My town is an absolute HIVE of stray and feral cats. I do my best to protect my chickens, but there is only so much I can do. They're locked up tight today, and for the next several weeks I'm sure, because of the new neighbors and they're habit of feeding the ferals and strays.
Don't get me wrong. I *love* cats. I really really want one of my own, but I simply can't right now.
I'd trap them, but we are not allowed to use our own traps. We are required to use the ones the animal catcher provides. However, the animal control officer has lent them all out to her friends, and has done so for nearly a year now. "We only have so many traps! There simply aren't enough to go around!" Yeah, sure hun, especially when you've admitted from your own mouth that the only people you lend them to are your friends. "They keep catching them, so I just leave them out there!"
I cannot poison, shoot with a bb or pellet gun, or in any other way injure them. If I shoot, I have to shoot to kill. Ok, except discharging a fire arm in the city limits illegal. So no SSS.
I don't want to hurt the cats. I understand that if I'm going to dispose of them it has to be quick and painless. Aside from the ethical issues (I do like cats after all), it's a felony. Animal cruelty and all.
I am basically completely tied up in red tape and favoritism and cannot protect my livestock, which is supposed to be allowed by city, county and state laws.
So I get to listen to my chickens freak the frack out 24/7 while they're cooped up with cats in the yard.
I can't wait to move the hell out of this stupid corrupt small down and into the country where I can just shoot the **** things.
Just ranting, thanks for letting me vent.
Don't get me wrong. I *love* cats. I really really want one of my own, but I simply can't right now.
I'd trap them, but we are not allowed to use our own traps. We are required to use the ones the animal catcher provides. However, the animal control officer has lent them all out to her friends, and has done so for nearly a year now. "We only have so many traps! There simply aren't enough to go around!" Yeah, sure hun, especially when you've admitted from your own mouth that the only people you lend them to are your friends. "They keep catching them, so I just leave them out there!"
I cannot poison, shoot with a bb or pellet gun, or in any other way injure them. If I shoot, I have to shoot to kill. Ok, except discharging a fire arm in the city limits illegal. So no SSS.
I don't want to hurt the cats. I understand that if I'm going to dispose of them it has to be quick and painless. Aside from the ethical issues (I do like cats after all), it's a felony. Animal cruelty and all.
I am basically completely tied up in red tape and favoritism and cannot protect my livestock, which is supposed to be allowed by city, county and state laws.
So I get to listen to my chickens freak the frack out 24/7 while they're cooped up with cats in the yard.
I can't wait to move the hell out of this stupid corrupt small down and into the country where I can just shoot the **** things.
Just ranting, thanks for letting me vent.