care for pets on an ongoing basis have significantly contributed to the feral problem by NOT spaying/neutering and/or NOT appropriately caring for their 'pets'.

Comment by Alice Carli on September 24, 2009 at 7:43am

What different ways should we get the word out about it? (Some ways may make a difference to choosing the date.)

Comment by Heidi on September 23, 2009 at 7:57pm

And Boulder sounds perfect!

Comment by Heidi on September 23, 2009 at 7:57pm

The only night I'm not available is Monday. Have pretty free afternoons and weekends, too.

Comment by Alice Carli on September 23, 2009 at 7:55pm

Hi,
Yes to both -- Pat is moving out of the area, and it's high time we got together again. I've been so swamped with "life" that I haven't done what I've been wanting to do in terms of feral cats, but I can say that Habitat for cats has been very helpful in finding low cost spaying for socialized cats, so I think we will be able to help the sister kitty's new owner with that. My time is a good deal more flexible over the next few weeks. Shall we plan to get together at Boulder on Genesee again?

Comment by Heidi on September 23, 2009 at 6:30pm

Yes, I think it would be a good idea if we could re-convene the Feral cat group. I missed the original (I think) meeting but am very interested in who's doing what where, and while I also think this wall is a great idea, a more unified (if that's appropriate terminology) action could be very helpful. I'm especially thinking about what Marian, I think, said about education -- more people in the neighborhood should be aware of the cat "problem" and about constructive, humane ways of dealing with it, among other things. Plus, is anybody dealing with "dump jobs"? Don't know what else to call it, but late this summer, a pair of 10/11 month kittens -- brother and sis -- showed up on my street, Trafalgar. The dainty little grey female was underweight, sick, and starving but VERRRRY affectionate and obviously socialized. We realized later that a slightly larger, more stealth black version of this cat was her brother. He, too, is very affectionate. I found a home for the female and I guess one for the boy as well (my house!). But two things concern me: one, where did these two socialized and affectionate cats come from (and neither was fixed) out of the blue and two, the young woman who took the female just graduated from college and while she does have a job, she doesn't have a lot of extra money, especially given the expense for spaying a female. I told her to check out the ASL low-cost spay and neuter program and also offered to help out if that didn't work or wasn't enough. Turns out, that the little that she makes is STILL too much to qualify so that that program may not be a realistic option for people in the neighborhood who might want to help out and control the cat population but can't afford the going rates of vet services. Would love to know what others of you are thinking!

Comment by Margy Meath on September 23, 2009 at 6:16pm

Alice,
Is Pat leaving the area?? And, do you have any plans to re-convene the Feral cat group the way we did a while ago??

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