<div>Hi Danielle and all,</div>
<div>Thanks for sharing Beverly's email. Up until May 2010, we actually rented a house right next door to her at 5016 Sheridan. Beverly's a very sweet and gentle woman. She has a good heart and exhibits an enviable level of humility and care for all living things. I've never really agreed with her logic or practice, however, of putting out food for the neighborhood cats. I strongly believe that the act of providing food, while commendable for the level of compassion it represents and inspires, does far more damage than good. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Providing a common feeding area for cats attracts wildlife - namely rodents, raccoons and skunks. It also attracts all kinds of cats - household pets that "escape" the confines of the family living room for the evening, homeless domesticated cats and feral cats. Many of these homeless/feral animals have never seen a vet, and there is a very good probability that they are harboring diseases. The common feeding area that is kindly being re-stocked daily by people like Beverly provides a point of contact where diseases are easily transmitted from wildlife and other sick animals to healthy animals (mostly via the saliva and/or parasites of an infected animal to others). Sick animals passing through our yards also come into contact with other domesticated animals - such as dogs - which provides an additional opportunity for transmission of illnesses. Additionally, outdoor cats often use garden plots to bury their "business", which is another way that serious disease can be passed from animal to human being. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>The diseases include, but are not limited to: </div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Rabies: usually transmitted to humans via wild animals, but frequently by outdoor cats as well</li>
<li>Salmonellosis: bacterial infection that causes diarrhea </li>
<li>Bartonellosis: a.k.a. cat scratch disease</li>
<li>Cryptosporidiosis: causes diarrhea </li>
<li>Toxoplasmosis: spread to humans via contact with cat feces (especially in garden plots - so wear gloves always!) </li>
<li>Campylobacterosis: another diarrhea causing organism </li></ul></div>
<div>Those particularly at risk include the elderly, young children, and nursing mothers - but may potentially anyone with a compromised immune system.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>We lived next to Beverly for about a year. During that time I would say we had maybe a dozen different cats passing through our yard on a regular basis. They seemed to enjoy taunting our dog. We also witnessed large raccoons and a skunk coming out of the storm drains and gorging themselves on Beverly's front porch. On one occasion, we witnessed one of the raccoons mauling our neighbor's chihuahua mix. Luckily, the dog suffered no lasting harm or illness. I called Riverdale Park PD to report that incident, mainly out of concern that the raccoon which seemed sick might have transmitted something to the dog - which played regularly with lots of children, including our son, as well as our dog. As far as I know, no follow up occurred from the PD. I encouraged the neighbors to get the dog checked out by a vet too.</div>
<div><br>In my opinion, the problem which Beverly addresses is quite serious - particularly in that neighborhood. Continuing to feed the cats, however, has nothing to do with finding a long-term solution to the base problem at hand. I agree that Beverly needs help, but perhaps NOT the manner of help she is requesting. Here's the kind of help I'd suggest... </div>
<div> </div>
<div>The community leadership, with support from the community in general, needs to work to engage the various levels of our overburdened Animal Control Officials to plan out a more effective resolution to the problem. Trap, neuter & release (TNR) programs should be a component, and would go a long way to reducing the apparent exploding outdoor cat population. Trapping and adopting out any suitable, untagged and unclaimed cats in the neighborhood to good families would also help. Cat rescues may be better suited to help with this than Animal Control, since the vast majority of captured homeless cats are euthanized before a home can be found. Cat owners in the community should be strongly encouraged to get their cats neutered or spayed, and NOT let their cats roam freely outdoors. Lastly, one reason cats (and wildlife) come to the neighborhood is directly related to the availability of food, so Animal Control should work to reduce/control the practice of outdoor feeding. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>The issues surrounding appropriate control and care for cats can be pretty contentious. I realize I may offend some neighbors with the above suggestions. It's not my intention. Moreover, its my own compassion for animals that brings me to respond to the thread. I personally think that compassion can best be shown by caring for our animals in a way that is loving and nurturing AND functions to establish the solid basis for a healthy, enjoyable co-existence between humans and animals on this very small planet. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>My best,<br>Zach Feris</div>
<div> </div>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Wed, Nov 10, 2010 at 9:07 PM, Dannielle Glaros <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:dmglaros@gmail.com">dmglaros@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
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<div style="WORD-WRAP: break-word">Friends,
<div><br></div>
<div>I received this email and perhaps someone could be of assistance. </div>
<div><br></div>
<div>Dannielle</div>
<div><br>
<div><span style="TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; TEXT-INDENT: 0px; BORDER-SPACING: 0px 0px; BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate; FONT: 12px Verdana; WHITE-SPACE: normal; LETTER-SPACING: normal; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); WORD-SPACING: 0px">
<div>Dannielle Glaros</div>
<div><a href="mailto:dmglaros@gmail.com" target="_blank">dmglaros@gmail.com</a></div>
<div><br></div><br></span></div>
<div><br>
<div>Begin forwarded message:</div><br>
<blockquote type="cite">
<div style="MARGIN: 0px"><font style="FONT: 12px Helvetica; COLOR: #000000" color="#000000" size="3" face="Helvetica"><b>From: </b></font><font style="FONT: 12px Helvetica" size="3" face="Helvetica">beverly schoonmaker <<a href="mailto:bevschoon@yahoo.com" target="_blank">bevschoon@yahoo.com</a>></font></div>
<div style="MARGIN: 0px"><font style="FONT: 12px Helvetica; COLOR: #000000" color="#000000" size="3" face="Helvetica"><b>Date: </b></font><font style="FONT: 12px Helvetica" size="3" face="Helvetica">November 10, 2010 10:02:12 AM EST</font></div>
<div style="MARGIN: 0px"><font style="FONT: 12px Helvetica; COLOR: #000000" color="#000000" size="3" face="Helvetica"><b>To: </b></font><font style="FONT: 12px Helvetica" size="3" face="Helvetica"><a href="mailto:dmglaros@gmail.com" target="_blank">dmglaros@gmail.com</a></font></div>
<div style="MARGIN: 0px"><font style="FONT: 12px Helvetica; COLOR: #000000" color="#000000" size="3" face="Helvetica"><b>Subject: </b></font><font style="FONT: 12px Helvetica" size="3" face="Helvetica"><b>Wild/stray,ferral cats</b></font></div>
<div style="MARGIN: 0px; MIN-HEIGHT: 14px"><br></div><span style="TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; TEXT-INDENT: 0px; BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate; FONT: medium Verdana; WHITE-SPACE: normal; LETTER-SPACING: normal; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); WORD-SPACING: 0px">
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<div style="MARGIN: 0px">I moved here from Pennsylvania March 2009.I noticed we have several homeless/ferral cats in our neighborhood.I was just recently out of work for 3 1/2months.I have observed WE have approximately TWO HUNDRED cats within a few block radius.A LOT of kittens were born this summer.I hear from neighbors there is a lady 1 street over that puts food outside for the cats She can't possibly feed all of them.I've been puting food outside in a shed in my backyard for the cats.I'm spending approximately TWO HUNRED FIFTY DOLLARS A MONTH.I don't want to see these CATS STARVE.I can't afford to keep doing this on my own.I have a 33 year old son that is disabled from a car accident I have to support him.I've called,written,and emailed several orginizations>THEY ARE NO HELP> If you,and some of the other neighbors could please buy some bags,and cans of cat food,and drop them off on my porch I will continue to feed the cats in the shed in my backyard.I am a nurse I work night shift so PLEASE just leave bags of cat food on the porch.I'm asking for your help because you are the organizer of the neighborhood party so you know a lot of the neighbors.Sorry my son Bruce,and I couldn't come to the party.Hope everyone had a good time.Thank you for inviting us.Beverly Schoonmaker 5014 Sheridan ST. CELL PHONE 215-421-9724 Because I work at night I sleep during the day if anyone calls me I will call you back soon. </div>
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